The League has collaborated with the Kansas Census Data Center since 2019. The Data Center operates within the Institute for Policy & Social Research (IPSR) at the University of Kansas. In preparation for the 2020 Census, the League partnered with IPSR to identify data in order to create a demographic profile PDF for every city in Kansas, utilizing official census data. Since then, the League and IPSR have continued to work together on a variety of data-related initiatives.

Most recently, IPSR has transformed the original PDF profiles into an interactive online platform featuring up-to-date data, which is accessible exclusively to League members at Kansas Community Profiles. The census data used in these profiles is updated annually.

Cities use American Community Survey (ACS) data for a variety of important reasons, as it provides detailed, reliable, and regularly updated information about their populations, housing, economy, and more. Here are some key reasons cities rely on ACS data:

1. Informed Planning and Policy-Making

• Urban planning: Helps guide decisions on transportation, housing, zoning, and infrastructure.

• Public services: Supports planning for schools, emergency services, healthcare, and utilities based on population needs.

2. Grant Applications and Federal Funding

• Many federal and state grant programs require or prioritize funding based on ACS data indicators (e.g., poverty rates, median income, population size).

• Helps cities justify and secure funding for community development, education, transportation, and public health initiatives.

3. Economic Development and Business Attraction

• Businesses use ACS data to evaluate workforce characteristics, income levels, and consumer behavior in different areas.

• Cities use this data to market themselves to investors and support local economic development strategies.

4. Identifying Community Barriers

• Provides insight into the people who make up a community.

• Helps identify disparities in income, education, housing, and health—supporting data-driven policies and programs.

5. Emergency Management and Preparedness

• ACS data informs disaster planning, risk assessments, and emergency response strategies by identifying vulnerable populations (e.g., elderly, disabled, or those without vehicles).

6. Housing and Community Development

• Guides decisions on affordable housing needs, housing stock, overcrowding, and homeownership trends.

• Supports compliance with federal programs such as HUD’s Community Development Block Grants.

7. Monitoring Trends and Change Over Time

• Since ACS data is released annually, cities can track demographic, economic, and social changes more frequently than with the decennial census alone.