2020 Decennial Census Data

The United States Census Bureau is releasing data from the 2020 Decennial Census on a rolling basis. Loudoun County’s 2020 population was 420,959. 

Data currently is available from the first two releases, the Redistricting dataset (August 2021) and the Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC) file, along with Demographic Profiles, which provide an overview of demographic and housing characteristics (May 2023). The Census Bureau will now turn to releasing more detailed data, including data for detailed racial and ethnic groups, currently scheduled for fall 2023. The Census Bureau is still determining its schedule for future releases. The Census Bureau describes its products and posts updates to its schedule here.

The release of the Redistricting dataset provided counts of population and housing units along with population by major race categories and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.  Analysis of this data is provided below.

The DHC file and Demographic Profiles release provided data such as population by sex and age, the relationships between household members, and whether occupants own or rent their home. Tables showing data cross-tabulated by characteristics such as age and race are included as part of the DHC file, while the Demographic Profiles provide summaries for the county, census tracts and places (towns and unincorporated areas known as “Census Designated Places”).  

The following links provide easy access to the Demographic Profiles for Loudoun County as a whole and for places. 

As with the Redistricting release, the Census Bureau has used the differential privacy approach, which injects random statistical “noise” into the data, to prevent disclosure of personal information. For the DHC, the Census Bureau released metrics (XLS) (such as mean error) to help users understand the variation in the data introduced by using differential privacy. The Census Bureau blog post, What to Expect: Disclosure Avoidance and the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File provides additional guidance to users. 

Accessing Online Census Bureau Data

To easily find Loudoun County 2020 census data on the U.S. Census Bureau's data website, type "2020 Decennial Census Loudoun County, Virginia" in the search box. The Census Bureau offers training videos as well through its Census Academy, including How to Navigate data.census.gov and 2020 Census Redistricting Data and How to Find it on data.census.gov. More information on how to access the Census Bureau's online data can be found here.

Entering "2020 Decennial Census Loudoun County, Virginia" in the search box brings up a list of all the tables released for Loudoun County as a whole, whether they are from the DHC, the Redistricting release (only six tables, repeated in the DHC), or are a Demographic Profile (only one table). To limit search results to only the DHC, the Redistricting release, or the Demographic Profile, use the survey filter at the left to navigate to the release you want. these tables Using the DHC as an example, for Survey select= Decennial Census, then select Demographic and Housing Characteristics). 

The Census Bureau provides more information on how to use data from the May 2023 release in documentation for the DHC file and the Demographic Profiles.

Analysis of Loudoun County Census Data

Additional 2020 Census Data from the U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Census Data Assembled by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission

For the region and its jurisdictions – see data listed under “Decennial Census Data:”

For the region’s towns – see data listed under “Decennial Census Data:”

Highlights from the 2020 Census from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments