Idaho’s Census response exceeds national average

This may turn out to be the best Census yet. And Idaho is ahead of the curve.

With some Idaho counties’ self-response rate already as high as 78 percent, the Gem State’s average participation rate of 62.9 — the same as Idaho’s final self-response rate in 2010 — is comfortably above the national average of 60.7 percent as of June 5. Minnesota has the highest at 70.4 percent of addresses contacted having responded.

And that’s with nearly five months to go.

Could be that with most of us staying home during the pandemic, to-do lists got more attention than usual. Or we just got very bored.

Either way, it’s a win-win. With high participation federal, state, and local government get a more accurate count of who and how many people reside in the U.S., and Idahoans will get a fairer allocation of federal funds to more than 100 programs for schools, hospitals, Medicaid, fire and emergency services, and so much more.

The five Idaho counties with the highest self-response rates — all above the national average — are Ada (74.5 percent responding, with 69 percent online), Gem (71.9), Canyon (71.4), Bonneville (69.8), and Payette (69.7).

Kootenai has the 10th highest in Idaho with 65.3 percent. Idaho ranks 19 among states’ self-response rates overall.

Other North Idaho counties’ response rates have been lower: Bonner’s is 42 percent so far, Boundary 50.7, Benewah 47, and Shoshone 36.3.

North Idaho’s own Dalton Gardens holds the state’s highest self-response rate as of last week, with 81.2 percent of households having responded. Hayden is also in Idaho’s top 10, at 73.8 percent.

The majority of American respondents, more than 53 percent, are choosing to respond online. This is the third time the Census Bureau has offered an internet option; the first was the 2000 Census, but only a small minority responded online that year. That was before darned near everyone was online.

It’s no wonder so many are choosing the internet option, as the whole thing takes about five minutes. With such a high response rate this Census, it’s too bad it wasn’t a long-form year.

Don’t worry if you’re not the tech type. You can still use more traditional phone-in and mail methods, if you haven’t been counted. Those who eschew all three may yet get a knock at the door this summer from a Census taker.

For more information, call 844-330-2020 or visit 2020census.gov.

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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.