The Economic Profile System is a free, easy-to-use tool that provides access to 17 socioeconomic reports. Customized reports are available for U.S. communities, counties, and states and can be downloaded as Excel or PDF files.

Economic Profile System reports are based on credible public data sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Interior, and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Data are updated continuously.

This free tool is nationally available thanks to generous support from the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife  Service, the Kresge Foundation, and M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite data in EPS Quick Facts?

Data shown in Quick Facts comes from two sources. Population, median household income, household income, and employment are from the most recent five-year rolling survey period of the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. You can cite the data as follows, where YYYY is the year shown next to the Quick Fact:

U.S. Department of Commerce. YYYY. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office, Washington, D.C., reported by Headwaters Economics’ Economic Profile System, headwaterseconomics.org/eps.

Top industries are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and are only available by county. You can cite the data as follows, where YYYY is the year shown next to the Quick Fact:

U.S. Department of Commerce. YYYY. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts, Washington, D.C., reported by Headwaters Economics’ Economic Profile System, headwaterseconomics.org/eps.

How do I cite data in downloaded EPS reports?

Every page of an EPS report includes a full citation at the bottom. Headwaters Economics recommends that you cite data from EPS reports as follows:

<Citation from the bottom of the relevant EPS page(s)>, as reported in Headwaters Economics’ Economic Profile System (headwaterseconomics.org/eps).

For example:

U.S. Department of Labor. 2019. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Washington, D.C., as reported in Headwaters Economics’ Economic Profile System (headwaterseconomics.org/eps).

How often is EPS updated?

Headwaters Economics processes newly released datasets continuously.  The latest available numbers are reflected in EPS reports within 90 days of publication by each data source.  There are multiple data sources in EPS, each with a different update schedule.  

Why does EPS report data from multiple sources?

Each data source has strengths and gaps. EPS uses the strengths of multiple data sources to build a more complete picture of the socioeconomics for the selected location.

Where possible, EPS displays data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Regional Economic Accounts. These data are available for the longest time span (1969 to latest year), represent the widest segment of workers (part-time, self-employed, etc.), and report income and employment across all major industries, including government.

The most complete data source for average annual wages and employment by industry is the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program. Most EPS reports display both average annual wages and employment figures from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. This source does not include data for the self-employed or the value of benefits. Headwaters Economics calculates estimates of employment when data are not disclosed by the BLS. See more about the estimation process in the technical specifications below.

All EPS data sources are available for the U.S., states, counties, combined statistical areas, and metro/non-metro portions of states. However, only one data source used in EPS provides detail on “sub-county” levels of geography: the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. American Community Survey data is used throughout the Demographics report, and is the only report that can be run for county subdivisions; cities, towns, and census designated places; American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas; and congressional districts.

Beyond the four data sources mentioned above, EPS relies on additional reliable, widely recognized sources for data on unemployment, land ownership, land use patterns, and payments from federal lands, to name a few. Every EPS page includes a full citation at the bottom.

Why are there different population numbers?

You may notice slightly different population numbers in various reports and the Quick Facts. The Economic Profile System uses three different sources for population data depending on the purpose. To show population at the sub-county level (census tracts, cities, and towns) we report 5-year estimates from U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. To show population change over time we report population data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. To show the components of population change, including migration, we report the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates. Every page of an EPS report includes the data source and full citation at the bottom.

Which data are reported by “place of work” vs. “place of residence”?

Data displayed in EPS are based on surveys that differ in sampling and collection methods.  The surveys ask questions based on “place of work”, which refers to the geographic location of a job, or “place of residence”, which refers to the geographic location of a home.  Especially for communities and industries associated with commuting, it can be important to know whether data represents people currently residing versus working in a place.

Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts
EmploymentPlace of Work
Earnings by Industry & Earnings per JobPlace of Work
Proprietors’ EmploymentPlace of Work
Proprietors’ Income (Farm)Place of Work
Proprietors’ Income (Non-Farm)Place of Residence
Personal Income (incl. Non-Labor & Per Capita Income)Place of Residence
PopulationPlace of Residence
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
EmploymentPlace of Work
Payroll & WagesPlace of Work
Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
EmploymentPlace of Work
Payroll & WagesPlace of Work
Census Bureau, American Community Survey
EmploymentPlace of Residence
IncomePlace of Residence
PopulationPlace of Residence
What are the Indigenous Areas in EPS?

The Economic Profile System uses the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Areas (AIANNHA). It includes the following: Alaska Native Regional Corporations (ANRC), Tribal Subdivisions, American Indian Reservations (AIR), Hawaiian Home Lands (HHL), Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas (ANVSA), Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas (OTSA), State Designated Tribal Statistical Areas (SDTSA), Tribal Designated Statistical Areas (TDSA), American Indian Joint-Use Areas (AIJUA). For the Economic Profile System, the boundaries of AIANNHA are intersected with state boundaries.

What are “Metro and rural portions of states” in EPS?

To delineate Metro and Rural (i.e., Non-Metro) counties, EPS uses the 2013 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) metropolitan statistical area county classification. In EPS, counties labeled as “Metro” are defined by the OMB as Metropolitan Statistical Area Central or Outlying counties. All other counties are labeled as “Non-Metro.”

The OMB defines Metropolitan Statistical Areas as counties (or equivalent entities) that are associated with at least one urbanized area of at least 50,000 population, plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties. A county qualifies as Metropolitan Statistical Areas Outlying under the following circumstances: (1) one-quarter or more of the employed residents work in the central counties of the metropolitan statistical area, or (2) one-quarter or more of the employment is composed of workers who live in the central counties.

Read complete definitions from the Census Bureau. Downloadable tabular data (“Delineation Files“) are also available.

Where can I find a map showing Census designated places and county subdivisions?

Maps are available by state at this Census webpage.

Can I produce reports with results for multiple places?

Yes. Click on the “add more places” button on the map at the top of the browser to add additional locations into your report and Quick Facts.

What happened to the reports called Summary, Socioeconomic Measures, and Public Land Amenities?

In the fall of 2020, Headwaters Economics implemented a new interface for the Economic Profile System and renamed some reports.

  • The report called Socioeconomic Measures is now called Socioeconomic Trends.
  • The report called Summary is now called Key Indicators.
  • The report called Public Land Amenities is now called Living Near Public Lands.
How are Coefficients of Variation (CV) calculated for American Community Survey estimates?

A Coefficient of Variation (CV) is a relative measure of accuracy, and is calculated using the American Community Survey estimate and associated margin of error as follows:

[ACS] = ACS Estimate Value
[MOE] = ACS Estimate Margin of Error Value
CV = Coefficient of Variation



The value 1.645 is used to represent a 90% confidence interval. It is the z-score from a standard normal probability distribution that puts an area of 0.90 in the center of the distribution.

Update Schedule

Headwaters Economics processes newly released datasets continuously.  For data sources referred to in the table below as having monthly, annual, or five‐year update frequencies, Headwaters Economics processes newly released datasets within a maximum of 90 days post publication by each individual data source. Therefore, EPS reports always show the latest available numbers to within 90 days of each data source release date.

Data Source Update Frequency Last Update Time Period Covered EPS Reports
U.S. Department of Agriculture. National Agricultural Statistics Service, Census of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Every Five Years February-2024 2022 Agriculture
U.S. Department of Commerce. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office, Washington, D.C. Annually January-2024 2010-2022 Demographics, Living Near Public Lands, Tourism
U.S. Department of Commerce. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts, Washington, D.C. Annually December-2023 1970-2022 Agriculture, Government, Key Indicators, Living Near Public Lands, Nonlabor, Socioeconomic Trends
U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Washington, D.C. Annually September-2023 2001-2022 Agriculture, Government, Mining, Oil, & Gas, Socioeconomic Trends, Services, Timber, Tourism
U.S. Department of Commerce. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, Washington, D.C. Annually September-2023 1998-2020 Mining, Oil, & Gas, Timber
U.S. Department of Interior. U.S. Geological Survey, NASA MODIS Land Cover Type Yearly L3 Global 1km MOD12Q1, Sioux Falls, SD Unscheduled August-2023 2019 Landuse, Key Indicators
U.S. Department of Commerce. Census Bureau, Population Division, Washington, D.C. Annually June-2023 2010-2022 Living Near Public Lands, Socioeconomic Trends
U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Washington, D.C. Monthly May-2023 1976-2022 Key Indicators, Socioeconomic Trends, Tourism
National Bureau of Economic Research. Cambridge, MA Unscheduled February-2023 1969-2022 Socioeconomic Trends
U.S. Department of Interior. Office of Natural Resources Revenue, Washington, D.C. Annually May-2020 1986-2019 Fedpayments, Key Indicators
U.S. Department of Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. When Available May-2020 1986-2019 Fedpayments, Key Indicators
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. Annually May-2020 1986-2019 Fedpayments, Key Indicators
U.S. Department of Interior. Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), Washington, D.C. Annually May-2020 1986-2019 Fedpayments, Key Indicators
U.S. Department of Commerce. Census Bureau, Governments Division, Washington, D.C. Every Five Years May-2020 1987-2017 Fedpayments, Key Indicators
U.S. Department of Interior. U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Program. Protected Areas Database of the United States (PADUS) version 1.4, Moscow, ID Unscheduled May-2019 2018 Key Indicators, Landuse, Living Near Public Lands
U.S. Department of Interior. Bureau of Land Management, Washington, D.C. Annually December-2018 1986-2017 Fedpayments, Key Indicators
Gude, P.H., Rasker, R., and van den Noort, J. 2008. Potential for Future Development on Fire-Prone Lands. Journal of Forestry 106(4):198-205; U.S. Department of Commerce. 2011. TIGER/Line 2010 Census Blocks and 2010 Summary File 1, Washington, D.C. Unscheduled May-2013 2010 Key Indicators, WUI
Theobald, DM. 2013. Land use classes for ICLUS/SERGoM v2013. Unpublished report, Colorado State University Unscheduled May-2013 2000-2010 Living Near Public Lands, Landuse, Key Indicators
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Forest Service, Land Areas Report, Washington, D.C. Unscheduled na 2009 Landuse
U.S. Department of Commerce. Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census, Washington, D.C. Decennially na 2000 Demographics
Rasker, R. 2006. “An Exploration Into the Economic Impact of Industrial Development Versus Conservation on Western Public Lands.” Society and Natural Resources. 19(3): 191-207 Unscheduled na 0000 Key Indicators, Landuse, Living Near Public Lands

Methods and Technical Specifications

The following documents provide detailed methods and technical specifications for components of the Economic Profile System.

The Economic Profile System is nationally available thanks to generous support from the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife  Service, the Kresge Foundation, and M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. (Terms of Use.)