This R script helps extract the population percentage estimates (for example, by race/ethnicity or language use) from the American Community Survey (ACS) and US Census for relevant zip codes. This script also includes a way to calculate an entropy value that represents the diversity of different racial/ethnic/language groups in that particular zip code (i.e., a way to weigh the number and amount of different racial/ethnic/language groups in a zip code) using the R package 'philentropy.'

Before using this script, download the relevant American Community Surveys from the US census download center: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/

1. Go to https://data.census.gov/cedsci/
2. Search "DP05"
3. click "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES"
4. click "Customize Table"
5. click "Geographies"
6. select "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
7. select "Within Other Geographies" below it "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
8. select "All ZCTAs in United States"
9. Then click "download" and select 2019 (or the latest year you want)

The file name of the dataset should be like this (except with an updated download date) : ACSDP5Y2019.DP05_data_with_overlays_2021-05-12T022242.csv

Below is a screenshot of how to access and download the correct dataset file for 2018 dataset:

• GEO.id2 : zip code
• DP05_0077PE : Percent; RACE - One race - White Alone
• DP05_0078PE : Percent; RACE - One race - Black or African American
• DP05_0079PE : Percent; RACE - One race - American Indian and Alaska Native
• DP05_0080PE : Percent; RACE - One race - Asian
• DP05_0081PE : Percent; RACE - One race - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• DP05_0071PE : Percent; RACE - One race - Hispanic
• DP05_0082PE : Percent; RACE - One race - Some other race
• DP05_0083PE : Percent; RACE - Two or more races

Language Spoken at Home.

1. Go to https://data.census.gov/cedsci/
2. Search "S1601"
3. click "Language Spoken at Home"
4. click "Customize Table"
5. click "Geographies"
6. select "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
7. select "Within Other Geographies" below it "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
8. select "All ZCTAs in United States"
9. Then click "download" and select 2018

The file name of the dataset should be like this (except with an updated download date): ACSST5Y2018.S1601_data_with_overlays_2020-07-28T181025.csv

• GEO.id2 : zip code
• S1601_C02_003E : "percent_nonenglish" Estimate!!Percent!!Population 5 years and over!!Speak a language other than English
• S1601_C02_002E : "percent_englishonly" Estimate!!Percent of specified language speakers!!Percent speak English only or speak English very well"!!Population 5 years and over!!Speak a language other than English"
• S1601_C02_004E : "percent_spanish_speaking" Estimate!!Percent!!Population 5 years and over!!SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH!!Spanish
• S1601_C02_008E : "percent_IndoEuropean_speaking" Estimate!!Percent!!Population 5 years and over!!SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH!!Other Indo-European languages
• S1601_C02_012E : "percent_AsianPacific_speaking" Estimate!!Total!!Population 5 years and over!!SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH!!Asian and Pacific Island languages
• S1601_C02_016E : "percent_otherlang_speaking" Estimate!!Percent!!Population 5 years and over!!SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH!!Other languages

*This is using the most broad category; U.S. census does collect more detailed 42 language distinctions: https://www.census.gov/topics/population/language-use/about.html

Native and foreign born population

1. Go to https://data.census.gov/cedsci/
2. Search "DP02"
3. click "SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES"
4. click "Customize Table"
5. click "Geographies"
6. select "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
7. select "Within Other Geographies" below it "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
8. select "All ZCTAs in United States"
9. Then click "download" and select 2018

The file name of the dataset should be like this (except with an updated download date): ACSDP5Y2019.DP02_data_with_overlays_2021-09-02T094337.csvv

• GEO.id2 : zip code
• DP02_0089PE : "percent_native_born" Percent!!PLACE OF BIRTH!!Total population!!Native!!Born in United States
• DP02_0093PE : "percent_foreign_born" Percent!!PLACE OF BIRTH!!Total population!!Foreign born

1. Go to https://data.census.gov/cedsci/
2. Search "DP03"
3. click "Selected economic characteristics"
4. click "Customize Table"
5. click "Geographies"
6. select "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
7. select "Within Other Geographies" below it "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
8. select "All ZCTAs in United States"
9. Then click "download" and select 2019

The file name of the dataset should be like this (except with an updated download date): ACSDP5Y2018.DP03_data_with_overlays_2020-07-28T144525.csv

• GEO.id2 : zip code
• DP03_0062E : Estimate!!INCOME AND BENEFITS (IN 2018 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)!!Total households!!Median household income (dollars)

This one is taken from the 2010 US census instead of ACS because ACS does not have population density measures (or as far as I can find). Instead of download center, go to advanced search and search the following term: "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - State -- 5-digit ZIP Code Tabulation Area more information - 2010 Census Summary File 1""

The file name of the dataset should be : DEC_10_SF1_GCTPH1.ST09_with_ann.csv

• GCT_STUB.display-label (7th column) : Target zipcode
• HD01 : population
• SUBHD0303 : AREA CHARACTERISTICS - Area (Land)
• SUBHD0401 : Density per square mile of land area - Population

1. Go to https://data.census.gov/cedsci/
2. Search "S1501"
3. click "Educational Attainment"
4. click "Customize Table"
5. click "Geographies"
6. select "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
7. select "Within Other Geographies" below it "Zip Code Tabulation Area (Five-Digit)"
8. select "All ZCTAs in United States"
9. Then click "download" and select 2019

The file name of the dataset should be like this (except with an updated download date) : ACSST5Y2018.S1501_data_with_overlays_2020-07-21T180804.csv

• GEO.id2 : zip code
• S1501_C02_023E : Estimate!!Percent!!Population 25 years and over!!Population 45 to 64 years!!High school graduate or higher
• S1501_C02_024E : Estimate!!Percent!!Population 25 years and over!!Population 45 to 64 years!!Bachelor's degree or higher