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Get started with U.S. Updated Demographics
Part 2: Explore lifestyle, behavioral, business, and census data
In the previous section of this tutorial series , you learned about the basics of Esri Updated Demographics data -what it is, who creates the data, and its advantages over other data sources. In this section, you will explore the other types of analytical databases that coincide with and round out the Updated Demographics portfolio. Let's begin with a high-level overview of each database, starting with Esri's behavioral data tables.
Lifestyle and behavioral data
Esri provides four types of lifestyle and behavioral databases; Tapestry Segmentation, Market Potential, Consumer Spending, and Retail Demand by Industry. Lifestyle and behavioral data adds another analytical layer when trying to better understand your customer base. Each of these data tables provides unique insights into consumer preferences, tendencies, and patterns.
Tapestry Segmentation
Esri Tapestry Segmentation is a database that describes the diverse mix of U.S. neighborhoods by painting a comprehensive picture of who lives where, describing their lifestyle choices, and highlighting how they spend their money and their free time. Companies use the data to help answer key questions such as the following:
Who are our customers? What are their characteristics? How do they behave? What are their needs and preferences?Where are the growth opportunities? How can we effectively target and reach them?
The data is modeled, based on large arrays of demographic and socioeconomic variables, to identify 67 unique consumer markets throughout the United States. Each of these markets, referred to as Tapestry segments, have individual descriptive profiles that highlight its demographic composition, socioeconomic traits, housing characteristics, geographic dispersion, as well as consumer behavior and spending preferences. The database includes 67 Tapestry segment codes with descriptive names, and 14 LifeMode codes.
Consumer Spending
Esri Consumer Spending data is a market demand planning database that provides a wealth of consumer analytics highlighting current spending patterns covering more than 700 products and services. Companies use consumer spending data to gain insights into market dynamics, customer behavior, and competitive landscape.
The data is modeled from a blend of data from Updated Demographics, Tapestry Segmentation, and the Consumer Expenditure Survey data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The database includes an estimate of total and average amounts spent by households, and an index to identify how spending within your local area differs from the nation as a whole.
Market Potential
Similar to Esri’s Consumer Spending database, Esri Market Potential is another demand-side database. While the former provides estimates of spending, the latter provides insight into American consumer preferences, interests, activities, values, and opinions, to measure consumer demand. Businesses use the data to analyze shifting customer demand in local markets or reveal potential sales opportunities in new markets.
The data is modeled in part by using Tapestry and household-level survey data from MRI-Simmons. The database is organized into 35 main categories, and includes the expected number of consumers and an index to identify how a local area compares to the U.S.
Retail Demand by Industry
The Esri Retail Demand by Industry dataset provides an alternative view of spending potential based on the industries in whick market transactions may occur. Companies use this data to help identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and optimize their business operations.
The database includes annual total industry expenditures, annual average industry potential spending per household, and an industry-specific Spending Potential Index (SPI).
Census data
The United States Census Bureau provides two data products as a result of surveying the U.S. population. The first is a once per-decade demographic set of databases that represent complete counts of population for specific characteristics such as population, households, and housing.
ACS data
The second set of data products produced from the Census Bureau is ACS (American Community Survey) data. This data is annual household survey data that is based on five-year period estimates that represent complete demographics characteristics not found in the decennial census data product.
Esri Census data
Esri provides data tables from the most recent decennial Census - 2020 , 2010 , and 2000, as well as a historical time series, and data from the ACS. Along with Esri Updated Demographics, census tables and ACS tables are made available in the same geography formats throughout the Esri platform.
As mentioned in Part 1 of this tutorial series, Esri uses a combination of data sources for creating Updated Demographics data, including the latest decennial census and ACS data to measure various components of population and household change.
Additional data tables
Up to this point, you have learned about the databases created and provided by Esri. In this section, we cover the additional databases that are made available by Esri data partners.
Business data
Esri offers Business Summary and Business Locations statistics for more than 13 million U.S. establishments compiled by and licensed from Data Axle, Inc. Companies use the data to stay competitive and capitalize on business opportunities.
Esri Business Summary data attributes include the number of businesses by industry classification, and total employees, while Business Location data attributes include the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)/North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes, business name and type, distance, number of employees, and, when available, sales.
Crime data
Esri offers Crime Risk data curated and licensed from Applied Geographic Solutions. Insurance companies, banks, retailers, and real estate brokers are among the various types of companies that use the data to aid in underwriting, assess lending risks, and determine expected security needs.
The database contains crime index statistics assessing the relative risk of seven major crime types against persons and property.
Traffic data
Esri offers Traffic Counts data compiled by and licensed from Kalibrate. Companies use the data to analyze traffic patterns for helping to identify ideal site locations and scheduling staff hours during peak periods of traffic.
The database contains average daily traffic volume by the number of vehicles, current and previous count type, and cross street direction and distance.
Next steps
In this tutorial, you learned about key Updated Demographics data that is created by Esri, additional complementary data tables, and data from Esri data partners. To learn how to access and incorporate data into your analysis projects, view Part 3: Work with Updated Demographics data.
To enhance your data analysis knowledge, explore the tutorial series below:
Learn more
Data methodologies
Esri data estimates and forecasts are developed from a mix of inputs from Esri U.S. Updated Demographics , the decennial census, the ACS, and business data from Data Axle. Represented as point-in-time estimates as of July 1, the data is available for Esri’s standard geographic areas and for any user-defined polygon such as a ring or drive time. Read the Esri Updated Demographics Methodology Statement for more information
Frequently asked questions
Use our data reference page to help answer additional questions about Esri Demographics.
Helpful links
Connect with us
If you have a topic you would like covered in a data tutorial to help you better understand U.S. data, send us an e-mail with your topic idea.