Online Data Dictionary

Overview Fields

The following definitions apply to the fields used in both the FFIEC Census Online and the FFIEC Geocoding and Mapping System. All fields are derived from the same data as the FFIEC flat file, but there are significantly more fields available in the flat files. For more information, please see FFIEC Flat Files

Tract income level

The income level indicator identifies each census tract as not available, low, moderate, middle, or upper. Each category is based on the tract Median Family Income (MFI) percentage. The income levels are:

0: Unknown/not available. Tract MFI = 0.
1: Low. Tract MFI is > 0% and < 50% of the MSA/MD MFI.
2: Moderate. Tract MFI is ≥ 50% and < 80% of the MSA/MD MFI.
3: Middle. Tract MFI is ≥ 80% and < 120% of the MSA/MD MFI.
4: Upper. Tract MFI is ≥ 120% of the MSA/MD MFI.

Note that “Unknown” does not mean that the percentage has not been calculated, but rather that the tract MFI is either 0 or not available from Census. Such values are most common during decennial refreshes as all tract boundaries are updated, but may also occur during the intermediate 5-year refresh. Because the tract MFI is based on static data, the tract income level indicator is only updated every 5 years or when there is an OMB boundary change. However, boundary changes only affect the MSA-level data; therefore, only income levels that are not “Unknown” may change.

Distressed or underserved tract

A 'Yes' in this column indicates that the tract is designated as a nonmetropolitan, middle-income distressed or underserved geography based on criteria designated by federal banking and thrift regulators.

Distressed nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies are those located in counties with:

an unemployment rate of at least 1.5 times the national average.
a poverty rate of 20 percent or more.
a population loss of 5% or more in the 5-year period preceding the most recent decennial census; or
a population loss of 10% or more in the 10-year period preceding the most recent decennial census.

Underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies are those designated with urban influence codes numbered 7, 10, 11, or 12 as defined by the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

For more information on this field, please see CRA fields page.

Tract median family income %

This compares the tract level MFI to the MSA/MD level MFI. It is calculated by dividing the 5-year static tract MFI by the 5-year static MSA/MD MFI. For tracts located outside of an MSA/MD, the MFI used in the denominator is the statewide non-MSA/MD MFI.

FFIEC Est. MSA/MD and non-MSA/MD median family income

This is the estimated MFI as determined by the FFIEC for each MSA/MD in the United States and for each state’s non-MSA/MD area. In general, the FFIEC estimated median family income is derived by using the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) methodology published on its website. If there have been no OMB boundary revisions, the MFI is taken directly from HUD. However, if HUD's methodology is using an ACS year that has not yet adopted the latest OMB boundary revisions, the FFIEC will recalculate the MFI for any affected areas. When recalculating:

If a boundary change has occurred and the MSA/MD (or statewide non-MSA) contains a single county, the MFI is taken directly from Census ACS table B19113 at the county level. This number is then multiplied by the CPI inflation factor provided by HUD and rounded to the nearest $100 to obtain the FFIEC estimated median family income.
If a boundary change has occurred and the MSA/MD (or statewide non-MSA) contains multiple counties, the MFI is calculated from ACS table B19101 using Pareto interpolation since the data is not available from Census. This number is then multiplied by the CPI inflation factor provided by HUD and rounded to the nearest $100 to obtain the FFIEC estimated median family income.

For more details and calculation examples, please view this spreadsheet. Two methods are used to calculate medians in the FFIEC Census file: Pareto interpolation and linear interpolation. Pareto interpolation is used to calculate income medians (median family incomes and median household incomes). Linear interpolation is used for all other types of medians such as median housing age and median person age.

Tract median family income

This is the census tract’s median family income based on 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

Tract population

This is the census tract’s population based on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

Tract minority %

This is the percentage of the tract’s total population that does not identify as non-Hispanic or Latino white alone according to the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS data. It is calculated by dividing the minority population (see below) by the total tract population. It is updated every 5 years.

Minority population

This is the census tract’s total population minus the non-Hispanic or Latino white alone population based on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

Owner-occupied units

This is the number of housing units that were lived in by the owner of the unit. This number is based on 5-year ACS data and is updated every 5 years.

1- to 4-family units

This is the number of housing units that hold less than 5 families. Condominiums, townhouses, single-family homes, mobile homes, boats, RVs, and vans are included in this number. Apartment buildings are not included in this number. This number is based on 5-year ACS data and is updated every 5 years.

Housing Fields

Total housing units

This is the total number of occupiable housing units in the tract as determined by 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

1- to 4-family units

Median house age (years)

This is the median age of all housing units in the tract (as of the ACS year currently being used) as determined by the 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Inside principal city?

This is a yes/no indicator of whether this tract is part of the MSA/MD's principal city. This field is updated annually.

Owner-occupied units

This is the number of housing units in the tract that were lived in by the owner of the unit. This number is based on 5-year ACS data and is updated every 5 years.

Vacant units

This is the number of housing units in the tract that are not occupied as determined by 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

Owner-occupied 1- to 4-family units

This is the number of housing units in the tract that have less than 5 residences and were occupied by the property owner as determined by 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

Renter occupied units

This is the number of housing units in the tract that are occupied by someone other than the owner as determined by 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

Income Fields

Tract income level

0: Unknown/not available. Tract MFI = 0.
1: Low. Tract MFI is > 0% and < 50% of the MSA/MD MFI.
2: Moderate. Tract MFI is ≥ 50% and < 80% of the MSA/MD MFI.
3: Middle. Tract MFI is ≥ 80% and < 120% of the MSA/MD MFI.
4: Upper. Tract MFI is ≥ 120% of the MSA/MD MFI.

MSA/MD statewide non-MSA/MD median family income

This is the MFI for the MSA/MD in which the tract is located. If the tract is not in an MSA/MD, this MFI is for all portions of the state not in MSA/MDs. The MSA/MD median family income is based on 5-year ACS data and generally remains static for 5 years unless the MSA/MD boundaries change.

If a boundary remains the same after OMB boundary revisions, the MFI is taken directly from Census ACS table B19113 at the MSA/MD (or statewide non-MSA) level. The MHI comes from Census ACS table B19013 at the MSA/MD (or statewide non-MSA) level.
If a boundary change has occurred and the MSA/MD (or statewide non-MSA) contains a single county, the MFI is taken directly from Census ACS table B19113 at the county level. The MHI is taken directly from Census ACS table B19013 at the county level.
If a boundary change has occurred and the MSA/MD (or statewide non-MSA) contains multiple counties, the MFI is calculated from ACS table B19101 using Pareto interpolation since the data is not available from Census. The MHI is calculated from Census ACS table B19001, again using Pareto interpolation.

For more information and example calculations, please download this spreadsheet.

FFIEC Est. MSA/MD and non-MSA/MD median family income

If a boundary change has occurred and the MSA/MD (or statewide non-MSA) contains a single county, the MFI is taken directly from Census ACS table B19113 at the county level. This number is then multiplied by the CPI inflation factor provided by HUD and rounded to the nearest $100 to obtain the FFIEC estimated median family income.
If a boundary change has occurred and the MSA/MD (or statewide non-MSA) contains multiple counties, the MFI is calculated from ACS table B19101 using Pareto interpolation since the data is not available from Census. This number is then multiplied by the CPI inflation factor provided by HUD and rounded to the nearest $100 to obtain the FFIEC estimated median family income.

% below poverty line

This is the number of people in the tract living below the poverty level divided by the tract’s total population. This percentage is determined by comparing 5-year ACS data to the Census' definition of the poverty level.

Tract median family income %

Tract median family income

This is the census tract’s median family income based on 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

Tract median household income

This is the median income of all households in the tract based on 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years. Whereas a family is defined as two or more related persons living in the same residence, a household includes all residences, even those for single people or unrelated groups of two or more.

Population Fields

Tract population

This is the census tract’s population based on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

Minority population

This is the census tract’s total population minus the non-Hispanic or Latino white alone population based on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years.

Tract minority %

Total non-Hispanic population

This is the total number of people in the tract that listed themselves as non-Hispanic or Latino on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Non-Hispanic White alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as non-Hispanic or Latino and white alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Non-Hispanic American Indian alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as non-Hispanic or Latino and American Indian or Alaskan Native alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Non-Hispanic Asian alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as non-Hispanic or Latino and Asian alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Non-Hispanic Hawaiian/Pacific Islander alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as non-Hispanic or Latino and Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Non-Hispanic Black alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as non-Hispanic or Latino and Black alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Non-Hispanic some other race alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as non-Hispanic or Latino and some other race alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Non-Hispanic two or more races population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as non-Hispanic or Latino and two or more races on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Hispanic White alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Hispanic or Latino and White alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Hispanic American Indian alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Hispanic or Latino and American Indian or Alaskan Native alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Hispanic Asian alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Hispanic or Latino and Asian alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Hispanic Hawaiian/Pacific Islander alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Hispanic or Latino and Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Hispanic Black alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Hispanic or Latino and Black alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Hispanic some other race alone population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Hispanic or Latino and some other race alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Hispanic two or more races population

This is the number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Hispanic or Latino and two or more races on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Total White alone population

This is the total number of people in the tract that listed themselves as White alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Total American Indian alone population

This is the total number of people in the tract that listed themselves as American Indian or Alaskan Native alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Total Asian alone population

This is the total number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Asian alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Total Hawaiian/Pacific Islander alone population

This is the total number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Total Black alone population

This is the total number of people in the tract that listed themselves as Black alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Total some other race alone population

This is the total number of people in the tract that listed themselves as some other race alone on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Total two or more races population

This is the total number of people in the tract that listed themselves as two or more races on the most recent DHC file or 5-year ACS. It is updated every 5 years.

Number of families

This is the number of families in the tract as determined by 5-year ACS data. A family is defined as two or more related people living together.

Number of households

This is the number of households in the tract as determined by 5-year ACS data. It is updated every 5 years. A household is any residence, including those occupied by single people and unrelated groups of two or more. By definition, all families are also considered households, but not all households are families.

Census and Demographic Data