You may have noticed that some variables available in the data browser for use in Color-Coded Maps or Smart Map Search are not available when creating comparison reports.
Based on a number of inbound questions, we wanted to share a workaround we found with a fellow Business Analyst web user to gather summary statistics for ACS variables not available in Comparison Reports. The steps are written below and will share a video soon link soon!
Feel free to share any other insights/workarounds you may have found!
- Add reference geographies to the map using Select by Geography (under Define Areas).
- Commonly use geographies are: Cities/Places, Counties and States
- Add ACS variable(s) to the map using the Create Maps tool that best fits your needs.
- Reminder: these allow you to look at multiple geographic scales dynamically for your selected variable.
- Color-Coded Maps if you are comparing one or two variables.
- Smart Map Search if you have three or more variables. You are limited to five variables at a time, but you can use the workflow multiple times.
- Change the default data view from "Current Map Extent" to one of the geographies you've added.
- Start with Cities and Places, and be sure to select "Census Tracts" as the geographic scale.
- Export the data using the Export to Excel feature.
- You can do a quick sum, average or something else in excel for your comparison city or town.
- Make note of the margin of error and be sure to report on the variability to your stakeholders.
- Repeat for larger geographic comparison areas.
- You can repeat 3 and 4 for Counties or simply view the total by selecting "Counties" as the geographic scale in the panel.
- You may view the total for States by selecting States as the geographic scale in the panel.
Read more about ArcGIS Business Analyst Data.
