It depends on the type of data you need and whether you need those data at lower levels of geography such as census tract or block level.

View a side-by-side overview of these differences in this fact sheet: Differences Among Demographic Releases.

Looking for all the microdata from the 2020 Census?

• The 2020 Census Privacy-Protected Microdata File (PPMF) is the only data product that provides all privacy-protected records from the 2020 Census. It incorporates all data included in the 2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File, DHC, and Demographic Profile. 
• Access the PPMF.

2020 Census DHC

• Consists of multiple data tables and provides more detailed data on demographic and housing characteristics than the Demographic Profile. Unlike the Detailed DHC-A, it does not provide data for detailed race and ethnicity groups.
• Many DHC tables can be viewed down to the census block level.
• The DHC re-releases five of the six 2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File tables under the same name. However, the table on total group quarters population by major group quarters type is not re-released in the DHC.
• Please note that, when using DHC data, we encourage data users to aggregate small populations and geographies to improve accuracy and diminish implausible results.

2020 Census Demographic Profile

• It can be a great place to start to get an overview of an area. However, it contains less detailed demographic and housing characteristics data than DHC and no data for detailed race and ethnicity groups.
• Consists of one data table and provides an overview of demographic and housing characteristics for a specific geography.
• Demographic Profile data are available down to the census tract level only.
• Access the Demographic Profile.

2020 Census Detailed DHC-A vs. 2020 Census Detailed DHC-B

• Both the Detailed DHC-A and Detailed DHC-B consists of multiple data tables and provide data for detailed race and ethnicity groups. Detailed DHC-A provides population counts and sex-by-age statistics for these groups. Detailed DHC-B provides data on housing type (e.g., family or nonfamily) and tenure (e.g., whether the home is owned or rented) for these groups.
• Detailed DHC-A and Detailed DHC-B tables can be viewed down to the census tract level when population thresholds are met.
• Please note that, when using Detailed DHC-A and Detailed DHC-B data, data users should exercise caution when creating custom aggregations, adding or subtracting as little as possible to minimize the accumulation of noise across counts. Unlike the DHC and Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171), aggregating populations and geographies will decrease accuracy. View more guidance on working with these data in the technical documentation.
• Access the Detailed DHC-A and Detailed DHC-B
  

2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File

• Consists of six tables that provide summary demographic and housing characteristics: population counts for the total population and the population 18 years and older. It does not provide age data for age groups outside the voting age population.
• Data are available down to the block level.
• Five of the six Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File tables are also re-released in the DHC under the same table names. The table on total group quarters population by major group quarters type is not re-released in the DHC.
• Please note that, when using Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File data, we encourage data users to aggregate small populations and geographies to improve accuracy and diminish implausible results. View more guidance on working with these data in the technical documentation.
• Access the Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File

Still not what you're looking for? We will release more detailed demographic and housing data in August and September 2024. Learn more about these upcoming data products and when they will be released on the About 2020 Census Data Products page.

The Demographic Profile may provide data in the format you need. Rather than multiple tables like other 2020 Census Data Products, the Demographic Profile presents an overview of demographic and housing characteristics for a specific geography, all in a single table.

Please note that the Demographic Profile provides less detailed data than the DHC and Detailed DHC-A. Access the Demographic Profile.

The 2010 Census Summary File 1 is the closest equivalent to the 2020 Census DHC. Please note that the 2020 DHC has less detail available than the 2010 Summary File 1:

• For certain tables, the DHC collapses details like age categories into fewer, larger categories.
• For some tables, the geographies available have been reduced. For example, a table may be available down to the county level instead of the tract. 
• Some tables were removed altogether or will be released as part of a later data product.

For information about how specific tables and geographies differ from the 2010 Census, download the 2020 Census Data Product Planning Crosswalk.

• This crosswalk can be helpful if you have certain table ID numbers in mind from using the 2010 Summary File 1. If you do, please be aware that searching for them may not pull up the same tables in the DHC because of the table changes. The ID numbers may have shifted.