The Census Bureau’s urban-rural classification is a delineation of geographic areas, identifying both individual urban areas and the rural area of the nation. The Census Bureau’s urban areas represent densely developed territory, and encompass residential, commercial, and other non-residential urban land uses. The Census Bureau delineates urban areas after each decennial census by applying specified criteria to decennial census and other data. Rural encompasses all population, housing, and territory not included within an urban area.

For the 2020 Census, an urban area will comprise a densely settled core of census blocks that meet minimum housing unit density and/or population density requirements. This includes adjacent territory containing non-residential urban land uses. To qualify as an urban area, the territory identified according to criteria must encompass at least 2,000 housing units or have a population of at least 5,000.

Urban Area Announcement and Criteria for the 2020 Census

(Updated September 2023)

Qualifying Urban Areas for the 2020 Census; Correction Federal Register Notice

2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications Federal Register Notice

Urban Area Criteria for the 2020 Census – Final Criteria Federal Register Notice

Urban Areas for the 2020 Census – Proposed Criteria Federal Register Notice

Differences Between the 2010 Census and 2020 Census Urban Area Criteria [< 1.0 MB]

For comparable information for 2010 urban areas, go to the Federal Register Notice webpage.

2020 Census Urban Areas Facts

Tallies, percentages, and rankings of urban and rural areas in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas.

List of 2020 Census Urban Areas

(Updated July 2023)

A list of all 2020 Census Urban Areas for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas sorted by Urban Area Census (UACE) code [<1.0 MB]

A state-sorted list of all 2020 Census Urban Areas for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas first sorted by state FIPS code, then sorted by Urban Area Census (UACE) code [< 1.0 MB]

List of 2010 Census Urban Areas that are Classified as Rural in 2020

A list of 2010 Census Urban Areas for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas that are classified as rural in 2020, sorted by Urban Area Census (UACE) code [< 1.0 MB]

State-level Urban and Rural Information for the 2020 Census and 2010 Census

State-level 2020 and 2010 Census Urban and Rural Information for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas sorted by state FIPS code [< 1.0 MB]

County-level Urban and Rural information for the 2020 Census

(Updated September 2023)

County-level 2020 Census Urban and Rural Information for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas sorted by state and county FIPS codes [10 MB]

Block-level Urban Area information for the 2020 Census

A list of 2020 Census tabulation blocks classified as urban in the 2020 Census with associated 2020 Census Urban Area Census (UACE) codes and names for the U.S. and Puerto Rico [282 MB]

Field Descriptions for the 2020 Census tabulation blocks urban areas file [< 1.0 MB]

2020 Census Urban Area FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the 2020 Census Urban Areas.

2020 Census Urban Areas Wall Map

August 2023

Here is the 2020 Census Urban Areas Wall Map. (Updated August 2023)

Geographic Data Available for 2020 Census Urban Areas

TIGER/Line Shapefiles

View all the available mapping files from the Geography program.

There are currently two ways to access the 2020 Census Urban Area TIGER/Line Shapefile:

On the 2023 tab, select the FTP Archive by Layer option, select the UAC20 folder, and then download the tl_rd22_us_uac20.zip file.
On the 2020 tab, select the FTP Archive option, select the UAC folder, and then download the tl_2020_us_uac20.zip file.

Additionally, the 2020 Census Tabulation Block TIGER/Line Shapefiles contain urban and rural information. There are currently two ways to access the 2020 Census Tabulation Block TIGER/Line Shapefiles:

On the 2023 tab, using the FTP Archive by Layer option, select the TABBLOCK20 folder, and then download the tl_rd22_##_tabblock20.zip file where ## is the FIPS code for the state of interest.
On the 2020 tab:
- Using the Web Interface, Select year: 2020 and Select a layer type: Blocks and then select the state(s) of interest.
- Using the FTP Archive option, select the TABBLOCKS20 folder, and then download the tl_2020_##_tabblock20.zip file where ## is the FIPS code for the state of interest.