Census Mcp Server
by cyanheadscommunityv0.1.11
1
MCP server for querying U.S. Census Bureau datasets, variables, and geography data. It supports dataset discovery, variable search, geography resolution, data queries, and comparing geographies over STDIO or Streamable HTTP.
From the registry: Query U.S. Census Bureau data, variables, and geography via MCP.
Install & configure
Prerequisites
- requiredInstall Node.jsNode.js v24 or higher is required for the preferred npx-based install path.https://nodejs.org/
- requiredCreate a Census API keyRegister a free Census API key. This is required for data-query tools (`census_query_data`, `census_compare_geographies`) and practically required for full default functionality, though some metadata/geography tools work without it.https://api.census.gov/data/key_signup.html
Install in your client
Paste into the AI you're chatting with — it will figure out the rest
Please install the `census-mcp-server` MCP server into my current AI client (that's you).
Required prerequisites (do these first if not already done):
- **Install Node.js** — Node.js v24 or higher is required for the preferred npx-based install path. (https://nodejs.org/)
- **Create a Census API key** — Register a free Census API key. This is required for data-query tools (`census_query_data`, `census_compare_geographies`) and practically required for full default functionality, though some metadata/geography tools work without it. (https://api.census.gov/data/key_signup.html)
Canonical MCP server config (stdio transport):
- command: `npx`
- args: ["-y","census-mcp-server@latest"]
- required environment variables:
- `MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE`: Transport type for the server. Use `stdio` for MCP client configuration. (example: `stdio`)
- `CENSUS_API_KEY`: Census API key used for Census data query tools; practically required for normal server use. (example: `<your-census-api-key>`)
- optional environment variables:
- `MCP_LOG_LEVEL`: Log level for server logging (`debug`, `info`, `notice`, `warning`, `error`). (example: `info`)
- `CENSUS_DEFAULT_YEAR`: Default Census vintage year when no year is specified. (example: `<year>`)
- `CENSUS_VARIABLE_CACHE_TTL_HOURS`: Hours to cache variables metadata in memory per dataset and year. (example: `<hours>`)
- `MCP_HTTP_PORT`: Port for HTTP mode; not needed for stdio mode. (example: `<port>`)
- `MCP_AUTH_MODE`: Authentication mode for the server (`none`, `jwt`, or `oauth`). (example: `<auth-mode>`)
- `OTEL_ENABLED`: Enable OpenTelemetry instrumentation. (example: `<true-or-false>`)
Note: README also documents Streamable HTTP mode, but the provided portable installation/config example is stdio via npx. HTTP is started separately by setting `MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE=http` and running the server locally; the README does not provide a canonical client-side HTTP config snippet beyond noting the endpoint path `/mcp`.
Add this MCP server to my current client's config in the correct format for you. If you need secrets or credentials I haven't provided, ASK me — do not invent values or leave raw placeholders. After adding it, tell me how to verify the server is connected.Note: README also documents Streamable HTTP mode, but the provided portable installation/config example is stdio via npx. HTTP is started separately by setting `MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE=http` and running the server locally; the README does not provide a canonical client-side HTTP config snippet beyond noting the endpoint path `/mcp`.
Tools (7)
census_list_datasets
Browse available Census Bureau datasets with names, descriptions, vintage years, and dataset codes.
census_list_geographies
List geography levels supported by a dataset and year, including parent requirements and example FIPS values.
census_search_variables
Search Census variable labels and concept groups by keyword, returning estimate and margin-of-error codes.
census_get_variable
Fetch full metadata for one or more Census variable codes.
census_resolve_geography
Convert place names or street addresses to Census FIPS identifiers.
census_query_data
Query a Census dataset for variables at a specific geography and return estimates with MOE and suppression reasons.
census_compare_geographies
Rank and compare variables across multiple geographies and return sorted table output.
Environment variables
CENSUS_API_KEYrequiredAPI key required for Census data queries and geography-comparison queries.Prerequisites
- • Node.js v24+
Packages
@cyanheads/census-mcp-server
npmv0.1.11transport: stdio
@cyanheads/census-mcp-server
npmv0.1.11transport: streamable-http
Details
- Language
- TypeScript
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Released
- Jun 20, 2026
- Last commit
- Jun 20, 2026
- Registry name
- io.github.cyanheads/census-mcp-server