CMS Medicare Geographic Data and FIPS Codes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services publishes rich county-level data on healthcare utilization, spending, and quality. FIPS codes are the key to geographic analysis.
Articles
Guides and deep-dives on FIPS codes, federal datasets, and geographic data workflows.
How County Boundary Changes Affect FIPS Codes
County boundaries and names occasionally change, and FIPS codes change with them. Here's a history of major US county FIPS code changes and how to handle them in data work.
Connecticut's 2022 Geographic Reorganization and FIPS Codes
In 2022, Connecticut replaced its 8 historical counties with 9 planning regions for federal statistical purposes. Here's what changed and why it matters for data work.
Puerto Rico and US Territories in Federal FIPS Data
Puerto Rico and four other US territories have FIPS codes and appear in many federal datasets. Here's what data analysts need to know about territory FIPS codes.
Alaska's Unique Geography in FIPS Codes
Alaska has boroughs, census areas, and a home rule city instead of traditional counties. Here's how Alaska's unusual political geography maps to FIPS codes.
FIPS vs GEOID: Understanding the Difference
FIPS codes and GEOIDs appear in Census data and are often confused. Here's exactly what each term means and how they relate to each other.
BEA Regional Economic Data and FIPS Codes
The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes GDP, personal income, and employment data at the county and metro level. Here's how to work with BEA's FIPS-based geography.
ACS 5-Year Estimates: Accessing Census Data by FIPS Code
The American Community Survey 5-year estimates are the gold standard for county-level demographic data. Here's how to access them using FIPS codes via the Census API.
FIPS Codes in Tableau and Power BI: Geographic Mapping Guide
Tableau and Power BI both support FIPS code–based county mapping. Here's how to get your data onto a map correctly using FIPS codes as the geographic key.
CDC WONDER and FIPS Codes: Health Data by Geography
The CDC WONDER database is one of the most comprehensive sources of county-level health and mortality data. Here's how it uses FIPS codes.
Congressional Districts and FIPS: CD Codes Explained
Congressional district codes follow a different format than state and county FIPS codes. Here's how they work and where they appear in federal data.
The FIPS Code Hierarchy: Nation → State → County → Tract
FIPS geographic codes form a strict hierarchy from the national level down to individual city blocks. Understanding that hierarchy is the key to working with Census and federal data.