By Elizabeth Bonin, Staff Writer

ELIZABETH BONIN/BAYSIDE GAZETTTE
Last week, Worcester County reached a census response rate of 31 percent.

(July 16, 2020) Worcester County’s U.S. Census response rate is starting to plateau at a 31 percent response rate, according to Kelly Henry, Complete County Committee coordinator and technical services manager.

As of Monday, Worcester’s response rate ranges from 5.5 percent in an Ocean City tract to 69.3 percent in a Snow Hill tract. Another low response rate is South Point at 38.7 percent. Ocean Pines ranges from 45.7 to 61.3 percent. Berlin ranges from 57.9 to 64 percent. Pocomoke City is at 60.3 percent.

Worcester County had the lowest response rate of all Maryland counties in 2010.

Henry highlighted that some of the participation numbers are low because the county has a high number of secondary or vacation homes. According to the Maryland Department of Planning, 63 percent of homes in Worcester are secondary or vacation, 10 percent are rental and 27 percent are owner occupied, with the highest rate of second homes being in Ocean City, South Point, West Ocean City and Ocean Pines.

“The census counts people where they live and sleep most of the time,” Henry said.

This means that those who have a second home should still fill out the survey, but according to Henry, it can be filled out as a second home instead of a primary residence.

When accounting for occupied homes only, the count for the lowest tract in Ocean City jumps from 5.5 to 71.4 percent. South Point jumps from 38.7 to 78.8 percent.

Another obstacle the census must overcome is the covid-19 pandemic. The census deadline has been extended from July 31 to Oct. 31 as a result. Much of census advertising has switched to social media as large gatherings are discouraged.

Henry said that although the pandemic has postponed much of life, the census is still important because it will affect the federal funding Maryland and Worcester County receive for the next 10 years.

“The lingering impacts of education, health care, businesses and income brought on by this global impact will make the amount of federal and state funding even more important and necessary,” Henry said.

The census determines funding for schools, health care and road construction. It also determines congressional districts. For every person not counted, state and local jurisdictions lose $18,250 in federal funds over the next 10 years.

Henry added that starting next month, the U.S. Census Bureau will start sending out enumerators to households that have not yet responded to the survey.

“To avoid having a knock at your door or a visit by an enumerator, please take 10 minutes to fill out the 2020 census survey,” Henry said. “It’s easy. It’s safe. It’s important.”

Call 844-330-2020 to complete the census over the phone. The phone line is open every day from 7-2 a.m. Visit 2020census.gov for more information.