Connect U.S. Census Bureau to Claude
Query U.S. Census Bureau directly from Claude. Arlet links the two through one MCP connection and takes care of API keys.
This server connects your AI client to the US Census Bureau data API, which publishes the country's demographic and economic baseline statistics. The Census variable system is famously intricate (tables like B19013, variables like B19013_001E, geography codes like state:06); this server wraps it in a three-step flow that an AI can follow reliably.
Key features:
- search_tables: find statistical tables by keyword within a dataset - 'median household income' resolves to table B19013. Defaults to the American Community Survey 5-year estimates (acs/acs5), the dataset with the finest geographic detail.
- list_table_variables: list a table's variables with human-readable labels. By default only estimate variables are shown, hiding the margin-of-error and annotation columns that usually just add noise.
- get_data: fetch values for chosen variables and a geography in the Census 'level:codes' form (us:1, state:06, county:* within a state, place:*, ...). The raw array-of-arrays response is converted to named records, and geography names are always included.
Other datasets and years are reachable through the dataset/vintage parameters (acs/acs1, dec/pl decennial redistricting, cbp County Business Patterns, ...).
Arlet obtains and manages the API key, so there is nothing for you to sign up for or configure - just switch the server on. (The key's rate limit is shared across Arlet users.)
How to connect U.S. Census Bureau to Claude
- 1
In the Arlet dashboard, open Data tools, find U.S. Census Bureau and switch it on. No API key setup is needed.
- 2
In Claude, open Organization settings → Connectors from the account menu at the bottom left, then click + Add.
- 3
Choose Custom → Web, enter "Arlet" as the Name and https://mcp.arlet.dev/mcp/ as the Remote MCP server URL, then click Add. Authentication settings are auto-detected, so keep the defaults.
- 4
The first time you use it, sign in with Google. After that, every service you switched on in Arlet is available from Claude.
Adding a connector is done by an organization admin on Team / Enterprise plans. On Pro / Max you can add it for yourself from Settings → Connectors with the same steps.