US Census Records – Fee or Free Comparison Chart

Here’s a comparison chart of US Census Records available at FamilySearch and some partner websites including AmericanAncestors, Ancestry, FindMyPast, and MyHeritage.

Each title links to a record collection. FamilySearch is the only entirely free collection but you can use the other links to get a feel for the look of each site. AmericanAncestors links to a general search window and you’ll need to select the database, “United State Census …”

“Index only” means a site provides a name index, which is information extracted from the handwritten census record. This usually includes every name in the census, the census year, the place the record was collected, the age and gender of the family member, and possibly information about other family members living at the residence, etc.

“Index and Images” means the site provides the index and an image of the handwritten census record. The image allows you to verify the extracted information, and possibly see other census information not extracted for the index.