Census - Town Census & Federal Census

Town Census (Annual)

Annual Census forms are mailed early January of every year.

Why is the Census Important?      

In accordance with Massachusetts General Law c51,s4, we are required to communicate with each household and compile an annual street list – also known as a town census. If the census form received is accurate, sign and return to the Town Clerk's Office by mail within 10 days of receipt.  If updates need to be made, please make the necessary changes, sign and return it.  If you've moved into Wayland after the 1st of January and would like to establish residency, please complete the "census form for new resident" at the bottom of this page and be sure to include you and members of your household.  If you are a current resident and you have misplaced for 2023 Census form, please click on the "2023 Wayland Blank Census" at the bottom of this page to download, complete and return.  Completed forms can be mailed, dropped off at Town Hall at the Town Clerk's office or scanned (pdf only) to treid@wayland.ma.us.

The census is critical for Wayland to maintain accurate population information for municipal services, calculate state and federal funding allocations, and project school enrollments and costs. It also assists individuals with proof of residence for housing and veterans’ benefits, in-state college tuition, insurance benefits, and more.

What happens if I don't return my census?

While returning your census does not register you to vote, failure to respond by shall result in removal from the active voting list.  The inactive voters will be placed on the inactive voters list and will be sent a confirmation notice.  The confirmation notice must sign and return in order to convert back to an active voter. The confirmation notice is meant to confirm that the voter continues to reside at the address at which he or she is registered, or if the voter has moved, update the address on file. Voters who fail to return confirmation notices will remain on the inactive voters list.

Inactive Voters 

On Election Day, If you are an inactive voter, you will be on the Inactive Voter List when you check-in at your polling place.  Before you may vote, you will be required to show identification and complete an affirmation of current and continuous residence.  The identification must reflect the voter's name and address as it appears on the Inactive Voter List.  It is not required that you present photo identification. Acceptable forms of identification include: a driver's license, state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains your name and address.  Inactive voters may still cast a ballot, if you have moved within Wayland, or have moved from one Massachusetts municipality to another within six months of a state election.

Returning to Active Voter

Inactive voters remain registered to vote until they fail to vote in two consecutive biennial state elections. Inactive voters are restored to the active voters list any time they return a Census form, complete an affirmation of current and continuous residence, fill out a new voter registration form, sign a nomination form/petition or submit anything to their local election official which is signed under penalty of perjury and confirms the voter's address. 

 If the census form received is accurate, sign and return to the Town Clerk's Office by mail within 10 days of receipt.  If updates need to be made, please make the necessary changes, sign and return it.  If you've moved into Wayland after the 1st of January and would like to establish residency, please complete a Census Form to include you and members of your household or register to vote.

Federal Census

The Federal Census is conducted every 10 years.  The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. The Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail. Federal Census are now able to be completed online.

Federal 2020 Census Response Rates

Total 2020 Census self-response rate for Massachusetts as of March 30, 2020 was 38.3%.  The Total 2020 Census self-response rate for Wayland, as of March 30, 2020, was 48.0%; Weston 47.5%; Concord 52.1%; Lincoln 42.9%; and, Sudbury 52.9%.