"Will probably get you a quick visit from the police, I know i'd be on my cell phone in about five seconds. We were instructed to just call the cops if we have any problems.
I'm not sure why people are so nuts census workers, we are just trying to do our jobs. I would feel uncomfortable too in the situation the OP described but if someone comes up to your door with a clearly displayed ID badge to just ask you a couple of questions in a friendly manner, why be a jerk to them?"
-I don't have a problem with census workers asking basic questions, how many people live in the household, ages and sexes of the household. After that, it's really none of your business or the governments. They don't need to know my income, number of bathrooms, measurements of my house, medical conditions, number of rooms in the house, how you heat or cool it, rent or own, rent payment, mortgage payment etc... I don't give this information to anyone else what makes you think I am going to tell it to the Federal government. Besides if they check my tax forms they would know most of it, but that would be too smart and too easy.
-When you start into this line of intrusive questioning you are going to politely be told that is none of your business. If you persist you are going to be told to leave, immediately. If you don't you will get the sheriff called on you for trespassing.