ACS
The American Community Survey (ACS) is a nationwide survey conducted on an ongoing basis to collect data about the nation, states, counties, and places. The data are released in single-year, 5-year, and 3-year time periods.
The ACS estimates replaces information formerly gathered in the decennial census; data on the "Short form"/sample.
- Nation or State, County, or Place ProfilesIf all you need need is the nation or a State, County, or Place: from ACS page, select Data Tables and Tools, then Data Profiles Selector.
Four profiles are available:
Demographic
Social
Economic
Housing - Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) DataFor those seeking the data behind the tables, PUMS files back to 2005 are available in CSV and SAS formats.
- IPUMSIPUMS provides census and survey data from around the world integrated across time and space. IPUMS integration and documentation makes it easy to study change, conduct comparative research, merge information across data types, and analyze individuals within family and community contexts. Data and services available free of charge.
Time Periods
ACS estimates are time periods not a point in time.
Do: express data in time periods
“The child poverty rate for the 2005-2007 period was X percent.”
Do: compare data using same types of estimates
Do: compare estimates using data from the same survey years (periods)
Do: compare data from non-overlapping periods
Example: 2005-2007 ACS 3-year estimate and the 2008-2010 ACS 3-year estimate
Don't: refer to data as a year (use the time period)
Don't: compare estimates from overlapping periods
Example: don't compare 2005-2007 ACS 3-year estimates and 2006-2008 ACS 3-year estimates
Help
What General Data Users Need To Know (A Compass for Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data)Call Number: Reference HA37.U55 J33 2008
What Researchers Need to Know (A Compass for Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data)Call Number: Reference HA37.U55 B76 2009
