United States Census Bureau

Yes. You are legally obligated to answer all the questions, as accurately as you can.

The relevant laws are Title 18 U.S.C Section 3571 and Section 3559, which amends Title 13 U.S.C. Section 221.

Your answers are important. As part of a sample, you represent many other people. Find out how each question helps your community, your state, and the federal government in questions on the form and why we ask.

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If someone has contacted you about the American Community Survey and you would like to verify that the visit or phone call you received was legitimate, you may call your Census Regional office. You can find contact information for your Census Regional office at http://www.census.gov/regions/.

In order to collect the required American Community Survey (ACS) data, we use a multi-part strategy, including Internet, mail, telephone calls, and personal visits.

• First, we send a letter to let you know your address has been selected for the ACS.
• Then most respondents receive instructions to complete the ACS online. If the survey is not completed, we send you a replacement questionnaire in about two weeks.
• If we still do not receive a completed survey, we may attempt to call you from one of our call centers. You may also receive a telephone call if you completed the survey, but clarification is needed on the information you provided.
• If we cannot reach you by phone, we may send a Census interviewer to your address to complete the interview in person.

Interviewers may visit you or attempt to call you after normal business hours when it is more likely you will be at home.

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Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are non-overlapping areas that partition each state into areas containing about 100,000 residents. PUMAs were developed to be the most detailed geographic area available in the Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS). Because the State Data Centers (SDCs) and their partner organizations help define these areas for the Census Bureau, they should be meaningful to many data users.

PUMA boundaries are updated with each decennial census in cooperation with the SDCs. For more information, visit the Public Use Microdata Areas page. American Community Survey PUMS files will begin to use the new 2010 PUMA boundaries for PUMS data released in 2013.

PUMA Mapping Resources

• Detailed maps of state PUMA boundaries are available on the Reference Maps page.
• Information on the geographic concepts (i.e. counties, county subdivisions, places, and census tracts) located within each PUMA is available on our FTP site. First, select your state of interest, then pick the text file PUMEQ5-XX.TXT, where XX is your state's 2 letter abbreviation. For example, if you select Michigan as your state of interest, the corresponding text file is PUMEQ5-MI.TXT

PUMAs were first made available in the 2005 ACS 1-year PUMS files and have been included in every PUMS release since then. ACS PUMS files from 2000-2004 did not include the PUMA variable.

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Our telephone representatives attempt to call households to collect important survey information. If someone has contacted you about the American Community Survey and you would like to verify that the phone call you received was legitimate, you may call one of our call centers directly:

• Hagerstown, MD: 1-800-392-6975
• Jeffersonville, IN: 1-800-523-3205
• Tucson, AZ: 1-800-642-0469

In order to collect the required American Community Survey (ACS) data, we use a multi-part strategy, including Internet, mail, telephone calls, and personal visits.

• First, we send a letter to let you know your address has been selected for the ACS.
• Then most respondents receive instructions to complete the ACS online. If the survey is not completed, we send you a replacement questionnaire in about two weeks.
• If we still do not receive a completed survey, we may attempt to call you from one of our call centers. You may also receive a telephone call if you completed the survey, but clarification is needed on the information you provided.
• If we cannot reach you by phone, we may send a Census interviewer to your address to complete the interview in person.

Telephone interviewers may attempt to call you after normal business hours when it is more likely you will be at home. 

Keywords: scam, bogus

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In most instances, yes. If you received a letter or postcard inviting you to complete the American Community Survey online, you will need to visit https://respond.census.gov/acs and enter your ten digit user ID from the letter or informational card you received in the mail.

If you did not receive a mailing inviting you to respond online, this option is not yet available for your area.

Keywords: Internet

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When you access the American Community Survey online, you will be given a four-digit PIN.  The PIN is unique to your survey answers. It is needed to re-enter the survey after you logout, or if your session times out. Please remember it.

The Census Bureau cannot remind you of your PIN if you forget it. If you cannot remember your PIN, you may call 1-800-354-7271 to have the survey reset. However, once a survey is reset, you must start again at the beginning.

Keywords: Internet, personal identification number

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The American Community Survey (ACS) asks for individuals' names for two reasons.  First, we have found over many years of research that it is easier for a respondent to keep track of which person they are answering for if the names are used.  If you are interrupted while completing the survey, it will be easier to resume if you know which person you were working on - particularly in larger households.

The second reason is administrative.  In some instances, responses are difficult to interpret, or missing critical information. If we have the name and phone number of the person who completed the survey, we can call to collect missing information or ask for clarification.  By having the other names, we can more easily refer to specific information.

Without the name and phone number, we would have to send someone to an address to gather the information - which is more expensive than a phone call. 

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On the American Community Survey (ACS), if no one in your household knows the answer to a question, and the information cannot be referenced in a bill or other document, please give your best estimate.

Thank you for the time that you spend completing the survey; we greatly appreciate your taking the time to provide accurate and complete data for your household.

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Addresses selected for the American Community Survey (ACS) come from the Census Bureau’s Master Address File (MAF). The MAF is the Census Bureau’s official inventory of known living quarters and selected nonresidential units in the United States and Puerto Rico.  Each scientifically selected address represents other households in the surrounding community.

Interviewing a small sample of addresses, 3.5 million, rather than all addresses in the United States, allows the Census Bureau  to measure the whole population while limiting the cost of the survey and reducing the overall impact on respondents.

For more detailed information, please visit:
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/survey_methodology/acs_design_methodology_ch04.pdf

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The ACS is a legitimate survey that is part of the Decennial Census Program.  It is a survey sent to a small percentage of our population on a rotating basis.  The ACS collects detailed information on the characteristics of our population and housing.  These data were previously collected only in census years in conjunction with the decennial census.  Since the ACS is conducted every year, rather than once every ten years, it provides more current estimates throughout the decade. 

Estimates from the ACS contribute to providing an important picture of America, and an accurate response to the ACS questionnaire is important.  When used in conjunction with the most recently available decennial census counts, information from the ACS documents how we live as a nation, including our education, housing, jobs, and many other issues. 

Questions in the ACS are required to manage or evaluate federal and state government programs. For example, information on income is required for use by the Social Security Act, the National School Lunch Program, the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, and the U.S. Department of Education for grant allocation. Journey-to-work information is used by federal, state, and local transportation planning agencies in designing regional transportation systems. Information on language spoken at home is used under the Voting Rights Act to assess the fairness of voting practices in governmental subdivisions.

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Our secure server uses a digital certificate (digital ID) issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) as proof of identity. The only way to be sure of a web site's authenticity is to view their digital ID.

The digital ID will contain information such as:

• The name of the organization that owns the web site (for example, "U.S. Census Bureau")
• The site's registered Internet name/address (for example, "respond.census.gov")
• The name of the Certification Authority under which the digital ID was issued (for example, "VeriSign Trust Network")

The method for viewing a web site's Digital Certificate/ID varies depending on the web browser. Please see your browser's "help" information for instructions on how to verify a web site's identity.

Keywords: security, online, safe, legitimate

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We understand concerns about identity theft and privacy. We will ensure that only authorized persons with a work-related need-to-know view your personal information. When we process the information collected by the American Community Survey (ACS), individuals’ names and other personal identifiers are deleted from the files used to tabulate these data. We do not maintain a national database with the names, addresses, and personal information collected by the ACS.

Additionally, we employ statistical methodologies to ensure that the statistics we release do not identify individuals or businesses. These methods include extensive review and analysis of all our data products, as well as disclosure avoidance methodologies (such as data suppression and modification) to screen out data that might identify a specific individual or business.

Please note that the ACS does not ask for Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden name, or specific information regarding bank accounts or credit cards—the information typically used for identity theft.

If you are reluctant to complete the survey online or by mail, you may call 1-800-354-7271 to complete the survey over the phone.

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We ask these questions because federal and state government require the data that we collect to manage or evaluate programs.  For example, information about utilities is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to administer their programs.  Journey-to-work information, such as what time you leave your home, is used by federal and state government transportation planning agencies for roads and public transit development. 

Read more about the purposes of each question at: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/about_the_survey/questions_and_why_we_ask/.

Please note that the topics on the American Community Survey (ACS) are nearly identical to those topics asked in the 2000 Census long form questionnaire.   

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Since the release of the 2005 American Community Survey (ACS) data, detailed tables, as well as other tables and maps, use the same numbering scheme.
An ACS detailed table number consists of up to five elements: 

1. An initial character which is either “B” or “C.”

• A “B” is used for base tables. These tables provide the most detailed estimates on all topics and for all geographies.
• A "C" is used for a collapsed version of a "B" table. A "C" table is very similar to a "B" table with the same number (e.g., C07001 and B07001), but two or more lines from the "B" table have been collapsed to a single line in the "C" table. For example, the lines "75 to 79 years", "80 to 84 years" and "85 years and over" from a "B" table may be collapsed to a single line of "75 years and over" in a "C" table.
• Not every "B" table has a collapsed version.

2. The next two characters identify the subject of the table. 

01 = Age and Sex
02 = Race
03 = Hispanic or Latino Origin
04 = Ancesty
05 = Foreign Born; Citizenship; Year or Entry; Nativity
06 = Place of Birth
07 = Residence 1 Year Ago; Migration
08 = Journey to Work; Workers' Characteristics; Commuting
09 = Children; Household Relationship
10 = Grandparents; Grandchildren
11 = Household Type; Family Type; Subfamilies
12 = Marital Status and History
13 = Fertility
14 = School Enrollment
15 = Educational Attainment
16 = Language Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English
17 = Poverty
18 = Disability
19 = Income (Households and Families)
20 = Earnings (Individuals)
21 = Veteran Status
22 = Food Stamps
23 = Employment Status; Work Experience; Labor Force
24 = Industry; Occupation; Class of Worker
25 = Housing Characteristics
26 = Group Quarters
27 = Health Insurance
98 = Quality Measures
99 = Imputation table for any subject 

3. The next 3 digits are a sequential number, such as 001 or 002, to uniquely identify the table within a given subject. 

4. For selected tables, an alphabetic suffix follows to indicate that a table is repeated for the nine major race and Hispanic or Latino groups:

A = White Alone
B = Black or African American Alone
C = American Indian and Alaska Native Alone
D = Asian Alone
E = Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Alone
F = Some Other Race Alone
G = Two or More Races
H = White Alone, Not Hispanic or Latino
I = Hispanic or Latino 

5. For selected tables, a final alphabetic suffix "PR" follows to indicate a table used for Puerto Rico geographies only. These Puerto Rico-specific tables exist because for some geography-based subjects, the wording of the Puerto Rico Community Survey questionnaire differs slightly but significantly from the American Community Survey questionnaire. The matching table used for United States geographies has the same ID but without the trailing "PR" (e.g., B06014 and B06014PR).

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The United States Constitution states that "[An] Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct." Pursuant to this constitutional directive, Congress passed separate laws for each decennial census and specified the information to be collected. In 1954, Congress codified earlier census acts and all other statutes authorizing the decennial census as Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.). From the very first census act, Congress sought the collection of more information than just a headcount. 

Because the American Community Survey (ACS) is part of the Decennial Census Program, it is governed by the same laws as the census. The current legal authority for collecting these data resides in Title 13 of the U.S.C. or the “Census Act.” The Census Act provides the Census Bureau with legal authority to conduct the decennial census and delegates broad discretionary authority to the Secretary of Commerce for determining the manner of conducting the census. This authority has been redelegated by the Secretary to the Director of the Census Bureau.

Even though Congress has granted this broad discretionary authority, the questions asked in the Census and ACS are determined by what data are needed to implement a vast array of federal programs. Courts routinely have upheld the constitutionality of collecting census data, characterizing as unquestionable the power of Congress to require both an enumeration and the collection of statistics in the census.

The Courts have held that the Constitution, including the Fifth and Fourth Amendments, does not prohibit the gathering of other statistics in addition to the enumeration.

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Our web site on Poverty provides data links to all of the sources of poverty data that are published by the Census Bureau.  These include data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), the American Community survey (ACS), Census 2000, and other data sources.  Also, you can access Detailed and Historical Poverty tables from this page.

• The Current Population Survey collects national and state poverty data through our annual report "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008".  Tables can be produced for the U.S. and states and Detailed Tables for the nation.

The following sites require using our data access tool "American FactFinder." If you need assistance you may call the Customer Liaison and Marketing Services Office at 1-800-923-8282 or (301) 763-INFO (4636).

• American Community Survey (ACS): Estimates for the United States, Puerto Rico, all states, Congressional Districts, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more are released annually in the ACS 1-year estimates.  Data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more are available annually from the ACS 3-year estimates.  Data for geographic areas as small as tracts and block groups are available annually from the ACS 5-year estimates.  Learn more about the ACS on our website and access our estimates via American FactFinder.
  
  
• 2000 Census on Population and Housing - Poverty data are provided from Summary File 3 and Summary File 4 for all geographic areas in the U.S.  You can also access 1990 Census data using Summary Tape File 3.  The census does provide poverty data tables for all geographies down to the block group level and all ZIP Code Tabulation Areas in the U.S.

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When counting the number of rooms in a home for the American Community Survey (ACS), please count rooms separated by built-in archways or walls that extend out at least 6 inches and go from floor to ceiling. Include only whole rooms used for living purposes, such as living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, finished recreation rooms, family rooms, enclosed porches suitable for year-round use, etc.

DO NOT count bathrooms, kitchenettes, strip or pullman kitchens, utility rooms, foyers, halls, open porches, balconies, unfinished attics, unfinished basements, or other unfinished space used for storage.

Specific Concerns:

• A pullman kitchen, also known as a strip kitchen, is a kitchen in which all cabinets, shelves, and facilities (such as the sink or refrigerator) are located against a single wall. This type of kitchen is most often found in small homes or apartments. Do not count a pullman kitchen as a separate room because it is not separate from other rooms of the house.
  
  
• Partially divided rooms, such as a dinette next to a kitchen or living room is a separate room ONLY if there is a built-in partition or wall from floor to ceiling, but not if the partition consists solely of shelves or cabinets.
  
  
• A combination living room/dining room would be considered a single room.

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Group Quarters (GQ) are places where people live or stay, in a group living arrangement, which is owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing and/or services for the residents. This is not a typical household-type living arrangement. These services  may  include custodial or medical care as well as other types of assistance, and residency is commonly restricted to those receiving these services. People living in group quarters are usually not related to each other.

Group quarters include such places as college residence halls, residential treatment centers, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, military barracks, correctional facilities, and workers’ dormitories.

Group quarters are categorized into two groups, institutional and non-institutional, in the American Community Survey (ACS) estimates.

Institutional Group Quarters: Includes facilities for people under formally authorized, supervised care or custody at the time of interview, such as correctional facilities, nursing facilities/skilled nursing facilities, in-patient hospice facilities, mental (psychiatric) hospitals, group homes for juveniles, and residential treatment centers for juveniles.

Non-institutional Group Quarters: Includes facilities that are not classified as institutional group quarters, such as college/university housing, group homes intended for adult, residential  treatment facilities for adults, workers’ group living quarters and Job Corps centers, and religious group quarters.

The ACS sample included the group quarters population beginning in 2006. Before that, the ACS only sampled the population living in households.

Please visit the Documentation page on the ACS website to learn more about group quarters. People living in group housing can also learn more about the group quarters form on the ACS website.

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The Census Bureau publishes ACS data in tables on the American FactFinder website. From there, you can choose from a variety of table types, including Data Profiles, Geographic Comparison Tables, and more.

Other data options include:

• Summary File

• Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files

• Downloadable data via FTP

To learn more about these options, visit the Data & Documentation page on the ACS website.

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If you are returning a completed paper questionnaire, please send it to:

Director
U.S. Census Bureau
P.O. Box 5240
Jeffersonville, IN 47199-5240

Some people may also be able to complete the survey online. To find out if you are eligible, call 1-800-354-7271. Thank you for responding.

Keywords: replacement, misplaced, find

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You must think about the balance between currency and sample size/reliability/precision. The 1-year and 3-year estimates are more current than the 5-year estimates. However, the 5-year estimates have a larger sample size and are therefore usually more precise than the 1-year or 3-year estimates. The increased precision of a 5-year estimate may be particularly important if you are studying a small area or a small population subgroup.

For more detailed information, visit When to use 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year estimates on the American Community Survey (ACS) website.

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Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files include a subset of cases from the full confidential ACS microdata file. Typically, the PUMS files include only about two-thirds of the cases contained in the larger confidential dataset that is used to make tables for AFF. The smaller number of cases in the PUMS means that PUMS estimates will be different and slightly less reliable than estimates in AFF.

The Census Bureau makes additional modifications to the PUMS files to protect the confidentiality of respondents. These modifications can include, for example, the "top-coding" of continuous variables with outlying values (such as income or transportation time) and the reduction of category availability for variables with hundreds of categories (such as ancestry or birthplace). These changes can also cause PUMS estimates to differ slightly from those in AFF.

To confirm that you are applying weights correctly, please refer to the user verification files on the ACS website.

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If you are completing a paper questionnaire, use a pen with blue or black ink, or a #2 pencil. For more information on how to respond or get help with your form, visit the About the Survey section of the ACS Web page.

Some people may also be able to complete the survey online. To find out if you are eligible, call 1-800-354-7271. Thank you for responding.

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The Census Bureau does use statistics from other government agencies for research and evaluations to improve our surveys and censuses and better understand the information we are collecting.  We also use such information to help develop estimates of the population between census years.  However, we cannot use other agencies’ information in place of actual responses to the American Community Survey (ACS)  for several reasons. 

• These statistics – called administrative records – do not contain information for everyone.
   
• We cannot obtain all of the required information from administrative records. 
  
  
• Information from administrative records may not be usable because of differences in collection periods or definitions. 
  
  
• The ACS was designed to provide up-to-date information for federal and state agencies.  Administrative records usually are not as current as the information that we collect.

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Yes.  American Community Survey information is encrypted at all times. 

Our secure servers use "HTTPS" Hypertext Transfer Protocol over Secure Socket Layer, to ensure the encrypted transmission of data between your browser and the U.S. Census Bureau.  This means that instead of sending readable text over the Internet, both your browser and our server encode (scramble) all data using a security key. 

In addition to data being encrypted during transmission, all data are encrypted for protection when stored on the Census Bureau servers.

Keywords: encryption, security, internet, online

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If you cannot complete the survey online, there is no need to contact us. The Census Bureau will send you a paper questionnaire in about two weeks.

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Due to the large volume of American Community Survey (ACS) forms that we process, there may have been a delay between the time you completed the ACS and the time it was logged in. Alternatively, some survey materials may travel more quickly through the postal system.

If you wish to double-check that we have received your responses, please call our Telephone Questionnaire Assistance line toll-free at 1-800-354-7271.

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Yes, the American Community Survey Office provides programs for users to load Summary Files into a SAS dataset.  Users must have SAS installed on their computer in order for the programs to work.  The sample SAS programs for the 5-year estimates include:

• SF20095YR_SAS.zip:  Contains 16,000+ SAS programs, one for each Summary File, which can be used to convert each estimate and margin of error Summary File into a SAS dataset with table stubs.
• SF_All_Macro.sas:  This is a detailed example SAS program containing SAS macros that access the three different types of Summary Files for one table for all geographies from the ACS Summary File.

Programs are available for other years in the Summary File's "UserTools" folder on the FTP site.

There are no SAS programs provided for the PUMS files because PUMS data are distributed in SAS format.

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The ACS uses the concept of "current residence" to determine who should be considered residents of sample housing units. The basic idea behind this concept is that everyone who is currently living or staying at an address for more than two months is considered a current resident of that address.

This means that their expected length of stay is more than two months, not that they have been staying in the housing unit for more than two months at the time when the survey is conducted. Persons away from their residence for two months or less, whether in the United States or overseas, on a vacation or on a business trip, are considered to still be a "resident" at the address, and the unit is classified as occupied and eligible for inclusion in the survey. Persons away from their residence for more than two months are considered not to be a resident. For the ACS, if no one is determined to be a current resident in the sampled housing unit, it is classified as "vacant."

There are a few exceptions to the "two-month" rule, as noted below:

Persons Without Another Place to Stay -- Anyone staying at a residence who does not have another place to stay, even if they are at the residence for two months or less, are always considered current residents of the residence.

Children Away at School -- Children (below college age) who are away at boarding school or summer camp for more than two months are always considered current residents of their parents' homes. College students' current residency is established by the two-month rule.

Children in Joint Custody -- Children who live under joint custody agreements and move between residences are always considered current residents of the sampled housing unit where they are staying at the time of the interview.

"Commuter Workers" -- People who stay at a residence close to work and return regularly to another residence to be with their family are always considered current residents of the family residence, not the work-related residence.

Residency in Group Quarters facilities is determined differently. All people residing in the selected facility at the time of interview, regardless of the length of stay, are eligible to be selected to be interviewed in the ACS.

For more information on ACS residency rules, read Chapter 6: Survey Rules, Concepts and Definitions, Section 6.3: Residence Rules on the Methodology page of the ACS website.

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States, Puerto Rico, and Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are the only geographic areas identified in the ACS PUMS. While PUMAs can often be used to identify counties, cities, and metropolitan areas with populations of more than 100,000 people, the ACS PUMS does not include variables identifying these other types of areas.

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No. The Census Bureau receives your responses once you have submitted your completed American Community Survey online. Therefore, mailing back your questionnaire is not required and saves mailing costs.

Keywords: form

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No. An address may not be removed from the American Community Survey (ACS) sample as the validity of sample data would quickly decline if selected households were removed.

We try to keep the number of households in the sample as small as possible in order to limit the cost of the survey and reduce the impact on respondents. An address probably will not be included in the ACS survey more than once in a five-year period.

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Yes. However, if you are unable to complete the American Community Survey (ACS), a trusted individual or relative could call us toll-free on 1-800-354-7271 and complete the survey over the phone as your proxy.  Alternatively, a trusted individual or relative, with your permission, may complete the survey online or fill out the paper form.

While responding to the ACS may be more challenging for people who are older or disabled, everyone's information is very important. For example, statistics about the size, distribution, and needs of the disabled and older population are used by a number of federal agencies to ensure that everyone has access to adequate housing, transportation, and services.

An address cannot be removed from the ACS sample, as the validity of sample data for important groups would quickly deteriorate if selected households were exempted.

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• American Community Survey
  American Community Survey (ACS): Estimates for the United States, Puerto Rico, all states, Congressional Districts, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more are released annually in the ACS 1-year estimates.  Data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more are available annually from the ACS 3-year estimates.  Data for geographic areas as small as tracts and block groups are available annually from the ACS 5-year estimates.  Learn more about the ACS on our website and access our estimates via American FactFinder.
  
  

• Census 2000 Summary File 3
  Occupational categories; data for areas as small as census tracts & blocks; only source of ZIP Code tabulation area data on occupation.
  
  

• Census 2000 Summary File 4
  Detailed occupation data for areas as small as census tracts; most detailed data on race, Hispanic, American Indian, & ancestry groups.
  
  

• Census 2000 Special Equal Employment Opportunity File
  Specially designed for EEO planning; data for areas where people work and live; extensive race detail.
  
  

• Current Population Survey
  Source of occupation data shown in many socioeconomic reports; mostly national data.
  
  

Users interested in occupation should also consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Census Bureau's own Statistical Abstract of the United States (see the section on "Labor Force, Employment, and Earnings," as well as other sections).  An introduction to the sources of labor force statistics is also available on our site.

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The Guidance for Data Users page on the American Community Survey (ACS) website is a valuable resource for assistance in using ACS estimates. Here are some suggestions for avoiding common mistakes when working with ACS statistics:

• The ACS was designed to provide estimates of the characteristics of the population, not to provide counts of the population in different geographic areas or population subgroups.
• Use caution in comparing ACS data with data from the decennial census or other sources. Every survey uses different methods, which could affect the comparability of the numbers.
• Be careful in drawing conclusions about small differences between two estimates because they may not be statistically different.
• Data users need to be careful not to interpret annual fluctuations in the data as long-term trends.
• Use caution in comparing data from 2006 and later surveys with data from the 2000-2005 surveys. Unlike earlier surveys, the 2006 ACS survey includes samples of the population living in group quarters (e.g., college dorms and nursing homes), so the data may not be comparable, especially for young adults and the elderly, who are more likely than other age groups to be living in group quarters facilities.
• Data users should not interpret or refer to 3-year or 5-year period estimates as estimates of the middle year or last year in the series. For example, a 2005-2007 estimate is not a "2006 average."
• The Census Bureau discourages direct comparisons between estimates for overlapping periods. Instead, compare nonoverlapping estimates. This means we discourage you from comparing the 2005-2007 ACS 3-year estimates to the 2006-2008 ACS 3-year estimates. It is better for you to compare a 2005-2007 ACS 3-year estimate to a 2008-2010 3-year ACS estimate.
• When comparing estimates for different areas, use the same period length for each estimate. This means you should not compare a 1-year estimate to a 3-year estimate.

More suggestions can be found in the What General Data Users Need to Know handbook.

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The American Community Survey (ACS) is designed to measure characteristics of persons who live or stay in each community at the time their address was selected for the survey. To do this, the ACS employs a two-month rule in determining who is eligible to participate in the survey:  if the current resident of the address is living or staying at the address for more than two months, that resident should complete the ACS.

There are a few exceptions: 

• People who stay in a residence close to their work and return regularly to another residence, usually to be with family, are considered to be current residents of the family residence, not the work-related residence. 
• People who have nowhere else to live should be counted at the address where they are currently living, even if they do not plan to stay in the address for more than two months.
• Children in shared custody should be included if they are present in the home when the survey is completed.

Please do not forward the ACS information to someone who does not live at the address, such as a previous tenant, landlord, or property manager.

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New American Community Survey (ACS) estimates are released every year. The type of estimates available varies depending on the population of an area.

• One-year estimates (based on data collected in the previous calendar year) are published for geographic areas with a population of 65,000 or more.
• Three-year estimates (based on data collected from the previous three calendar years), are published for areas with a population of 20,000 or more.
• Five-year estimates (based on data collected from the previous five calendar years), are available for areas of all sizes, down to the block group level.

Learn more about When to use 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year estimates on the ACS website. You can also learn more about the specific Geographic Areas Published on the ACS website.

ACS data products are generally released the year after they are collected. For example, data collected in 2009 was released in 2010. As soon as specific release dates are set, they are posted on the Newsroom page. We will also notify everyone who has registered to receive ACS email updates as soon as release dates are announced.

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The American Community Survey sample over a 5-year period is smaller than the Census 2000 long form sample.  In addition, while Census 2000 followed up with ALL nonrespondents who did not mail back their questionnaire, the ACS follows up with a sample of nonrespondents who do not respond by mail or telephone.   As a consequence of these design differences, ACS estimates are usually less precise (or reliable) than corresponding estimates from the Census long form.  

However, precision (or reliability) is only one of the factors that affect the overall quality and usability of sample survey estimates.  Other important factors include overall unit response, data completeness, and how well the sample covers the target population.  Evaluations show that the ACS is about the same or better than the Census long form with respect to these three factors.  ACS response levels have been consistently high at the national across all major population groups.  Data completeness and population coverage are generally higher for the ACS compared to the long form.  Overall, the loss of reliability in the ACS estimates is offset by improvements in other measures of quality.

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We can assure you that American Community Survey (ACS) respondents’ confidentiality is protected. Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about all respondents strictly confidential. We will publish only statistics from this survey, not any information that could identify you or anyone else personally.

All Census Bureau interviewers take an oath of confidentiality. Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine up to $250,000 or a prison sentence up to five years, or both. 

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A knowledgeable adult at least 15 years old or older should complete the American Community Survey (ACS). This person should live in the household and have a good understanding of the household finances.

A nonhousehold person, such as a neighbor, landlord, or janitor is not eligible to be a respondent if the home is occupied.

If the only person available at the sampled address is physically or mentally unable to respond for him/herself, he or she may designate a nonhousehold (proxy) respondent. The nonhousehold respondent must live or spend time in the sample unit caring for the disabled person and be knowledgeable about the household.

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The Census Bureau provides data on educational attainment from the following sources:

• American Community Survey (ACS): Estimates for the United States, Puerto Rico, all states, Congressional Districts, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more are released annually in the ACS 1-year estimates.  Data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more are available annually from the ACS 3-year estimates.  Data for geographic areas as small as tracts and block groups are available annually from the ACS 5-year estimates.  Learn more about the ACS on our website and access our estimates via American FactFinder.
  
  
• The Current Population Survey (CPS). This survey collects annual data on educational attainment for the nation and from the CPS Data Tables, Products, and Reports as well as historical reports for the U.S. and states.  The CPS report A Half-Century of Learning: Historical Statistics on Educational Attainment in the United States: 1940 to 2000 is also an excellent source of data.
  
  
• 2000 Census of Population and Housing.  Educational attainment are available for all geographic areas.  Our Census 2000 brief Educational Attainment: 2000 provides information at the national and state level, and also includes U.S. map showing county-level information.  Additional data tables from the census are also available..

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Subscribe

To sign up for updates, select the "Get Email Updates" icon on the right side of the ACS main page or directly access the Census Bureau's GovDelivery system to enter your email address.

The ACS e-mail updates provide periodic e-mail communication to inform you about news, events, data releases, congressional action, and other developments associated with the ACS.

Unsubscribe or change preferences

If you do not want to receive updates about the ACS, or if you want to receive updates only for particular topics, enter your email address in the Census Bureau's GovDelivery system. You will have the option of changing preferences or unsubscribing.

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The U.S. Census Bureau releases an annual report from the Current Population Survey, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008.  The section in this report on Health Insurance provides national and state level data tables on health insurance coverage and type of coverage by age, race, and ethnicity, i.e., Table H101 for the U.S. and Table H105 for states.

The question on health insurance coverage was added to the American Community Survey questionnaire in 2008. Single year estimates for this topic have been available since the 2008 ACS 1-year data release. Multiyear estimates for health insurance coverage were available for the first time in the 2008-2010 ACS 3-year data release. This topic will be available in the 5-year estimates with the release of the 2008-2012 ACS 5-year estimates in 2013.  

American Community Survey (ACS): Estimates for the United States, Puerto Rico, all states, Congressional Districts, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more are released annually in the ACS 1-year estimates.  Data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more are available annually from the ACS 3-year estimates.  Data for geographic areas as small as tracts and block groups are available annually from the ACS 5-year estimates.  Learn more about the ACS on our website and access our estimates via American FactFinder. 

In addition, the Census Bureau's Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) program produces estimates of health insurance coverage for states and all counties. In July 2005, SAHIE released the first nation-wide set of county-level estimates on the number of people without health insurance coverage by sex and for age groups under 65, 18-64, 40-64, and those under 19 years old.  In August 2009, SAHIE released 2006 estimates of health insurance coverage at the state level by selected age, race/ethnic, and sex by income categories; county level data included age, sex, and income categories.  The 2007 release is planned for 2010.

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You can use TIGERweb to view the 2010 Census PUMAs maps.

• Start by visiting the TIGERweb home page.

• In the TIGERweb Applications box on the left side of the screen, select the TIGERweb link. The TIGERweb interactive map will launch, and you will see a Map Layers box.

• Select the radio button in front of the desired vintage option.
  

• After you select the desired vintage, click on the box next to the PUMAs, UGAs, and ZCTAs layer. Once you click on the box, a check mark will appear and the PUMA layer becomes active.

• Next, expand the layer by clicking on the arrow next to the PUMAs, UGAs, and ZCTAs layer name.

• You will see two geographic areas: 2010 Census Public Use Microdata Areas and 2010 Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas. De-activate the 2010 Census ZIP Code Tabulation Area by clicking on the check mark in the box next to the layer name.

• Close the Map Layers box by clicking the X in the upper right corner. 

• Now zoom into the map to view the 2010 Census PUMAs.  

The American Community Survey PUMS files will begin to use the 2010 PUMA boundaries in 2013 with the 2012 ACS data release.

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The ACS Code List contains information on how countries are grouped in the “Place of Birth, Migration, & Place of Work Code List” section.  The list also shows detailed codes for other variables with a large number of coded responses.

You can also visit the Comparing ACS Data page for more information on comparing place of birth data between the ACS and Census 2000 or between various years of the ACS.

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There are two thresholds used for Selected Population Profiles (SPPs).

First, we look at the total population size of the geographic area. Beginning with the 2007 American Community Survey (ACS), SPPs are released for geographic areas with a total population of at least 500,000. Prior to the 2007 ACS, Selected Population Profiles were produced for geographic areas with a total population of at least 1 million.

Second, we look at the size of the population group of interest. 

• The 1-year SPPs are released for population groups with an estimated population of 65,000 or more. 
• The 3-year SPPs are released for population groups with an estimated population of 20,000 or more. 
• The 5-year ACS estimates do not include SPPs. However, a product similar to Census 2000 Summary File 4 and the American Indian and Alaskan Native Summary File was released in 2012 using 2006-2010 ACS 5-year estimates.   Learn more about this special data release.

Selected Population Profiles provide summary tables separately for over 100 detailed race, ethnic, ancestry, and tribal groups. Beginning with the 2007 American Community Survey, the SPPs are also available for approximately 100 countries and region of birth groups.

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The American Community Survey (ACS) has data on these groups. In the survey questionnaire, the Hispanic-origin question had a line which was used to obtain write-in responses of Hispanic subgroups other than the major groups of Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Ricans. Persons with other Hispanic origins (e.g.,Salvadoran, Nicaraguan, Argentinean) were able to write in their specific origin group.  The Census Bureau's code list contains over 30 Hispanic or Latino subgroups.

American Community Survey (ACS): Estimates for the United States, Puerto Rico, all states, Congressional Districts, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more are released annually in the ACS 1-year estimates. Data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more are available annually from the ACS 3-year estimates.  Data for geographic areas as small as tracts and block groups are available annually from the ACS 5-year estimates.  Learn more about the ACS on our website and access our estimates via American FactFinder. 

This is the same approach we use in the 10-year census. For Census 2000, Summary Files 2 and 4 allow users to access any table in the files for a particular Hispanic subgroup provided the group meets certain population criteria for the geographic area under consideration. At present, census data provides information on geographic areas smaller than those cited in the ACS.

• Finally, don't overlook our annual report on the Hispanic population, which has some data by Hispanic type.

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On the American Community Survey (ACS), please include only working vehicles. In addition to passenger vehicles, please include the number of sport utility vehicles (SUVs), working company vehicles (such as police cars, company cars or vans, or taxicabs), and light trucks kept at this address and used for nonbusiness purposes.

Count vehicles of all members of the household including lodgers or other nonrelatives living in the house, apartment, or mobile home. If the sample housing unit is a recreational vehicle (RV), do not include this RV in the total count of vehicles. Do not include motorcycles and motorbikes, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), snow machines, snowmobiles, etc.

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On the American Community Survey (ACS), please include all persons who are living or staying at this address at the time of interview if they will live at the address for more than two months.

Do Include:

• Adults, children, roommates, etc. currently living in the home.
• Children under the age of 18 who are away at boarding school or summer camp.
• Children in shared custody if they are present in the home on the date the survey is completed.

Do NOT Include:

• Someone who has another residence and is staying at the home briefly such as an overnight guest.
• Someone who is not currently living in the home and will be away for two months or more, such as a college student or someone in the military.
• Someone who stays at this address to be closer to work, for example, a commuter worker.

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The Census Bureau uses the information you provide to the American Community Survey (ACS) for statistical purposes only and cannot publish or release information that would identify you and your household. Your information will be used in combination with information from other households to produce statistics for your community.  

These statistics are available to the public, but Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), prohibits the Census Bureau from giving or selling your personal information to anyone, including companies, other federal agencies, and law enforcement.

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Our estimate is that for the average household, the American Community Survey (ACS) will take about 40 minutes to complete, including the time for reviewing the instructions and answers. Since this is an estimate, it will not hold true for every household that receives the survey. Many people also use estimates for items that they do not know or cannot easily research.

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While most homes will have adequate plumbing and kitchen facilities it is important to know how to record these answers on the American Community Survey (ACS) when the facilities are not complete.

Housing Questions:

• Hot and cold running water--a unit must have both cold and hot running water to answer yes to this item. Consider that the unit has hot water even if it has it only part of the time.
  
  
• A flush toilet--do not count toilets that are shared by more than one housing unit or apartment.
  
  
• A bathtub or shower--do not count bathtubs or showers that are shared by more than one housing unit or apartment.
  
  
• A sink with a faucet--the sink must be in the house, apartment or mobile home and you must be able to turn the water on and off with a faucet. All facilities must be located in the house, apartment, or mobile home, but they need not be in the same room.
  
  
• A stove or range--mark “yes” to this question if the stove or range is inside the unit. Portable cooking equipment is not considered a stove or range. For units having only a microwave or portable cooking equipment, such as a hot plate or camping stove, mark “No."
  
  
• A refrigerator--mark “yes” to this question if the refrigerator is inside the unit. If the refrigerator is in a common area shared across several separate units, mark “no”.
  
  
• Telephone service from which you can both make and receive calls--if you have a cell phone (either personal or work), but no land line, then answer “yes” to this question.

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Generally, you can compare American Community Survey (ACS) estimates with data from Census 2000 or the 2010 Census.

If you are comparing ACS estimates with other ACS estimates, use the same period length. For example, this means you should compare a 1-year estimate only to another 1-year estimate, not to a 3-year estimate or a 5-year estimate. However, since ACS variables change over time, some areas and subjects must be compared with caution or not compared at all. Visit Comparing ACS Data for more information about comparing ACS estimates over time and with Census 2000 or 2010 Census.

If you are looking for a table that is comparable between Census 2000 and the ACS 5-year estimates, you may find our Table Comparison Tool to be useful. This tool allows data users to search by table number for a comparable table between the ACS 5-year estimates and the Census 2000 SF3 detailed tables. The table comparability may be identical, comparable for some uses, or there may be no comparable table.

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There are a number of reasons why any particular table may not be available for the 5-year estimates.

• Even though your table is not in American FactFinder, it may still be available in the ACS Summary File. For the 2009 data release, about 300 tables are available only in the Summary File. Visit the 5-Year Release Details page for a list of detailed tables that are only available in the Summary File and not in American FactFinder.

• Some tables are based on variables where we don't have 5 years of data. For example, the 2008 ACS included several new or modified questions, such as marital history, health insurance coverage, service-connected disability status and ratings, and disability. These topics will be available in the 2008-2012 ACS 5-year estimates, when we have the full 5 years of data. Bachelor's field of degree was added to the 2009 ACS, and this topic will be available in the 2009-2013 ACS 5-year estimates.

• The 1-year and 3-year data provide both a Base and Collapsed version of a table. However, the 5-year data has either the Base table or the Collapsed table—not both.

We may have decided not to produce that table for the ACS in general, even though it was a table in Census 2000.

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To submit questions or comments about the American Community Survey (ACS), you may simply click submit a request or question below.

To speak to a Census Bureau representative, please call the Census Bureau Customer Help Center at 1-800-923-8282 or review the contact information at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/utilities/contact.php

You may also send written comments about the American Community Survey (ACS) to:

U.S. Census Bureau
American Community Survey Office
Washington, DC 20233-7500

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The Census Bureau provides data on school enrollment from the following sources:

• American Community Survey (ACS): Estimates for the United States, Puerto Rico, all states, Congressional Districts, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more are released annually in the ACS 1-year estimates.  Data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more are available annually from the ACS 3-year estimates.  Data for geographic areas as small as tracts and block groups are available annually from the ACS 5-year estimates.  Learn more about the ACS on our website and access our estimates via American FactFinder.
  
  
• Current Population Survey (CPS). This survey collects annual data on school enrollment for the nation.  Historical reports back to 1946 are also available from the CPS.
  
  
• 2000 Census of Population and Housing. School enrollment data are available for all geographic areas in the U.S.  An overview of school enrollment is provided in our brief School Enrollment: 2000
  
  
• Statistical Abstract. See the "Education" section.
  
  
• National Center for Education Statistics (http://www.nces.ed.gov/) . Provides information on  aspects of education and school enrollment.  

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This page contains one or more links, denoted by this symbol , which are not part of the Census Bureau Web site and do not imply endorsement of any particular product, company, or content.

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Dollar-denominated data for the American Community Survey (ACS) multiyear estimates are adjusted for inflation to the final year of the period. For example, the 2008-2010 ACS 3-year estimates are tabulated using dollars adjusted to 2010. These adjustments use the national Consumer Price Index (CPI-U-RS) annual average as a regional-based CPI is not available for the entire country. 

Learn more about using dollar-denominated data in Appendix 5 of any of the handbooks in The ACS Compass Products series.

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In general, ACS single-year estimates for legal areas are based on legal boundaries available and effective as of January 1st of the estimate year. For example, the 2010 ACS 1-year estimates use the geographic  area boundaries in effect as of January 1, 2010, as reported to the Census Bureau through the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS). ACS multiyear estimates use the geographic area boundaries effective as of January 1st of the last year of the multiyear estimate period. For example, the 2008-2010 ACS 3-year estimates and 2006-2010 ACS 5-year estimates use the geographic area boundaries effective as of January 1, 2010.

Beginning with the 2010 ACS data products, statistical areas use mostly 2010 Census geographic definitions. The 2009 and earlier ACS data products use mostly Census 2000 statistical definitions.

Learn more about the Vintage of Geographic Areas for ACS Estimates on the ACS website.

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In the American Community Survey (ACS), a person with a reverse mortgage should answer that he/she owns the home with a mortgage and select "No regular payment required" for the payment amount.

With a reverse mortgage, an owner receives monthly payments from the equity in a home. The owner may but does not necessarily have to exhaust all the equity in the house in a reverse mortgage situation. If the owner decides to sell the property or dies, the amount of money received from the reverse mortgage (along with any fees and the interest charges that apply to the reverse mortgage) has to be returned to the lender. If equity remains after repayment to the lender, the owner or heirs receives the balance of the equity.

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Subject definitions are descriptions of population and housing variables to help you understand the results of the ACS. The ACS subject definitions are available on the Documentation page on the ACS website.

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Products similar to Census 2000 Summary File 4 and the American Indian and Alaskan Native Summary File (AIANSF) were released in 2012 using the 2006-2010 ACS 5-year estimates.

• These new products are called the Selected Population Tables and American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Tables, respectively.
  
  
• We plan to produce the tables every 5 years.
  
  
• The tables are geared toward data users interested in detailed social, economic, and housing data for selected race, tribal, Hispanic origin, and ancestry populations. 
  
  
• Learn more about this special data release on the ACS website.
  

We also produce Selected Population Profiles (SPPs) for the ACS 1-year and 3-year data releases. Selected Population Profiles provide broad social, economic, and housing profiles for a large number of race or ethnic groups, ancestry groups, and country of birth groups.

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A multiyear estimate is an estimate that is based on data collected over more than one calendar year and describes that multiyear time period. In the case of ACS multiyear estimates, the period is either three or five calendar years.

While a 1-year estimate includes information collected from independent monthly samples over a 12-month period, a 3-year estimate represents data collected from independent samples over a 36-month period, and a 5-year estimate includes data collected over a 60-month period. For example, the 2007-2009 ACS 3-year estimates describe the population and housing characteristics of an area for the period January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009. They do not describe any specific day, month, or year within that time period.

Learn more about this topic by reading “Understanding and Using ACS Single-Year and Multiyear Estimates,” page 9 in General Data Users Handbook.

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Please see our Veterans Statistics web page. In addition, the following links may be useful.

• American Community Survey (ACS): Estimates for the United States, Puerto Rico, all states, Congressional Districts, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more are released annually in the ACS 1-year estimates.  Data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more are available annually from the ACS 3-year estimates.  Data for geographic areas as small as tracts and block groups are available annually from the ACS 5-year estimates.  Learn more about the ACS on our website and access our estimates via American FactFinder.  
  
  
• Survey of Business Owners. Scroll to sections "Characteristics of Veteran-Owned Businesses" and the "Characteristics of Veteran Business Owners." 
  
  
• Facts for Features. Scroll to feature about Veterans Day. 
  
  
• Statistical Abstract. See section on left called "National Defense and Veterans Affairs." 

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When you complete the ACS, you are helping to ensure that decisions about the future of your community can be made using the best statistics available. Decision makers need a clear picture of their population and how they live to ensure that scarce resources are used efficiently and effectively.

Many people may not realize that statistics from the ACS help:

• Local planners know where to plan new development.
• Businesses get the information they need to plan for expansion.
• Policy makers get information to make sure programs are on track.
• Local services keep pace with an area’s changing demographics.

Read more about how each question of the ACS serves a purpose at http://www.census.gov/acs.

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For this question on the American Community Survey (ACS), respondents should include school that leads to an elementary school certificate, high school diploma, or college, university, or professional school degree. This includes nursery school or kindergarten, tutoring or correspondence courses (if credit can be obtained from a public or private school or college), and home schooling if it meets the criteria of a regular school.

Please do NOT include vocational, technical, or business schools (such as post-secondary vocational, trade, business, or hospital schools), adult education classes that do not count for credit at a public or private school, on-the-job-training (OJT), correspondence courses that are not for credit,  or training classes taken in connection with the job that are not for academic credit.

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Even if a geographic area meets the population threshold, very detailed tables might contain too many estimates with relatively high variance. Since 2005, data release rules based on the statistical reliability of the estimates have been used to identify tables where a large proportion of estimates have relatively low reliability. When identified, these tables are not released for a particular geographic area.

The main data release rule for the ACS tables works as follows:

Every detailed table consists of a series of data cells that each contains an estimate. Each estimate is subject to sampling variability that can be summarized by its standard error. Dividing the standard error by the estimate itself yields the coefficient of variation (CV) for each of the estimates. (If the estimate is 0, a CV of 100 is assigned.) To implement the data release reliability requirement, CVs are calculated for each of the table's estimates.

If less than half of the CV values are less than or equal to 61 percent, the table is released for that geographic area. If it is more than half, the table is not released. Tables that do not contain enough data to adequately populate the data cells will not meet the requirement. In that case, the table will not be published for that geographic area.

Sometimes when a table does not meet these reliability tests, a simpler table that collapses some of the detailed lines together may be available for the original, more detailed table. The data release rules are applied to the simpler table, called a "collapsed" table as well. If the collapsed table meets the requirement, then it is released. If it also does not meet the requirement, none of the estimates for that particular table are released for the geographic area in question. Collapsed tables are available for many, but not all, detailed tables. View more information on .

These release rules apply to 1-year period estimates and 3-year period estimates.  No data release requirements are applied to the 5-year period estimates.

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The American Community Survey (ACS) uses independent estimates of population and housing units from the Population Estimates Program as survey controls.  For the group quarters (GQ) population, estimates are controlled for total GQ population by major GQ types (e.g., adult correctional facilities, nursing homes, college dorms, etc.) within state.  For total resident population and for housing units, the ACS is controlled for incorporated places, minor civil divisions (MCD), and counties (or groups of smaller counties).  At the incorporated place and MCD level, we control only for total population and the number of housing units.  At the county (or group of small counties) level, we also control for the total population's base demographics (race, age, sex, and ethnicity).  The statistical weights defined after the application of controls are then used to produce the totals and characteristic data for all other geographic areas, such as tracts and block groups. Learn more about the Weighting Methodology in the  Accuracy of the Data document.  

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Controlled estimates are not subject to sampling variability because they are made to conform to official intercensal estimates from the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program (PEP). The PEP annually produces estimates of totals by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin that are controlled to be equal to population estimates by weighting areas, such as counties, incorporated places, and minor civil divisions (MCDs).

Learn more about ACS weighting methodology in the Design and Methodology Report and the Accuracy of the Data documentation available on the ACS website.

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A cooperative is a type of ownership whereby a group of housing units is owned by a corporation of member-owners. Each individual member is entitled to occupy or rent out an individual housing unit and is a shareholder in the corporation that owns the property, but does not own the unit directly. The corporation may have a mortgage on the whole group of units. The member may have a loan or mortgage to buy his or her shares in the corporation. In many cases, residents living in housing units classified as “cooperatives” often do not pay separate utility bills. They pay a “co-op fee” that includes payment for various utilities.

In the American Community Survey (ACS), if you live in this type of situation, estimate the amount for each utility included in the “co-op fee,” and enter those amounts in question 11 of the housing section.

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The Census Bureau expanded the American Community Survey (ACS) to full sample size for housing units in 2005 and for group quarters in 2006.  The ACS estimates from 2005 to present are available in American FactFinder.

Estimates (see below) prior to 2005 are available on our FTP site.

• Between 1996 and 2004, the ACS was being developed and tested in a selection of counties.
• From 1996-1999, a limited set of ACS estimates were produced for test areas.
• From 2000-2004, a broader range of estimates were produced for the nation, states, and large geographic areas.

Learn more about the program's history in chapter 2 of the Design and Methodology Report.

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Special data values, such as dots, blanks, 0, and -1, appear in the ACS Summary File as an explanation for the absence of data.  These values can indicate that the estimate is unavailable, there is a geographic restriction, the estimate is controlled, or the estimate does not contain a margin of error.  Learn more about these values in the ACS Summary File Technical Document.

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The 2005-2009 ACS 5-year Release Details page includes a list of 5-year tables by product type and a list of geographies that will receive each type of product for this first 5-year release.

In general, the ACS 5-year estimates include the following data products:

• Detailed tables
• Data profiles
• Subject tables
• Geographic comparison tables
• Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files
• Summary file

The 5-year dataset does not include Comparison Profiles, Ranking Tables, Narrative Profiles, and Selected Population Profiles. The Comparison Profiles and Ranking Tables are available only for 1-year products.

A product similar to Census 2000 Summary File 4 and the American Indian and Alaskan Native Summary File was released in 2012 using 2006-2010 ACS 5-year estimates. Learn more about the Selected Population Tables and American Indian and Alaska Native Tables. 

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