Our population statistics cover age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, migration, ancestry, language use, veterans, as well as population estimates and projections.
The U.S. Census Bureau is the official source of statistical data tracking the national economy.
Business is a large part of America's diverse economy. This section provides key information about businesses in your community.
This section provides information on a range of educational topics, from educational attainment and school enrollment to school districts, costs and financing.
Prepare for Emergencies, Natural and Man-made Disasters using U.S. Census Bureau's data and statistics
We measure the state of the nation's workforce, including employment and unemployment levels, weeks and hours worked, occupations, and commuting.
Our statistics highlight trends in household and family composition, describe characteristics of the residents of housing units, and show how they are related.
Health statistics on insurance coverage, disability, fertility and other health issues are increasingly important in measuring the nation’s overall well-being.
We measure the housing and construction industry, track homeownership rates, and produce statistics on the physical and financial characteristics of our homes.
Income is the gauge many use to determine the well-being of the U.S. population. Survey and census questions cover poverty, income, and wealth.
The U.S. Census Bureau is the official source for U.S. export and import statistics and regulations governing the reporting of exports from the U.S.
The U.S. Census Bureau provides data for the Federal, state and local governments as well as voting, redistricting, apportionment and congressional affairs.
Geography is central to the work of the Bureau, providing the framework for survey design, sample selection, data collection, tabulation, and dissemination.
Find resources on how to use geographic data and products with statistical data, educational blog postings, and presentations.
The Geographic Support System Initiative will integrate improved address coverage, spatial feature updates, and enhanced quality assessment and measurement.
Work with interactive mapping tools from across the Census Bureau.
Find geographic data and products such as Shapefiles, KMLs, TIGERweb, boundary files, geographic relationship files, and reference and thematic maps.
Metropolitan and micropolitan areas are geographic entities used by Federal statistical agencies in collecting, tabulating, and publishing Federal statistics.
Find information about specific partnership programs and learn more about our partnerships with other organizations.
Definitions of geographic terms, why geographic areas are defined, and how the Census Bureau defines geographic areas.
We conduct research on geographic topics such as how to define geographic areas and how geography changes over time.
Official audio files from the Census Bureau, including "Profile America," a daily series of bite-sized statistics, placing current data in a historical context.
Stock photos that illustrate official Census Bureau operations and activities.
Read publications, briefs and reports from Census Bureau experts.
Watch Census Bureau vignettes, testimonials, and video files.
Explore Census data with infographics and visualizations covering a broad range of topics.
Read research analyses via working papers and reports from Census Bureau experts.
Find information using interactive applications to get statistics from multiple surveys.
Developer portal to access services and documentation for the Census Bureau's APIs.
Explore Census Bureau data on your mobile device with interactive tools.
Find a multitude of DVDs, CDs and publications in print by topic.
These external sites provide more data.
The Census Bureau reuses data from other agencies to cut the cost of data collection and to reduce the burden on people who respond to our censuses and surveys.
Download extraction tools to help you get the in-depth data you need.
Learn more about our data from this collection of e-tutorials, presentations, webinars and other training materials. Sign up for training sessions.
Explore Census data with infographics and visualizations covering a broad range of topics.
If you have received a survey, this site will help you verify that the survey came from us, understand and complete the form, and know how we protect your data.
The U.S. Census Bureau is researching modern and cost-efficient methods for the population to exercise its civic obligation to be counted in the 2020 Census.
Tests in 2017 will continue research on modern and cost-efficient methods to conduct the 2020 Census.
The 2018 End-to-End Census Test will take place in Pierce County, Wash.; Providence County, R.I.; and the Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill, W.Va., area.
National and state population totals from the 2010 Census were released on December 21, 2010
The American Community Survey is the premier source for information about America's changing population, housing and workforce.
The AHS is sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Economic Census is the U.S. government's official five-year measure of American business and the economy.
Basic enumerations of population, housing units, group quarters and transitory locations conducted by the Census Bureau at the request of a governmental unit.
Collects data and measures change for many topics including: economic well-being, family dynamics, education, assets, health insurance, and childcare.
Connect with the U.S. Census Bureau using social media.
Find interesting and quirky statistics regarding national celebrations and major events.
Stats for Stories provides story ideas highlighting the Bureau's newsworthy statistics that relate to current events, observances, holidays, and anniversaries.
See what's coming up in releases and reports.
Press Kits package information about Census Bureau topics, including media contacts, press releases and fact sheets, story ideas and multimedia resources.
Information about the U.S. Census Bureau.
Information about what we do at the U.S. Census Bureau.
Our researchers explore innovative ways to conduct surveys, increase respondent participation, reduce costs, and improve accuracy.
Learn about other opportunities to collaborate with us.
Explore the rich historical background of an organization with roots almost as old as the nation.
Explore prospective positions available at the U.S. Census Bureau.
Information about the current field vacancies available at the U.S. Census Bureau Regional Offices.
The Census Bureau reuses data from other agencies to cut the cost of data collection and to reduce the burden on people who respond to our censuses and surveys.
Educational Attainment Factsheet
The American Community Survey (ACS) is the largest household survey in the United States. Like the decennial census long form it is designed to replace, the ACS provides educational attainment estimates for small geographic areas - most cities, counties, and metropolitan areas of 250,000 or more. Using five-year averages, the ACS provides estimates for all areas down to census tracts/block groups. Estimates for the nation and states are also available. All ACS estimates are updated annually.
Because of its detailed questionnaire and its experienced interviewing staff, the Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) is a high quality source of information used to produce the official annual estimate of poverty, and estimates of a number of other socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, including income, health insurance coverage, school enrollment, marital status, and family structure.
The following chart summarizes the key differences between the ACS and the CPS:
Topic | American Community Survey | Current Population Survey |
---|---|---|
Principal Purpose | Replace decennial census long form by providing annual (or five-year average) estimates of selected social, economic, and housing characteristics of the population for many geographic areas and subpopulations. | Produce specific socioeconomic and demographic estimates for the United States, and estimates for states for selected characteristics and subpopulations. |
Geography | Annual estimates for the nation, states, and cities and counties of 250,000 or more. Areas as small as census block groups using multi-year averages. | Nation, regions, and states for selected characteristics. |
Sample Size | About 3.5 million housing units per year. Data are collected from about one-twelfth of the sample each month. | Annual sample size is about 100,000 addresses. |
Data Collection Method | Mail, Internet, telephone, and personal-visit interviews for the 50 states the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The ACS is a mandatory survey. | Telephone and personal-visit interviews for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The CPS is a voluntary survey. |
Residency Status | The ACS includes people at the address where they are at the time of the survey if they have been there, or will be there, more than 2 months, whether or not they have a "usual residence elsewhere." | The CPS sample unit’s householder (one of the people in whose name the unit is rented or owned) must consider the unit to be his or her place of usual residence (where he or she spends most of the time during the year) to be counted as an occupied unit, which is traditional in most censuses and housing surveys. If a family has more than one home, the interviewer has to determine if the sample unit is its usual residence. |
Population Universe | The ACS includes both the household and the group quarters populations (that is, the resident population). The group quarters population consists of the institutionalized (such as people in correctional institutions or nursing homes) and the noninstitutionalized (most of whom are in college dormitories). The weighting is controlled to population estimates as of July 1 (e.g., July 1, 2017 for the 2017 ACS). | The CPS includes the civilian noninstitutionalized population. This universe includes civilians in households, people in noninstitutional group quarters (other than military barracks) and military in households living off post or with their families on post (as long as at least one household member is a civilian adult). The universe excludes other military in households and in group quarters (barracks), and people living in institutions. The weighting is controlled to population estimates as of March 1 (e.g., March 1, 2004 for the 2004 CPS ASEC). |
Question Detail | The ACS asks for information about the highest degree or level of school completed of respondents 3 years old and older. | The ASEC, asks respondents 15 years old and older about their highest degree or level of school completed. (Those aged 3 to 14 are asked about school enrollment.) |
Some content on this site is available in several different electronic formats. Some of the files may require a plug-in or additional software to view. Please visit the Download Plug-In page for a full list.
You are about to leave this web site for a destination outside of the Federal Government. You may wish to review each privacy notice since their information collection practices may differ from ours. In addition, our linking to these sites does not constitute an endorsement of any products or services.
Select OK if you wish to continue to the web site, otherwise select cancel to return to our site.