At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- Provides rich contextual information about communities that may be useful in studying childhood obesity
- Conducted every month by mail, telephone, and visits from Census Bureau field representatives.
- Federal, state, and local government, use ACS data to help plan for community needs and make funding decisions for a variety of programs and services.
- The ACS is the largest survey in the U.S. (apart from the U.S. decennial Census) and is the primary source of small-area data on a wide range of social and economic characteristics in the country.
Website
Purpose
To provide information about demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics of the United States (U.S.) population, including Puerto Rican households within communities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Target Population
The resident population living in housing units and group quarters facilities in all counties and county equivalents in the U.S., including the District of Columbia, and all municipalities in Puerto Rico.
Conducted
Full implementation began in 2005. Conducted annually. 2018 data now available.
Sponsor
Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce
Sampling
Sample Design
Cross-sectional survey.
The sample design includes separate sampling for housing units and group quarters facilities. Each sample frame is divided into sub-frames so that no housing unit or facility is selected more than once in any 5-year period.
Sample Size
Each year, about 3 million housing unit addresses are selected and about 2 million complete interviews. Over a 5-year period, the ACS samples about 15 million addresses and completes interviews for about 11 million. Learn more.
Special Note(s)
Learn more about the American Community Survey design and methodology.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Age | Interview/questionnaire |
| Disability (ADL/IADL*; cognitive; hearing; movement/physical; vision) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Educational attainment and school enrollment | Interview/questionnaire |
| Hispanic origin | Interview/questionnaire |
| Income | Interview/questionnaire |
| Industry, occupation, and class of worker | Interview/questionnaire |
| Labor force status and work status last year | Interview/questionnaire |
| Marital status and history | Interview/questionnaire |
| Place of birth, citizenship, and year of entry | Interview/questionnaire |
| Race | Interview/questionnaire |
| Sex | Interview/questionnaire |
Physical Activity-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Active transportation to work (walking or cycling) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Public transportation to work | Interview/questionnaire |
Geocode/Linkage
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| State, congressional district, county, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area | NA |
Other
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Health insurance coverage | Interview/questionnaire |
| Housing characteristics | Interview/questionnaire |
| Place of work and journey to work | Interview/questionnaire |
Special Note(s)
*ADL: Activities of Daily Living / IADL: Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Data are available from Public Use Microdata Subsample (PUMS) and summary data aggregated to census geographic areas (e.g., census tracts). Currently, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year PUMS data are available. 1-year (2016), 3 year (2011-2013), and 5 year (2011-2015) are now available. Download data.
Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) microdata also can be downloaded.
Cost
Free of charge.
Special Note(s)
The smallest geographic unit that is identified within the Public Use Microdata Subsample (PUMS) is the Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA). PUMAs are defined within states based on a minimum population threshold of 100,000.
To access the PUMS data, download the DataFerrett application.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
The smallest geographic unit that is identified within the Public Use Microdata Subsample (PUMS) is the Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA). PUMAs are defined within states based on a minimum population threshold of 100,000. The smallest geographic unit for aggregated data is the census block group.
Existing Linkages
None noted.
Selected Publications
Click here for a full list of publications.
General
Alexander CH. Still rolling: Leslie Kish’s “rolling samples” and the American Community Survey. Proceedings of Statistics Canada Symposium 2001.
Webster BH, Jr., Bishaw A. Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data From the 2006 American Community Survey. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Reports, ACS-08, Washington (DC): U.S. Government Printing Office, 2007.
Resources
Learn more about using ACS data.
Data Query System
The American FactFinder provides ready access to data from the American Community Survey and allows for online preparation of tabulations.
Documentation/Codebook(s)
What general data users need to know
