American Community Survey (ACS)

Each year we add new documentation to reflect changes in the survey or update the existing documents to help you understand the data better.

The ACS Compass Products

The ACS Compass Products are educational materials to help users better understand and appropriately use ACS data. When all educational materials are finalized, they will include user-specific handbooks, fully scripted PowerPoint presentations, and an on-line tutorial.

Subject Definitions

We have identified and defined population and housing variables to help you understand the results of the American Community Survey. These include information on how the data were collected and how they are presented in data products.

Accuracy of the Data

These documents provide data users with a basic understanding of the sample design, confidentiality, sampling error, nonsampling error, estimation methodology, and accuracy of the data.

Errata

This section will keep you informed of any updates made to the data due to found errors.

Data Product Details

This online tool allows users to obtain additional information about the 2007 data products. Users can obtain information about the set of published geographic areas within each state, lists of detailed tables by topic and lists of specific ranking tables, subject tables, and Selected Population Profiles. A variety of other links is available from this site with information about ACS data products.

ACS Summary File

The American Community Survey Summary File (ACS-SF) final version files are available. The summary file is a combination of all of the detailed tables by state in a series of files, similar to those published for Census 2000. The 2005 prototype version is also available.

How to Find ACS Data in American FactFinder

The How to Find American Community Survey Data in American FactFinder is a revised brochure created for you to print out at your leisure. The brochure will provide step by step guidance for finding American Community Survey data using American FactFinder.

Quality measures

The content in quality measures provides discussion and data tables at the state and national level on 4 key indicators of survey data quality -- response rates, coverage rates, sample size and allocation rates.

Group Quarters Definitions

The content provides the definitions that help users understand the scope of American Survey Group Quarters data collection.

Geography Notes

The geography notes gives a brief explanation of the Census Bureaus geographic hierarchy and common terms as well as details on specific geographic areas presented in the American Community Survey data products.

Using Data from the 2006 ACS

This 2006 ACS Data Users Handbook [PDF] covers a broad set of topics relating directly to the 2006 ACS. It covers the type of information produced from the ACS, including measures of quality that are critical for users to consider. Each of the specific data products is detailed in this guide, along with tips on how to access and interpret these data.

Using Data from the 2006 Puerto Rico Community Survey

This 2006 PRCS Data Users Handbook (English version) [PDF] covers a broad set of topics relating directly to the 2006 Puerto Rico Community Survey. It is available in PDF format and can be downloaded for use as a reference document.