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The quality measures provided in this section help the Census Bureau to monitor the accuracy and reliability of American Community Survey (ACS) data, and help to inform the design and methodology of the survey. Use the dropdown menus to explore these measures at the national and state level for the ACS 1-year estimates.

1. How large was the sample used to produce the ACS estimates?
Sample Size:       

Sample Size Definitions

2. How well does the ACS cover the population?
Coverage Rates:     

Coverage Rates Definitions

3. What was the response to the survey?
Response Rates:     

Response Rates Definitions

4. How complete were the data used to produce a specific estimate?
Item Allocation Rates:   

Item Allocation Rates Definitions

You may also access these measures in data.census.gov for the ACS 1-year and 5-year estimates from 2010 to present (excluding 2020 ACS 1-year). Some measures are available for counties and places as noted below (for 2022).

Measures and Table IDs (links to 2022):

Sample Size
B98001 (counties and places for 1-year and 5-year)
B98002
B98003 (counties and places for 1-year and 5-year)

Coverage Rate
B98011
B98012
B98013
B98014

Response Rate
B98021 (counties for 1-year and 5-year)
B98022

Item Allocation Rate
B98031 (counties for 5-year)
B98032 (counties for 5-year)
Some detailed item allocation rates can be calculated using allocation estimates in the B99* series of tables. These tables are available for most published summary levels, for 1-year and 5-year.

Note: The 2020 ACS 1-year quality measures tables are not available in data.census.gov. These tables (the B98 series) are instead available as .csv files on the FTP site. You can also access the data for the nation and states using the drop down menus above. 

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