Why We Ask Each Question

Are you curious about why we ask questions related to a specific topic on the American Community Survey (ACS)? Every question has a required purpose and many uses to help communities.

Select a topic below to browse some of the most popular results from these questions and view the question as it appears on the form. We also provide information on the origin of the question, how we protect your privacy, and how ACS statistics help communities.

If you are interested in learning more about how a question gets added to the ACS, check out the How a Question Becomes a Part of the American Community Survey infographic.

Why we ask about...
Acreage and Agricultural Sales 1cHousing Questions: 4, 5		acres, farm, agriculture, agricultural, business, medical office, store, barber shop
Age 2dPerson Question: 4		babies, child, children, teens, teenagers, kids, adults, seniors, date of birth, year of birth
Ancestry 2jPerson Question: 13		ancestry, ethnic, descent, root, heritage, origin, Italian, Jamaican, African American, Cambodian, Cape Verdean, Norwegian, Dominican, French Canadian, Haitian, Korean, Lebanese, Polish, Nigerian, Mexican, Taiwanese, Ukrainian
Commuting / Journey to Work 2vPerson Questions: 31, 32, 33, 34, 35		work location, place of work, commuting, commute time, time leaving home, bicycle, carpool, bus, subway, metro, taxi, motorcyle, walk, work at home, commute, travel, car, truck, van, trolley, streetcar, elevated, railroad, ferry
Computer and Internet Use 1eHousing Questions 10, 11, 12		computer, internet, broadband, subscription, dial-up, DSL, cable modem, fiber-optic, mobile, satellite, desktop, laptop, netbook, notebook, handheld, smart phone, android, iphone, ipad, tablet
Disability 2oPerson Questions: 18, 19, 20		disability, disabled, handicap, mobility, hearing, blind, physical, mental, emotional, concentrating, remembering, walking, climbing, stairs, dressing, bathing, errands, doctor's office, shopping
Educational Attainment, Undergraduate Field of Degree 2iPerson Questions: 11, 12		high school, graduate, college, study, major, undergraduate, chemical engineering, elementary teacher education, organizational psychology, school, education level, major of bachelor's degree
Employment Status 2uPerson Questions: 30, 36, 37, 38, 39		employment, work, work last week, employed, employment, job, career
Family / Relationship to Householder 2bPerson Question: 2		family, relationships, husband, wife, spouse, son, daughter, adopt, step, child, parent, father, mother, in-law, relative, roomer, roommate, partner, foster, related
Fertility 2rPerson Question: 25		fertility, birth, birth rate, born, baby, children, mom, mother
Food Stamps Benefit 1jHousing Question: 18		Food Stamps, SNAP, nutrition, supplemental, nutrition, assistance, program, WIC, lunch, food bank
Grandparents as Caregivers 2sPerson Question: 26		grandparents, caregivers, generations, child, parent, grandma, grandpa, grandchildren, grandkid, grandkids
Health Insurance Coverage 2nPerson Question: 16, 17		uninsured, health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, marketplace, affordable care act, exchange, medical assistance, VA, Indian Health Service
Hispanic Origin 2ePerson Question: 5		hispanic, latino, spanish origin, mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Chicano, Argentinean, Colombian, Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard
Home Heating Fuel 1hHousing Question: 15		heating fuel, utilities, heat, electric, gas, propane, coal, wood, solar, bottled, tank, LP, oil, kerosene, coke
Housing Costs for Owners 1iHousing Questions: 17, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27		utilities, condo fees, monthly housing costs, insurance, home loans, mortgage, real estate taxes, gas, water, sewer, oil, wood, coal, kerosene, heating costs, second mortgage, home equity, howeowners insurance, fire, hazard, flood, property taxes, taxes, insurance, loan, free, clear, electricity, electric, propane, fuel, bottled, tank, LP, coal, coke, solar energy
Income 2zPerson Questions: 43, 44		income, poverty, wages, salary, earnings, retirement, public assistance, social security, dividends
Industry, Occupation, and Class of Worker 2yPerson Questions: 42		occupation, job, type of employee, industry, field, pay, work, business, manufacturing, wholesale, trade, retail, agriculture, construction, service, government, job, employment, type of employee, private, self-employed, public, family business, for-profit, government, not incorporated, without pay
Language Spoken at Home 2lPerson Question: 14		language, English, speak, second language, ESL, Korean, Italian, Spanish, Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Hindi
Marital Status / Marital History 2pPerson Questions: 21, 22, 23, 24		marital history, married, marry, divorced, marriage, divorce, single, widow, widowed, never married, times married, year last married, widow, separated
Name 2aPerson Question: 1		name, last name, first name
Ownership, Home Value, Rent 1kHousing Questions: 20, 21, 22		ownership, rent, property value, tenure, owned, mortgage, rented, home equity, loan, sale, sell
Place of Birth, Citizenship, Year of Entry 2gPerson Questions: 7, 8, 9		citizenship, place of birth, year of entry, naturalization, foreign, citizen, born, country
Plumbing Facilities, Kitchen Facilities, Telephone Service, and Solar Panels 1dHousing Question: 7, 8, 9, 16		toilet, tub, running water, shower, telephone, refrigerator, stove, range, sink, oven, faucet, phone
Race 2fPerson Question: 6		race, black, african american, white, asian, non-hispanic, american indian, alaska native, hawaiian, chinese, korean, guamanian, chamorro, filipino, vietnamese, samoan, japanese, hmong, laotian, thai, pakistani, cambodian, fijan, tongan
Residence 1 Year Ago/Migration 2mPerson Question: 15		residence 1 year ago, residency, move, moved, address
School Enrollment 2hPerson Question: 10		school level, grade, attend school, attend college, education, dropout, level, public, private, nursery, preschool, children, kindergarten, college, undergraduate, graduate, professional, bachelor, MA, Ph.D., PhD, medical, law
Sex 2cPerson Question: 3		sex, male, female, men, women, gender
Units in Structure, Rooms, Bedrooms 1aHousing Questions: 1, 6		type of building, number of rooms, number of bedrooms, boat, rv, van, mobile homeoccupancy, density, house, apartment, rooms, bedrooms, home
Vehicles Available and Electric Vehicles 1fHousing Question: 13, 14		automobiles, vans, trucks, cars, vehicle, SUV
Veteran Status 2tPerson Questions: 27, 28, 29		veteran, active duty, military, disabled veteran, disability, armed forces, Reserves, gulf war, vietnam, korean, wwII, WWI, world war
Work Status Last Year 2wPerson Questions: 40, 41		employment, employment status, weeks worked, unemployed, employed, full-time, parttime, part-time, 52 weeks
Year Built and Year Moved In 1bHousing Questions: 2, 3		year built, year moved in, housing stock, move