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Handbooks for Data Users

You can use American Community Survey (ACS) data in different ways and for different reasons. Each one of our downloadable PDF handbooks helps a particular group with specific how-to instructions and/or case studies.

 

For an introduction to ACS data, we recommend the handbook Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know.

 


Publication
Understanding and Using ACS Data: What All Data Users Need to Know
This handbook helps general data users learn how to access and use ACS data and provide concrete examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.


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What Users of Data for Amer. Indians and Alaska Natives Need to Know
This handbook helps users of data for AIAN learn how to access and use ACS data and provide concrete examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.


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What Federal Agencies Need to Know
This handbook helps federal agencies use ACS data for eligibility determinations, allocation of funds, program parameters, and more.


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What ACS Public Use Microdata Sample File Users Need to Know
This guide helps data users learn how to access PUMS files, create PUMS tables, and measure accuracy and margins of error.


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What Users of Data for Rural Areas Need to Know
This handbook helps users of data about rural areas learn about ACS data and provides examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.


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What the Business Community Needs to Know
This handbook helps business data users learn how to access and use ACS data and provide concrete examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.


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What State and Local Government Users Need to Know
This handbook helps data users from state and local governments learn about ACS data and provides examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.


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What Congress Needs to Know
This handbook helps congressional staff use ACS data to respond to constituent inquiries, draft floor/press statements, conduct legislative research, and more.


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What Puerto Rico Community Survey Data Users Need to Know
This handbook helps PRCS data users learn how to access and use PRCS data and provide concrete examples of how PRCS data can answer real-world questions.


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What Researchers Need to Know
This handbook helps researchers learn more about estimates for geographic areas, how to access data products, sampling error, and more.


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What Users of the Census Data API Need to Know
This guide provides an overview of the Census Data API and how it can be used to build custom queries to quickly and consistently access ACS data.


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What Journalists Need to Know
This handbook helps journalists learn how to search ACS data for statistics and trends with examples of how to use the ACS to uncover and enhance stories.


Publication
Geography and the American Community Survey
This guide provides an overview of geographic areas for which ACS data are available, special considerations in working with spatial data, and more.


Publication
What ACS Summary File Data Users Need to Know
This guide provides an overview of the ACS Summary File and how it can be used to access data on America’s communities.

Page Last Revised - October 18, 2022
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