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Using the American Community Survey Summary File: What Data Users Need to Know

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Using the American Community Survey Summary File: What Data Users Need to Know

Using the American Community Survey Summary File: What Data Users Need to Know
Download Using the American Community Survey Summary File: What Data Users Need to Know [PDF - 6.5 MB]

The American Community Survey (ACS) Summary File is a comma-delimited text file that contains all the Detailed Tables for the ACS. Data users with programming skills and access to statistical software can use the Summary File to download and analyze ACS data for a wide range of geographic areas.

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

Download by Section

.pdf 1. Introduction [<1.0 MB]
American Community Survey
.pdf 2. How to Use the ACS Summary File [<1.0 MB]
American Community Survey
.pdf 3. Table IDs, Sequences, and Variable Names [<1.0 MB]
American Community Survey
.pdf 4. Tools and Resources for the ACS Summary File [<1.0 MB]
American Community Survey
.pdf 5. User Notes [<1.0 MB]
American Community Survey

Others in Series

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What Users of Data for Amer. Indians and Alaska Natives Need to Know
March 2021
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.
Publication
What the Business Community Needs to Know
October 2020
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.
Publication
Understanding and Using ACS Data: What All Data Users Need to Know
September 2020
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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Page Last Revised - October 18, 2022
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