PUMS Documentation

View the available subjects, detailed codes for variables, changes related to each release, an explanation of sample design, methodology, and accuracy, and files to determine if you are using weights correctly for the American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files. These documents are organized by data year.

Supporting data for the documentation below is available on the Accessing PUMS Data page.

2017

PUMS ReadMe

Important information about 2017 geography and variable changes, as well as guidance for novice ACS PUMS files users.

PUMS Top Coded and Bottom Coded Values

List of variables with responses exceeding a state-specific value that are replaced with a predetermined value.

Subjects in the PUMS

A list of topics included in each of the housing and population record files

Accuracy of the PUMS

A basic explanation of the sample design, estimation methodology, and accuracy of the data.

PUMS Data Dictionary

Includes variables available for each PUMS release and how each variable is coded

PUMS Estimates for User Verification

Note that some of these estimates may be different from the estimates for the same characteristics published in the American FactFinder. For an explanation of these differences, see the Accuracy of the PUMS above.