Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are non-overlapping, statistical geographic areas that partition each state or equivalent entity into geographic areas containing no fewer than 100,000 people each. They cover the entirety of the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The Census Bureau defines PUMAs for the tabulation and dissemination of decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data. Additionally, the ACS and Puerto Rico Community Survey use them to disseminate their respective period estimates.
The delineation of new PUMAs occurs after the completion of the decennial census as part of a program involving the State Data Centers (SDCs). Decennial census population counts and updated census tracts are critical inputs into the delineation process.
Geographic equivalency files show the relationship between the 2010 PUMAs and counties, governmental minor civil divisions (MCDs), places, and census tracts.
Relationship files identify the census tracts that are contained within a PUMA. Census tracts completely nest within PUMA boundaries and serve as the building block of PUMA geography.
Find information on the history of PUMAs as well as tools to compare PUMAs or locate geographic entities found within PUMAs from the links below.
After opening TIGERweb, select the second tab, “TIGERweb Applications”, along the top of the window then select either the “TIGERweb” or the “TIGERweb Decennial” applications along the left side of the window.
Refer to the TIGERweb User Guide for detailed instructions on using the application.
For questions regarding PUMAs, contact the Census Bureau by email at geo.puma@census.gov.