There are many differences between the ACS and the CPS ASEC. Some of the most significant are:
The American Community Survey (ACS) is currently the largest household survey in the United States. The ACS is part of the 2010 Decennial Census Program and will eliminate the need for a long-form sample questionnaire. The ACS offers broad, comprehensive information on social, economic, and housing data and is designed to provide this information at many levels of geography, particularly for local communities. With full implementation in 2005, the ACS is now producing annual estimates for geographic areas with populations of 65,000 or more. From 2008 to 2013, the ACS released data for geographic areas with populations between 20,000 and 64,999 using data collected over three-year periods. In 2010, the ACS began using five-year averages to provide estimates for all areas down to census tracts/block groups.
Because of its detailed questionnaire and its experienced interviewing staff, the Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) is a high quality source of information used to produce the official annual estimate of poverty, and estimates of a number of other socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, including income, health insurance coverage, school enrollment, marital status, and family structure.
The following charts summarize the key differences between the ACS and the CPS for both Income and Poverty:
American Community Survey | Current Population Survey | |
---|---|---|
Principal purpose | Provides detailed demographic, socioeconomic and housing data on an annual basis; replaces the once-a-decade census long form. Provides median household and other measures of money income, earnings and poverty estimates. | Provides estimates of median household and other measures of money income, health insurance coverage and the official annual estimate of poverty for the nation. |
Time frame | Data collected continuously throughout calendar year with a previous 12-month reference period. | Data collected over a three-month period (February, March, and April) with a previous calendar year reference. |
Geography | Single-year estimates provide data for the nation, states, counties, places (cities), congressional districts, American Indian and Alaska Native areas and all areas with a population of 65,000 or more. | Nation and states. |
Sample size | 250,000 addresses each month or about 3 million addresses a year. |
100,000 addresses over a three-month period. |
Collection method | Mail, phone or personal visit. | Phone or personal visit. |
Length and detail of questions | A series of eight questions about income. | A series of questions about more than 50 sources of income and up to 27 individual income values. |
Group quarters in sample | Yes (institutional and noninstitutional group quarters). | Yes (noninstitutional group quarters only). |
For more information on the differences between ACS and CPS ASEC, refer to the working paper and data table below: