American Community Survey (ACS)

Clearer Distinction Between ACS Estimates and Intercensal Population Estimates

Although the ACS produces population levels, demographic and selected housing unit data, it is the Census Bureau's Intercensal Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of population levels, age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and housing unit totals for selected geographic areas.

The ACS uses the county intercensal population estimates as controls for the survey totals. The ACS data do not agree with the official estimates at all geographic levels because of the varying levels of aggregation used during the final stage of weighting.

A special headnote has been added to all ACS data profiles to explain when the official intercensal estimates should be utilized. (The headnote is conditional upon geography because official estimates are not available for all levels of geography.) A link to an intermediary page is also added from this headnote to provide more information and is also linked to the intercensal population estimates tables.

Changes to 2006 ACS Data Profiles

ACS data profiles were reorganized and renamed for 2006. The "Demographic Characteristics Profile" was dropped and replaced with the "ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates" profile. ACS estimates previously included in the Demographic Characteristics profile were moved to either the "ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates" profile or the "Social Characteristics" profile, as detailed below.

• ACS estimates now found in the ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates profile:
  • Sex and Age
  • Race
  • Hispanic Origin
  • Total Housing Units

• ACS estimates now found in the Social Characteristics profile:
  • Households by Type
  • Relationships

Changes to 2006 ACS Ranking Products

Ranking products contain ranked results of many important measures across geographic areas. ACS age and sex ranking tables R0101 through R0107 are no longer produced using ACS data. Tables ranking the same topics, at the state level, are available from the Intercensal Population Estimates Program.

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