U.S. Department of Commerce

American Community Survey

Census.gov › American Community Survey › Data & Documentation: Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) › PUMS Documentation
Skip top of page navigation

PUMS Documentation

The documentation below is provided in support of the American Community Survey PUMS data.

Subjects in the PUMS

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

Code Lists

Detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation

PUMS Top Coded and Bottom Coded Values

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

PUMS Data Dictionary

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

Accuracy of the PUMS

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

Available on October 25, 2012

PUMS Estimates for User Verification:

Estimates for selected characteristics provided to assist data users in determining if they are correctly using the weights to compute estimates

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.

Available on October 25, 2012


Subjects in the PUMS

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

Code Lists

Detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation

PUMS Top Coded and Bottom Coded Values

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

PUMS Data Dictionary

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

Accuracy of the PUMS

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

PUMS Estimates for User Verification:

Estimates for selected characteristics provided to assist data users in determining if they are correctly using the weights to compute estimates

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.


Subjects in the PUMS

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

Code Lists

Detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation

PUMS Top Coded and Bottom Coded Values

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

PUMS Data Dictionary

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

Accuracy of the PUMS

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

PUMS Estimates for User Verification:

Estimates for selected characteristics provided to assist data users in determining if they are correctly using the weights to compute estimates

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.


Subjects in the PUMS

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

Code Lists

Detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation

PUMS Top Coded and Bottom Coded Values

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

PUMS Data Dictionary

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

Accuracy of the PUMS

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

PUMS Estimates for User Verification:

Estimates for selected characteristics provided to assist data users in determining if they are correctly using the weights to compute estimates

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.


Subjects in the PUMS

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

Code Lists

Detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation

PUMS Top Coded and Bottom Coded Values

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

PUMS Data Dictionary

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

Accuracy of the PUMS

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

PUMS Estimates for User Verification:

Estimates for selected characteristics provided to assist data users in determining if they are correctly using the weights to compute estimates

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.


Subjects in the PUMS

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

Code Lists

Detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation

PUMS Top Coded and Bottom Coded Values

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

PUMS Data Dictionary

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

Accuracy of the PUMS

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

PUMS Estimates for User Verification:

Estimates for selected characteristics provided to assist data users in determining if they are correctly using the weights to compute estimates

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.


Subjects in the PUMS

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

Code Lists

Detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation

PUMS Top Coded and Bottom Coded Values

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

PUMS Data Dictionary

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

Accuracy of the PUMS

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

PUMS Estimates for User Verification:

Estimates for selected characteristics provided to assist data users in determining if they are correctly using the weights to compute estimates

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.


Subjects in the PUMS

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

PUMS Code Lists

Detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation

PUMS Top Coded and Bottom Coded Values

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

PUMS Data Dictionary

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

Accuracy of the PUMS

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

PUMS Estimates for User Verification:

Estimates for selected characteristics provided to assist data users in determining if they are correctly using the weights to compute estimates

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 below.



[PDF] or PDF denotes a file in Adobe’s Portable Document Format. To view the file, you will need the Adobe® Reader® Off Site available free from Adobe.    This symbol Off Site indicates a link to a non-government web site. Our linking to these sites does not constitute an endorsement of any products, services or the information found on them. Once you link to another site you are subject to the policies of the new site.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau | American Community Survey Office | Email ACS | Last Revised: October 18, 2012
Give us your feedback on this website!