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September 19, 2016
Census Bureau has released this updated report outlining accomplishments and progress achieved to minimize burden for ACS responsents while still allowing the survey to be responsive to emergent issues, keeping content current, and maintaining high quality data. This is a revision to version 1.1 of Agility in Action.
Follow developments in these efforts via our webpage: 2015-16 Research on Survey Enhancements.
October 16, 2015
We are forwarding the following message from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) to ensure that you are aware of the opportunity to apply for membership in a new American Community Survey (ACS) Data Products Redesign Group (DPRG). More information is below.
Accepting Applications for ACS Data Products Redesign Group
DEADLINE IS THURSDAY, OCT. 29, 2015
In partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau, the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is soliciting applications for membership in a new American Community Survey (ACS) Data Products Redesign Group (DPRG). The purpose of establishing this group is to provide the Census Bureau with an efficient and effective means to collect feedback from a broad range of ACS data users on new ACS data products and dissemination channels. This ongoing exchange will help the Census Bureau develop innovative data products and dissemination tools that best meet ACS data users’ needs. The DPRG will have approximately 20 members and will be informal and non-advisory. As such, the DPRG will not be providing the Census Bureau with consensus recommendations resulting from group deliberation or discussion.
If you are interested in being considered for membership in the ACS DPRG, please complete the online application by Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015. We will notify all applicants by mid-November when our selection process is complete. If you have questions about the DPRG or the application, please contact Linda Jacobsen, Vice President of U.S. Programs at PRB, at: ljacobsen@prb.org or at 202-939-5414.
For more information and to complete the online application, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACSDPRGApplication
October 13, 2015
Buying a home is often one of the most expensive and emotional purchases in your lifetime. Using open data from sources such as the American Community Survey (ACS), Zillow, the leading real estate and rental marketplace, wants "to make sure consumers armed with data are starting on their best foot."
Check out the U.S. Census Bureau's newest Stats in Action video to learn how Zillow builds products using ACS statistics. These products empower consumers to make better decisions about mortgage affordability, when to buy or sell, housing value, and more.
You can also let us know how you use ACS data by sharing your story online using #ACSdata.
October 7, 2015
The U.S. Census Bureau has been exploring ways to streamline the American Community Survey (ACS) as described in the report, Agility in Action: A Snapshot of Enhancements to the American Community Survey. Over the last three months, we published the following five updates about this research.
In October, we plan to release the results of the 2015 Data Products Survey—an online survey to solicit feedback from ACS data users on their experiences accessing and using ACS data products, documentation, and the data tools. The Executive Summary of the report is now available.
September 17, 2015
We are pleased to announce the release of the 2014 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year estimates, the most relied-on source for up-to-date social, economic, and housing information every year.
The ACS is the only source of local statistics for most of the 40 topics it covers, such as educational attainment, occupation, language spoken at home, nativity, ancestry, and selected monthly homeowner costs.
The ACS 1-year estimates are available for the nation, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, every congressional district, every metropolitan area, and all counties and places with populations of 65,000 or more. To find out if these estimates are available for your county, please consult our Reference Maps.
Visit the Census Bureau's American FactFinder or use Census API to start exploring these estimates.
For more information, visit the links below:
September 10, 2015
We are pleased to announce the first release of documentation in support of the 2014 ACS 1-year estimates scheduled for release on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. This documentation offers ACS data users the opportunity to prepare for next week's data release.
New and updated information related to this release is available now on the 2014 Data Release page.
Highlights include links to the following:
July 31, 2015
The 2014 ACS 1-year estimates are planned for release on Thursday, September 17, 2015.
The American Community Survey (ACS) produces statistics on numerous social, economic and housing characteristics, including language, education, the commute to work, employment, mortgage status and rent, as well as income, poverty and health insurance. The 2014 ACS 1-year estimates will be available for the nation, all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, every congressional district, every metropolitan area, and all counties and places with populations of 65,000 or more. Embargo subscribers will have access to these statistics beginning noon EST Wednesday, September 16 for release at 12:01a.m. Thursday, September 17. Please note that this is a 12-hour embargo.
The 2010-2014 ACS 5-year estimates are planned for release on Thursday, December 10, 2015.
The 2010-2014 ACS 5-year estimates will be available for all geographic areas including census tracts, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs), and block groups. For the first time, users will be able to compare two non-overlapping 5-year datasets (2005-2009 and 2010-2014). Embargo subscribers will have access to these statistics beginning Tuesday, December 8.
Please note that the ACS 3-year estimates have been discontinued. Every community in the nation will continue to receive a detailed statistical portrait of its social, economic, housing and demographic characteristics through 1-year and 5-year ACS products.
July 1, 2015
Building on new information gathered from the 2014 Content Review, the Census Bureau just released, on June 30th, a report outlining plans for research on survey improvements, including the following highlights:
Follow developments in these efforts via our newly launched webpage: 2015-16 Research on Survey Enhancements.
Also on June 30th, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the Census Bureau’s proposal to make the following changes based on the 2014 ACS Content Review:
OMB also approved three additional changes resulting from late-breaking developments from the Census Bureau’s ongoing survey improvement research:
June 23, 2015
The U.S. Census Bureau's newly designed website for the American Community Survey (ACS) is now available. We have successfully transitioned from the preview version to the new live website that has a look and feel consistent with census.gov, allowing users to quickly find information thanks to an easy to understand hierarchical structure.
We hope that you will enjoy browsing our new site and find more options and information each time.
While you get used to our new website, please use the links below to find the new versions of some of our most popular pages:
Note: If you have not updated your bookmarks, you will be temporarily redirected to new or high-level pages. Once you locate your favorite page, please press CTRL+D to create a new updated bookmark.
June 18, 2015
If you have feedback about the layout of our new site, or any questions about finding the information you need, please email us at acso.users.support@census.gov.
June 9, 2015
A preview version of the U.S. Census Bureau's newly designed website for the American Community Survey (ACS) is now available. The website has a look and feel and contains terminology consistent with census.gov, allowing users to quickly find information thanks to an easy to understand hierarchical structure. We hope that you will enjoy browsing our new site and find more options and information each time.
While you get used to our new website, please use the links below to find the new versions of some of our most popular pages.
(Once you locate your favorite page, press CTRL+D to create a new bookmark. Please plan to update your bookmarks soon, as the current live site will be unavailable after June 23.)
April 13, 2015
We'd like to know what you think!
We are gathering feedback on ACS data products, documentation, and dissemination. Please participate in the our survey by May 29th to help ACS evaluate and improve our products.
May 6, 2015
The Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) at the Department of Commerce has released a new report titled The Value of the American Community Survey: Smart Government, Competitive Businesses, and Informed Citizens.
In a blog post about the release, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Mark Doms writes:
"Better data for better decisions. That's our mantra at ESA. And one of the best sources of data in an increasingly data-driven decision-making world is the American Community Survey.
Today, we released a new report titled The Value of the American Community Survey: Smart Government, Competitive Businesses, and Informed Citizens, which explores one of the Federal Government's most valuable statistical products. The American Community Survey produces a wealth of data our country uses for a wide range of purposes, including helping direct the investment of over $400 billion in federal funding each year. Community leaders use our data to analyze the evolving needs of their neighborhoods, to plan for the future, and to locate new schools, hospitals, police and fire departments. And businesses rely on our data to make key marketing, site selection, and workforce decisions, to better serve customers and create jobs.
The value of the ACS lies in its ability to provide comprehensive information for every community in America, no matter how small. No other source of data offers what the ACS can: fresh, annual data on the country's changing demographics and socioeconomics. Today's report shows us just how much the ACS makes our governments smarter, our businesses more competitive, and our people more informed."
March 02, 2015
The U.S. Census Bureau has proposed discontinuing the ACS 3-year estimates. If approved, the Census Bureau would not release the 2012-2014 ACS 3-year estimates, and the 3-year Public Use Microdata Sample files.
The Census Bureau will continue producing data for all communities, regardless of size, via the 5-year statistical product, the flagship dataset for the ACS program. We will also continue producing 1-year estimates for communities of 65,000.
More information is posted in 2014 Data Release.
December 04, 2014
Get the latest statistics from the ACS!
American Community Survey's annual data release provides statistics on a variety of population and housing topics for the nation, states, and your community.
2009-2013 ACS 5-Year Estimates on American FactFinder
Go to 2013 Data Release to learn more.
