The Importance of the American Community Survey and the Decennial Census
Since the Census Bureau conducts over a hundred surveys every year, you may receive one or more invitations to respond to different surveys. During 2020, every home in America received an invitation by mail or a visit by a census taker to participate in the 2020 Census. Some households also received the American Community Survey (ACS) in 2020, in addition to the once-a-decade census.
Your responses to the American Community Survey and decennial census are critically important to your local community and the country. Local communities depend on information from the American Community Survey, as well as the decennial census, to decide where schools, highways, hospitals, and other important services are needed. The data collected through the American Community Survey and the 2020 Census help inform how trillions of dollars in federal funds are distributed each year.
The American Community Survey
- Conducted every month, every year
- Sent to a sample of addresses (about 3.5 million) in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico
- Asks about topics not on the 2020 Census, such as education, employment, internet access, and transportation
- Provides current information to communities every year. It also provides local and national leaders with the information they need for programs, economic development, emergency management, and understanding local issues and conditions.
The Decennial Census
- Conducted every ten years
- Counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories
- Asked a shorter set of questions, such as age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and owner/renter status
- Provides an official count of the population, which determines congressional representation. Also provides critical data that lawmakers and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for communities.
Learn more about the American Community Survey and 2020 Census by checking out some commonly asked questions below.
Commonly asked questions about the American Community Survey and the 2020 Census are also available to download and view in PDF format.
