Suppose a mayor wants to know if a job training initiative has reduced the level of unemployment in a municipio. A business owner in San Juan wants information about the changing characteristics of workers and their commuting patterns. A public health agency is interested in identifying vulnerable populations that may need evacuation assistance during an emergency. Where could they go for this information?

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS) is designed to meet the needs of policymakers, business leaders, planners, and others who need good data to make informed decisions. The PRCS is part of the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) program, providing a detailed portrait of the social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics of communities throughout Puerto Rico.

This guide provides an overview of what data users need to know about working with PRCS data—particularly how the PRCS differs from the ACS and the major geographic areas for which PRCS data are available. It also includes some recent case studies that show how PRCS data are being used to help address important policy and program issues in Puerto Rico.