American Community Survey (ACS)

November 14, 2019

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files.

The PUMS files show the full range of population and housing unit responses collected on individual ACS questionnaires for a subsample of ACS housing units and group quarters persons (approximately one percent of the United States population).

The PUMS files allow data users to conduct a custom analysis. Working with PUMS data generally involves downloading large datasets onto a local computer and analyzing the data using statistical software such as R, SPSS, Stata, or SAS.

PUMS data can be accessed via the ACS website, the FTP site, and data.census.gov. Data.census.gov is particularly useful for researchers who need a quick statistic or do not have access to statistical software.

As part of the Census Bureau’s new dissemination platform, we are developing new functionality on data.census.gov that allows users to create custom tables using PUMS files. As we near the transition away from DataFerrett, data.census.gov will be the primary way to create custom statistics from the American Community Survey without downloading PUMS files.

For more information about the PUMS files, visit the links below:

• About PUMS: Learn more about microdata, Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs), and weighting
• Introduction to the PUMS File Webinar: Review this previously recorded webinar to learn more about creating custom tables using the PUMS files
• PUMS Technical Documentation: Need to find out more about using the PUMS? Our technical documentation includes a ReadMe, Data Dictionary, Code and Subject Lists, and other documents to assist users in accessing and using PUMS data
• PUMS File Structure: Information about the format of PUMS files, as well as when and how to merge them
• Using Microdata Access: With ACS 1-Year Estimates: Discover how to use data.census.gov to access ACS PUMS data in this step by step guide

October 17, 2019

We are pleased to announce the release of the Subject Tables and Selected Population Profiles for the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates. 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, ancestry, and selected monthly homeowner costs.

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 or city, please consult our Reference Materials.

In addition to today’s release of Subject Tables and Selected Population Profiles, we also released Data Profiles, Detailed Tables, Comparison Profiles, and the Summary File on September 26.  Learn more about the entire 2018 Data Release Schedule.

Visit the U.S. Census Bureau's data.census.gov or use the Census API to start exploring these estimates. Data.census.gov is the new platform to access data from the Census Bureau, and the current release works best in Google Chrome. American FactFinder will not host any of the 2018 ACS data releases. Learn more about data.census.gov resources. For more information, visit the links below:

• Pre-Release Webinar: View a recorded webinar highlighting important changes for the 2018 ACS 1-year release and a demonstration on how to access the data in data.census.gov.
• 2018 Changes: Visit our 2018 Data Release page to learn about table and geography changes, and the 2018 Comparison Guidance page to learn how these estimates compare to previous ACS estimates, the 2000 Census, and Census 2010. 
• Guidance for Data Users: Learn more about the types of data tables and tools available and get guidance about when to use 1-year and 5-year estimates.

September 26, 2019

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2018 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, ancestry, and selected monthly homeowner costs.

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 or city, please consult our Reference Materials.

Today's release includes Data Profiles, Detailed Tables, Comparison Profiles, and the Summary File. Additional products will be released on October 17th. Learn more in the 2018 Data Release Schedule.

Visit the U.S. Census Bureau's data.census.gov or use the Census API to start exploring these estimates. Data.census.gov is the new platform to access data from the Census Bureau, and the current release works best in Google Chrome. American FactFinder will not host any of the 2018 ACS data releases. Learn more about data.census.gov resources. For more information, visit the links below:

• Pre-Release Webinar: View a recorded webinar highlighting important changes for the 2018 ACS 1-year release and a demonstration on how to access the data in data.census.gov.
• 2018 Changes: Visit our 2018 Data Release page to learn about table and geography changes, and the 2018 Comparison Guidance page to learn how these estimates compare to previous ACS estimates, the 2000 Census, and Census 2010. 
• 2018 Summary File: Download all of the ACS Detailed Tables via the Summary File on the FTP. Instructions and other technical information are available on the Summary File Documentation page.
• Guidance for Data Users: Learn more about the types of data tables and tools available and get guidance about when to use 1-year and 5-year estimates.

September 19, 2019

We are pleased to announce the first release of documentation in support of the 2018 American Community Survey 1-year estimates scheduled for release on Thursday, September 26, 2019. 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 2018 Data Release page.

Highlights include links to the following:

• The Table & Geography Changes page explains new, modified, and removed tables, as well as information on changes to geography.
  
• The Code Lists, Definitions, and Accuracy page includes code lists, subject definitions, group quarters definitions, and the statistical testing tool.

• The Summary File Documentation page includes the new handbook, table shells, and sequence/table number lookup files. 
• Table Shells display the layout of the tables without the estimates or margins of error filled in. This year, we have also compiled Tables Lists. This will allow users to explore all the ACS tables, including table IDs, titles, universes, as well as 1-year/5-year availability, in one spreadsheet.
• The Geography Boundaries by Year page shows which vintage of geography the 2018 ACS 1-year estimates are based on.
• The Areas Published page lists the total number of geographic areas that receive 2018 ACS 1-year estimates. An excel file also details the specific geographies that have published data.
• The ACS Data User Handbooks and Training Presentations are continuously being updated. These resources provide recent and relevant information about the ACS and its data products.
• The 2018 ACS estimates will be released in the U.S. Census Bureau's new data dissemination platform, data.census.gov. The platform will serve as the primary way for accessing data and digital content from the Census Bureau. Please note, the current release of data.census.gov works best in Google Chrome.

April 4, 2019

After continuously developing a new way of accessing data over the past few years, we are now a few months away from the retirement of American FactFinder and official launch of data.census.gov, the Census Bureau’s new dissemination platform.  With no new releases in American FactFinder after June 2019, this platform will be the primary way to access data from the 2018 American Community Survey, 2017 Economic Census, 2020 Census, and more!

The vision for the new platform on data.census.gov is based on overwhelming feedback to streamline the way you get data and digital content from the Census Bureau. Since 2016, we have been developing the site based on customer feedback while continuously releasing new improvements every few months. These updates will continue over the next few years as we are committed to giving you the functionality and capabilities you want in a dissemination system.

February 7, 2019

2013-2017 ACS 5-year PUMS Files and Documentation

2013-2017 ACS 5-year PUMS files are now available on the FTP site.  They are scheduled to be released in American FactFinder on February 14th and DataFerrett on February 28th.

All PUMS documentation has been posted to help users with the release of the 2013-2017 ACS 5-year PUMS files.

2013-2017 ACS Variance Replicate Estimates Tables

2013-2017 ACS Variance Replicate Estimates Tables are now available through the Variance Replicate Estimates Tables data page and the FTP site. These tables allow advanced data users to calculate margins of error when collapsing data within a table or across geographies.  Supporting documentation is also available.

February 4, 2019

Due to the government shutdown, the release schedule for the 2013-2017 ACS 5-year PUMS files and 2013-2017 ACS Variance Replicate Estimates Tables was adjusted from the original release date of January 17th. The new dates are:

Thursday, February 7th: The 2013-2017 ACS 5-year PUMS files and 2013-2017 ACS Variance Replicate Estimates Tables will be released on the FTP site, and all documentation will be released on the ACS website.

Thursday, February 14th: Links for both releases will be released via American FactFinder.

Thursday, February 28th: The 2013-2017 ACS 5-year PUMS will be released via DataFerrett.