Census Voting Age Population Data Release

The 2019-2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year Citizen Voting Age by Race and Ethnicity Special Tabulation was released February 7. This special tabulation was created for use in voting rights analysis and is published for a series of geographies, down to the block-group level. Publication of this special tabulation is only available for download from the Census Bureau's Citizen Voting Age by Race and Ethnicity webpage.

New ACS Design and Methodology Report Available

The latest Design and Methodology Report is now available. The purpose of this document is to provide data users and other interested individuals with documentation of the methods used in the ACS and PRCS. This document describes the basic ACS and PRCS design and methodology through 2021, unless otherwise indicated.

2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) Update File

On January 23, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2018-2022 ACS 5-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) update files through the FTP site. The updated codes on these files cross-walked the 2010 PUMS codes to the 2020 PUMA values with updated weights, removing the need to crosswalk 2010 and 2020 vintages.

2019-2023 ACS 5-Year Data Products and 119th Congressional District Data Release

Last month, the Census Bureau released the 2019-2023 ACS 5-year PUMS files, and 2019-2023 ACS 5-year Variance Replicate Estimates (VRE) tables to the public. PUMS files are available through the ACS website, FTP site, and the microdata access tool on data.census.gov. VREs are available through the ACS website and FTP site. The Census Bureau also released four Data Profiles for the 119th Congress. These data are available on data.census.gov and the Application Programming Interface. The My Congressional District data tool is also updated for the 119th Congress.

January 23, 2025

2019-2023 ACS 5-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2019-2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files.

The ACS 5-year 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 five percent of the United States population) with disclosure protection enabled so that individuals or housing units cannot be identified.

PUMS files allow data users to create custom estimates and tables that are not available through ACS pretabulated data products. Working with PUMS data generally involves downloading large datasets onto a local computer and analyzing them using statistical software such as R, SPSS, Stata, or SAS.

PUMS data can be accessed via data.census.gov and the Census Bureau's FTP site. 

Visit our Microdata section on the ACS website to find all resources related to PUMS files.  This section contains access to PUMS data, the PUMS Handbook, How-to instructions, FAQs, and PUMS documentation.

The PUMS Documentation page is updated with the 2023 release to include the PUMS User Guide, Accuracy of the PUMS, PUMS Estimates for User Verification, Subjects in the PUMS, and Data Dictionary. Code Lists have also been posted to help users with the release of the 2019-2023 ACS 5-year PUMS files.

2019-2023 ACS 5-Year Variance Replicate Estimate Tables

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2019-2023 ACS 5-year Variance Replicate Estimate Tables.

These tables allow advanced users to calculate margins of error (MOEs) when collapsing data within a table or across geographies. This method provides a more accurate MOE than available approximation formulas.  

To access these estimates, visit the Variance Replicate Estimate Tables page or through the Census Bureau's FTP site. This page also includes technical documentation, a table and geography list, and table shells.

Release of 119th Congressional District Data Profiles

The Census Bureau released four ACS Data Profiles for the 119th Congress on January 7. These data are available on data.census.gov and the Application Programming Interface. The My Congressional District data tool is also updated for the 119th Congress. These data products are produced from the 2023 ACS data.

2019-2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Data Products Release

On January 23, the U.S. Census Bureau will release the 2019-2023 ACS 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files and 2019-2023 ACS 5-year Variance Replicate Estimates (VRE) tables to the public. PUMS files will be available through the ACS website, FTP site, and the microdata access tool on data.census.gov. VREs will be available through the ACS website and FTP site.

Puerto Rico Community Survey Overview Flyer Spanish Version Now Available

Learn the basics about the Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS), including topics covered, data products, data collection, and more in the recently published PRCS Overview Flyer, now available in Spanish. The PRCS is part of the ACS that is customized for Puerto Rico.

Data.census.gov Microdata Access Tool (MDAT) Refresh

Check out the newly refreshed Microdata Access Tool (MDAT) from the Census Bureau. The MDAT was revamped based on feedback to deliver a more user-friendly experience.

New Topics on the 2025 ACS Questionnaire

The 2025 ACS and PRCS sample questionnaires are now available. Three new questions related to sewer, electric vehicles, and solar panels were added to the 2025 questionnaires. The Instructions for Completing the Survey were also updated. Learn more about how a question becomes part of the ACS.

Final ACS Course Module Published

The final module in the Discovering the American Community Survey course has been published. It pulls everything together by guiding viewers through a practical exercise to apply their knowledge of the ACS, data tools and resources.