The Census Bureau estimates poverty rates based upon data from several different surveys. Poverty rates often differ slightly among the surveys in part due to differences in the structure of the surveys themselves. This chart, along with information from the which data source to use page, will allow census data users to have a better understanding of how these surveys collect data and measure poverty. This allows Census data users to make the best possible decision for their individual needs.

	Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS ASEC)	American Community Survey (ACS)	Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)	Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)
General Purpose	The CPS is an employment survey, with the ASEC providing official national annual poverty statistics	The ACS replaced the Decennial Census “long form” The ACS is an ongoing survey providing single-year poverty estimates for geographies with populations of 65,000 or greater and estimates for five-year periods at all geographies.	Surveys individuals over time, providing longitudinal estimates at a monthly level	Provides single-year model based income and poverty statistics for school districts, counties, and states
Data Availability	Annually back to 1959	Annually back to 2005 Historic decennial estimates are available for 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, and 1999	Interviews spanning 4 months from 1984 to 2013 Interviews spanning 12 months from 2013 onward	States and counties: 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, annually 1997 onward School districts: 1995, 1997, annually 1999 onward
Data Tools	Table Creator	Census Data Tool	Micro Data	Interactive Data Tool
Geography	Representative at the national and regional level Pooled years of data may be used to produce state level estimates	Single-year data is representative at the national, state, metropolitan and congressional district level - as well as for all counties and places with populations greater than 65,000 individuals [1] Smaller geographies, such as block groups, census tracts, and counties with populations below 65,000 people are available with five-year estimates	Representative at the national level	Representative at the state, county, and school district level
Reference Period	Respondents are interviewed February to April answering questions about the previous calendar year	Respondents are interviewed throughout the year referencing the 12-month period prior to the interview	Respondents are interviewed between January and June referencing the previous calendar year[2]	Model based estimates that combine survey data with administrative records and population estimates[3]
Income Collection	More than 50 sources of money income and cash/noncash transfer programs Federal and state taxes and credits are modeled	Eight questions collecting money-income and one type of noncash benefit program (SNAP)	The most detailed questions on income and program participation of the three surveys, with reporting at the monthly level for most income and program sources	Pre-tax cash income based on ACS income definition
Family Definition	Families are based on relationships and household composition at time of interview Reporting allows for the assignment of both related and unrelated subfamilies within a household	Families based on relationships and household composition at time of interview Reporting does not allow for the assignment of unrelated subfamilies within a household Household members not related to the householder are categorized as unrelated individuals	Family composition changes monthly based on relationships and household composition Reporting allows for the assignment of unrelated subfamilies within a household	Based on ACS family definition
Population Universe	Civilian non-institutionalized population of the United States, includes all housing units and non-institutionalized group quarters [4] Armed Forces personnel are included if they reside off post or with at least one other civilian on post	Resident population of the United States, including housing units and both institutional and non-institutional group quarters [4] Institutional group quarter respondents as well as those living in college dormitories or military barracks are not included in the poverty universe	Civilian non-institutionalized population of the United States, includes all housing units and non-institutionalized group quarters Armed forces personnel are included if they reside off base	Based on ACS definition
Residence Designation	The sampled household/group quarter must be considered a person’s “usual” residence	Respondents are sampled at their household/group quarter residence if they have been, or will be, there for more than 2 months	Respondents must reside in a sampled household, or live with a sampled household member Only original sample household members are followed longitudinally	Based on ACS definition
Survey Sample Size	Approximately 95,000 addresses	Approximately 3.5 million addresses	Approximately 50,000 addresses	Model based estimates
Sample Type	Cross-sectional and longitudinal	Cross-sectional	Cross-sectional and longitudinal	Cross-sectional

Footnotes

Select supplemental estimates based on single-year data are available for areas with populations between 20,000 to 65,000 individuals.
Prior to the 2014 SIPP Panel, respondents were interviewed throughout the year referencing the 4-month period prior to the interview.
Estimates from the SAIPE program use the ACS 1-year estimates as inputs from 2005 onward. In prior years, data from the CPS ASEC and the Decennial Census were used as model inputs.
The Census Bureau classifies all people not living in housing units as living in group quarters. There are two types of group quarters: Institutional, such as correctional facilities, nursing homes, or mental hospitals and Non-institutional, such as college dormitories, military barracks, group homes, or shelters.

See below for additional information on comparisons of income and poverty estimates across surveys.

Comparing ACS & CPS ASEC

For a detailed comparison of the differences between the American Community Survey (ACS) and the Annual Social & Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS ASEC), refer to the factsheet below.

Fact Sheet: Differences Between ACS & CPS ASEC

There are many differences between the ACS and the CPS ASEC. Some of the most significant are listed here.