2007-2011 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year Estimates

On December 6, 2012, the U.S. Census Bureau announced the release of the 2007-2011 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, the most relied-on source for detailed, up-to-date socio-economic statistics covering every community in the nation every year. These estimates give even the smallest communities timely information on more than 40 topics, such as educational attainment, income, occupation, commuting to work, language spoken at home, nativity, ancestry and selected monthly homeowner costs.

The American Community Survey is an ongoing sample of cities and communities all over the United States administered by the U.S. Census Bureau.  Like the census, this survey provides information on the social, economic, and housing characteristics of the U.S. population.  Unlike the decennial census, however, the ACS collects data on a continual basis. The Census Bureau releases the collected data in 3 time level products which consist of yearly, 3-year, and 5-year estimates. 

1.     Yearly ACS estimates are released for places of 65,000 or more population.

2.     3-year ACS estimates are released for places of 20,000 to 65,000 persons.

3.     5-year ACS estimates are released for smallest places, those with fewer than 20,000 people.

The American Community Survey sample is combined or “rolled-up” for 12 months to produce annual estimates of characteristics for places with population of 65,000. Thus, for large places in the nation, a socioeconomic portrait is now available on an annual basis. For places of 20,000 to 65,000 persons, 36 months of sample is the minimum required to provide estimates. These “three-year period estimates” tell us the average number of high school graduates or people who drive to work, for example. For the smallest places, those with fewer than 20,000 people, 60 months of sample are needed to produce “five-year period estimates.”

If you would like more information and supporting documentation for this data please visit the ACS web site at: www.census.gov/acs

To access these statistics for all published ACS geographies except those at the block group level, please visit the Census Bureau's American FactFinder. (http://factfinder2.census.gov/)

Information about accessing block group estimates using the summary file, including links to the FTP site, (http://www2.census.gov/acs2011_5yr/summaryfile/) is available on the ACS Summary File Page. (http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/summary_file/)

OVRDC Regional Data

DP02 - 2007-11 ACS Profile

DP03 - 2007-11 ACS Profile

DP04 - 2007-11 ACS Profile

DP05 - 2007-11 ACS Profile

Main ACS 2007-2011 5-Year Profiles (Excel File)