2005-2009 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year Estimates

The American Community Survey is an on-going 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 of 65,000 or more population. 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, over that period. For the smallest places, those with fewer than 20,000 people, 60 months of sample is needed to produce “five-year period estimates,” which are averages for characteristics over a five-year period.

 The 5-year data released on December 14, 2010 will be the first sample large enough to include all geographic areas down to census tract and block group levels.

Three tips for using American Community Survey data: (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

1.      The 2010 Census shows the number of people who live in the U.S. and the American Community Survey shows how people live.

·         Use data from the American Community Survey to obtain demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics.

·         Use numbers from the 2010 Census to obtain counts of the population and their basic characteristics (sex, age, race, Hispanic origin, and homeowner status).

·         Use data from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program in the years between censuses. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program produces official population estimates for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns, plus housing unit estimates for states and counties.

2.      All American Community Survey (ACS) data are estimates.

The Census Bureau collects American Community Survey data from a sample of the population in the United States and Puerto Rico--rather than from the whole population. All ACS data are survey estimates. To help you interpret the reliability of the estimate, the Census Bureau publishes a margin of error (MOE) for every ACS estimate.

3.      American Community Survey collects and releases data by the calendar year for geographic areas that meet specific population thresholds.

American Community Survey 1-, 3-, and 5-year estimates are period estimates, which means they represent the characteristics of the population and housing over a specific data collection period. Data are combined to produce 12 months, 36 months or 60 months of data. These are called 1-year, 3-year and 5-year data.

If you would like more information and supporting documentation for this data please visit the ACS web site at:

www.census.gov/acs

Data Guidance for 5-year ACS data and 2009 ACS data:

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/comparing_2009/

The Census 2000/ACS Table Comparison Tool identifies and describes approximate matches between ACS Detailed Tables and tables in Census 2000 SF3:

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/2009_table_comparisons/

The new and notable page provides information about the 5-year data release:

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/2009_release/

For easy access to 2005-2009 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates go to American FactFinder. There you will find tables with social, demographic, housing, and economic data for areas down to the census tract level.

You can access the newly-released data on American FactFinder at:

2005-2009 ACS 5-year data  http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet_program=ACS&_submenuId=&_lang=en&_ts=

These profiles were recreated by OVRDC Staff for the OVRDC Region.

Adams

Brown

Clermont

Fayette

Gallia

Highland

Jackson

Lawrence

Pike

Ross

Scioto

Vinton

Ohio

USA

OVRDC Region