American Community Survey 2008
The American Community Survey (ACS) is a new nationwide survey designed to provide communities a fresh look
at how they are changing. It is a critical element in the Census Bureau's reengineered 2010 census plan.
The ACS collects information such as age, race, income, commute time to work, home value, veteran status,
and other important data from U.S. households. As with the official decennial census, information about
individuals will remain confidential.
The 2008 ACS data release includes several changes to the
2008 ACS data products. In addition, one data product, formerly known as the “multiyear profiles”, is being
re-introduced under the new name “comparison profiles” after being suspended for two years.The 2008 ACS estimates
are based on a nationwide sample of about 250,000 addresses per month. In addition, approximately 20,000 group
quarters across the United States were sampled, comprising approximately 200,000 residents. Geographic areas for
which one-year data are available are based on total populations of 65,000 or more.
The 2006-2008 ACS 3-year data release provides data products for geographic areas with a population of 20,000 or more. The population sizes for 3-year data products is based on the July 1, 2008 population estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. The 2006-2008 ACS release covers over 13,500 geographic areas that meet the 20,000 or more population threshold for the 3-year estimates. For many types of geographic areas, the release of 3-year estimates allows a much larger number of areas to receive estimates.
ACS 2008 data covers a wide variety of demographic, social, economic, and housing topics:
| Population |
Housing Characteristics |
| Age and date of birth |
Acreage |
| Ancestry |
Agricultural sales |
| Citizenship |
Bedrooms |
| Class of worker |
Business on property |
| Disability |
Condominium status and fee |
| Educational attainment |
Contract rent |
| Employment status |
Food stamps |
| Families |
House heating fuel |
| Fertility |
Housing units |
| Foreign born status |
Insurance |
| Grandparents as caregivers |
Kitchen facilities |
| Hispanic/Latino origin |
Meals included in rent |
| Household type and relationship |
Mobile home costs |
| Income |
Mortgage status |
| Industry |
Mortgage payment |
| Journey to work |
Occupancy status |
| Language spoken at home |
Plumbing facilities |
| Labor force status |
Real estate taxes |
| Marital status |
Rooms |
| Means of transportation to work |
Second mortgage |
| Occupation |
Selected monthly owner costs |
| Place of birth |
Telephone service availability |
| Place of work |
Tenure |
| Poverty status |
Units in structure |
| Private vehicle occupancy |
Utilities |
| Race |
Value of housing units |
| Residence one year ago |
Vehicles available |
| School enrollment |
Year householder moved in |
| Sex |
Year structure built |
| Travel time to work |
|
| Veteran status |
|
| Work status last week |
|
| Workers in family |
|
Expanding Local Coverage
The ACS began in 1996 and has expanded each subsequent year. Data from the 2006 ACS are available for geographic areas with a population of 65,000 or more, including 783 counties, 922 school districts,all 50 states, and the District of Columbia
Within three years (by 2008), data will be available for all areas of 20,000 or more. For small areas less than 20,000, it will take five years to accumulate a large enough sample to provide estimates with accuracy similar to the decennial census. Beginning in 2010, and every year thereafter, the nation will have a five-year period estimate available, a resource that shows change over time, even for neighborhoods and rural areas.
