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United States Census Bureau | An official website of the United States Government Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What Federal Agencies Need to Know March 2021 The American Community Survey (ACS) is the nation’s premier source of detailed social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics for local communities. The ACS is unique among U.S. household surveys because of its size, breadth of measurement, provision of annual estimates for small geographic areas, and extensive use by a wide range of government and nongovernmental organizations. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 132 programs used census data— including data from the ACS—to distribute more than $675 billion in funds during fiscal year 2015.  Federal agencies rely on the ACS to help them make operational decisions, including managing and evaluating programs, determining eligibility for programs, and benchmarking other statistics. This handbook describes how analysts, program administrators, and policymakers within federal agencies can use the ACS in carrying out the business of their agencies. [/conte nt/da m/Cen sus/lib rary/pu blicati ons/20 20/acs /ACS_ Federa l_Hand book_2 021.pd f] Underst anding and Using America n Commu nity Survey Data: What Federal Agencie s Need to Know [7.2 MB] American Communi ty Survey Download by Section 1. Topics Covered in the ACS [<1.0 MB] American Community Survey [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_federal_handbook_2020_ch01.pdf] 2. How Federal Agencies Use ACS Data [<1.0 MB] American Community Survey [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_federal_handbook_2020_ch02.pd f] 3. How A Question Becomes Part of the ACS [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_federal_handbook_2020_ch03 .pdf] American Community Survey 4. Considerations When Working with ACS Data [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_federal_handbook_2020_ch 04.pdf] American Community Survey 5. Accessing ACS Data [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_federal_handbook_2020_ch05.pdf] American Community Survey 6. Case Studies Using ACS Data [3.2 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_federal_handbook_2021_ch06.pdf] American Community Survey 7. Additional Resources [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_federal_handbook_2021_ch07.pdf] American Community Survey Others in Series Publication What ACS Public Use Microdata Sample File Users Need to Know February 2021 This guide helps data users learn how to access PUMS files, create PUMS tables, and measure accuracy and margins of error. [/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks/pums.html] Publication What Congress Needs to Know June 2020 This handbook helps congressional staff use ACS data to respond to constituent inquiries, draft floor/press statements, conduct legislative research, and more. [/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks/congress.html] Publication What the Business Community Needs to Know October 2020 This handbook helps business data users learn how to access and use ACS data and provide concrete examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions. [/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks/business.html] VIEW ALL [/PROGRAMS-SURVEYS/ACS/LIBRARY/HANDBOOKS.HTML] Related Information FLYER ACS Overview Flyer [/programs-surveys/acs/library/flyers/acs-overview.html] VISUALIZATION How a Question Becomes Part of the American Community Survey [/library/visualizations/2017/comm/acs-questions.html] Page Last Revised - May 1, 2025