Open Census MCP Server

Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data What Congress Needs to Know Issued June 2020 Acknowledgments Linda A. Jacobsen, Vice President, U.S. Programs, Population Reference Bureau (PRB), Mark Mather, Associate Vice President, U.S. Programs, PRB, and Kelvin Pollard, Senior Demographer, U.S. Programs, PRB, drafted this handbook in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Office. Other PRB staff who assisted in drafting and reviewing the handbook include Beth Jarosz, Lillian Kilduff, and Paola Scommegna. Some of the material in this handbook was adapted from the Census Bureau’s 2008 publication, A Compass for Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What Congress Needs to Know, drafted by Terri Ann Lowenthal and Mary Jo Hoeksema. Nicole Scanniello, Gretchen Gooding, and Amanda Klimek, Census Bureau, contributed to the planning and review of this handbook. The American Community Survey program is under the direction of Albert E. Fontenot, Jr., Associate Director for Decennial Census Programs, James B. Treat, Assistant Director for Decennial Census Programs, and Donna M. Daily, Chief, American Community Survey Office. Other individuals from the Census Bureau who contributed to the review and release of these handbooks include Alissa Bonner, Mark Dorsey, Sirius Fuller, R. Chase Sawyer, and Tyson Weister. Faye Brock, Linda Chen, Christine Geter, and Amanda Perry provided publication management, graphic design and composition, and editorial review for print and electronic media under the direction of Janet Sweeney, Chief of the Graphic and Editorial Services Branch, Public Information Office. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data What Congress Needs to Know Issued June 2020 U.S. Department of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Secretary Karen Dunn Kelley, Deputy Secretary U.S. CENSUS BUREAU Steven Dillingham, Director Suggested Citation U.S. Census Bureau, Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What Congress Needs to Know, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 2020. U.S. CENSUS BUREAU Steven Dillingham, Director Ron Jarmin, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer Albert E. Fontenot, Jr., Associate Director for Decennial Census Programs James B. Treat, Assistant Director for Decennial Census Programs Donna M. Daily, Chief, American Community Survey Office Contents 1. How Congress Uses ACS Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. ACS Data Products for Congressional Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 3. Case Studies Using ACS Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 4. Additional Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data iii What Congress Needs to Know iii U.S. Census Bureau This page is intentionally blank. UNDERSTANDING AND USING AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA: WHAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO KNOW Congress needs accurate, up-to-date information to make good decisions—from allocating federal program funds to developing program eligibility requirements, monitoring compliance with federal laws, and evaluat- ing community needs. Congressional staff also need timely data to support communication efforts, respond to constituent inquiries, draft legislation, analyze legis- lative proposals, and conduct legislative research. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) provides members of Congress the data they need for decision-making. This guide provides a brief overview of how members of Congress use ACS data for important legislative purposes. What Is the American Community Survey? The ACS is a nationwide survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely social, eco- nomic, housing, and demographic data every year. The Census Bureau uses data collected in the ACS to provide estimates on a broad range of population, housing unit, and household characteristics for states, counties, cities, American Indian and Alaska Native areas, tribal subdivision areas, school districts, con- gressional districts, census tracts, block groups, and many other geographic areas. a calendar year to produce estimates for that year. As a result, ACS estimates reflect data that have been collected over a period of time rather than for a single point in time as in the decennial census, which is con- ducted every 10 years and provides population counts as of April 1 of the census year. ACS 1-year estimates are data that have been col- lected over a 12-month period and are available for geographic areas with at least 65,000 people. Starting with the 2014 ACS, the Census Bureau is also produc- ing 1-year supplemental estimates—simplified versions of popular ACS tables—for geographic areas with at least 20,000 people. The Census Bureau combines 5 consecutive years of ACS data to produce multiyear estimates for geographic areas with fewer than 65,000 residents. These 5-year estimates represent data col- lected over a period of 60 months. For those who want more detailed information about the ACS—how to judge the accuracy of ACS estimates, understanding multiyear estimates, knowing which geographic areas are covered in the ACS, and how to access ACS data on the Census Bureau’s Web site—see the Census Bureau’s handbook on Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know.1 The ACS has an annual sample size of about 3.5 mil- lion addresses, with survey information collected nearly every day of the year. Data are pooled across 1 U.S. Census Bureau, Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know, <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks /general.html>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 1 What Congress Needs to Know 1 U.S. Census Bureau1. HOW CONGRESS USES ACS DATA While the main function of the decennial census is to provide counts of people for the purpose of appor- tionment and redistricting, the primary purpose of the American Community Survey (ACS) is to measure the changing social and economic characteristics of the U.S. population—our education, housing, jobs, and more. ACS content is designed to meet the needs of fed- eral government agencies, and every question on the ACS is asked for a statutory or programmatic pur- pose. For example, questions about how people get to work, what time their trip to work usually begins, and the length of their commutes are used for planning improvements to roads, highways, rail lines, and bus routes, and for planning emergency response routes. More information about the subjects included in the ACS is available in the section on “Understanding the ACS: The Basics” in the U.S. Census Bureau’s handbook Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know.2 Using ACS Data to Allocate Funds and Monitor Compliance With Federal Laws Many laws require the use of ACS or decennial census data as the basis for establishing program or grant eligibility and for allocating federal program funds. For example, ACS data on veteran status and period of military service are used to allocate funds to states and local areas for employment and job training programs for veterans. Income data from the ACS are used to determine poverty status, measure economic well-being, and assess the need for assistance. Many federal programs, including Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, Community Development Block Grant, National School Lunch Program, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Head Start, and Americorps use ACS income data to allocate formula grants (see Box 1.1). The 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 2015.3 ACS data are also used to monitor compliance with federal laws. For example: • ACS data on age, housing, employment, and education are used to help the government and communities enforce laws, regulations, and poli- cies against discrimination based on age such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. ² U.S. Census Bureau, Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know, <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks /general.html> • Data on age, sex, race/ethnicity, labor force status, and work status are used to monitor compliance with the Civil Rights Act. • ACS data on housing characteristics, such as units in a structure, kitchen and plumbing facilities, rent, tenure, and selected monthly owner costs, are used to implement and assess compliance with the National Affordable Housing Act. Many of the questions on the ACS were previously included on the 2000 Census and prior census long- form questionnaires. However, in the years since the ACS achieved full implementation in 2005, questions have been added, revised, or removed from the survey. For example, questions about household computer ownership and Internet access were added to the ACS in 2013 as a requirement of the Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2008. In 2014, the Census Bureau conducted a compre- hensive assessment of the ACS program, including a review of each ACS question. This ACS content review sought to determine which federal programs use the information collected in response to each question and assess how the Census Bureau might reduce respon- dent burden.4 A summary of federal agencies’ uses of Box 1.1. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Enacted as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a manda- tory block grant program to the states. The mis- sion of LIHEAP is to help low-income households pay their home energy bills. Congress established the law’s block grant dis- tribution formula based on each state’s climate and low-income population. The income question on the ACS is essential to determining the low- income population in each state. Implementation of the LIHEAP program also relies on data from other ACS questions, including age, sex, Hispanic origin, relationship, disability status, units in struc- ture, and occupants per room. LIHEAP program administrators also use data from the ACS ques- tion on selected monthly owner costs to analyze current residential energy supply and consump- tion and to forecast future energy needs. 3 U.S. Census Bureau Library, Uses of Census Bureau Data in Federal Funds Distribution, 2017, <www.census.gov/library/working -papers/2017/decennial/census-data-federal-funds.html>. ⁴ U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), Content Review, 2014, <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/operations -and-administration/2014-content-review.html>. 2 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 2 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census Bureau ACS data from each question is included in the Census Bureau’s ACS Handbook of Questions and Current Federal Uses.5 The Census Bureau has also developed a series of interactive Web pages that explain why each question is asked on the ACS. Each page shows the question as it appears on the form and allows users to explore some of the most popular statistics that come from the question at the local level. The pages also explain the origin of each question, pri- vacy concerns, and how the statistics are used to help communities.6 How Members of Congress and Staff Use ACS Data The ACS provides a wealth of timely social, economic, housing, and demographic data for all congressio- nal districts and states that can be used in drafting legislation, press releases, statements, and constituent correspondence; conducting legislative research; and developing grant formulas for proposed programs. The Census Bureau releases annual ACS data for each of the 435 congressional districts. Members and staff can use these data to produce current snapshots of the characteristics of their districts. TIP: Members of Congress can also compare ACS esti- mates with those of previous years to look at trends over time. However, congressional district data from the 2012 ACS and later years reflect the new boundaries that were drawn after the 2010 Census, while ACS data for earlier years reflect the 2000 Census boundaries. Given the major changes to district boundaries after each census, a comparison of congressional district data between 2011 and 2012 and later years is not advisable.7 Data users should also use caution when working with ACS estimates for districts that have been subject to intercensal redistricting. Following are some examples of how congres- sional staff can use ACS data to carry out their responsibilities. Cosponsoring Legislation The breadth of ACS data can support research for a wide variety of potential bills. For example, if a senator wants to draft a housing assistance bill that targets people who are spending 30 percent or more of their income on housing expenses, the ACS provides esti- mates of the number and characteristics of homeown- ers and renters who spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing and utilities. Congress can use these data to allocate funds to state and local govern- ments through a formula grant. Drafting a Floor Statement Members of Congress sometimes need to make floor statements on very short notice. For example, a mem- ber who wants to make a speech about the economy might ask his or her staff to quickly determine the proportion of families in the district living below the poverty level and how that figure compares with the national poverty rate. These data are readily available in published ACS tables. Responding to a Constituent Inquiry Constituents occasionally send letters or call their member’s office to ask why they were selected to participate in the ACS. Members and their staffs need to understand how addresses are selected, how personal information is protected, what questions are asked in the questionnaire, and how Congress uses the responses to write legislation and assist constituents. The Census Bureau provides answers to these and other common constituent questions in a two-page flyer available for download from the ACS Web site.8 Specific answers as to why each question is asked are also provided in a series of interactive Web pages.9 Some respondents are reluctant to answer the ACS because of concerns about the confidentiality of the data. However, the final published statistics do not reveal names, addresses, or any other information that would identify any individual respondent, and strict confidentiality laws protect all ACS informa- tion that could be used to identify individuals or households, under the authority of Title 13 of the U.S. Code.10 This is true even for interagency com- munication: other government agencies do not have the legal right to access individuals’ confidential information. ⁵ U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Handbook of Questions and Current Federal Uses, 2014, <www.census.gov /programs-surveys/acs/operations-and-administration/2014-content -review/federal-uses.html>. ⁶ U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Questions on the Form and Why We Ask, <www.census.gov/acs/www/about/why -we-ask-each-question/>. ⁷ Note: 2011 Data Profiles for congressional districts are available through the Census Bureau’s file transfer protocol server, <https://www2.census.gov/acs2011_1yr/CD113/>. ⁸ U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), ACS Resources for Congress Flyer, <www.census.gov/programs-surveys /acs/library/outreach-materials/flyers/acs-constituent-answers.html>. ⁹ U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Questions on the Form and Why We Ask, <www.census.gov/acs/www/about/why -we-ask-each-question/>. 10 U.S. Census Bureau, Data Protection and Privacy Program, Title 13 - Protection of Confidential Information, <www.census.gov/about /policies/privacy/data_stewardship/title_13_-_protection_of _confidential_information.html>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 3 What Congress Needs to Know 3 U.S. Census BureauAnalyzing Legislative Proposals Members receive a wide variety of legislative propos- als that require detailed evaluation. The ACS pro- vides a broad range of social, economic, housing, and demographic data that can help staff conduct these assessments. For example, if an advocacy group sends a proposal to reform the Social Security system, ACS data on labor force participation and disability could be used to evaluate how many people would be affected by this proposal. 4 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 4 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census Bureau2. ACS DATA PRODUCTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL USES Data.census.gov Data.census.gov is the U.S. Census Bureau's primary tool for accessing population, housing, and economic data from the American Community Survey (ACS), the Puerto Rico Community Survey, the decennial census, and many other Census Bureau data sets.11 Data.census.gov pro- vides access to ACS data for a wide range of geographic areas, including states, cities, congressional districts, counties, census tracts, and block groups. For more information about data.census.gov, view the Census Bureau’s data.census.gov Resources page.12 Accessing ACS Data Through the My Congressional District Tool My Congressional District is a specialized tool that allows members of Congress and their staff to eas- ily access and view population and housing estimates for congressional districts from the most recent ACS 1-year estimates, as well as business data from the Census Bureau’s latest County Business Patterns database.13 The tool displays tables of the latest ACS 1-year estimates for selected characteristics, including: • People: Demographic measures including sex and age, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, place of birth, ancestry, veteran status, disability status, and resi- dence 1 year ago. • Workers: Employment status, commuting to work, occupation, industry, and class of worker. • Housing: Housing occupancy, housing tenure (owner or renter), year householder moved into unit, value of home, mortgage status, selected monthly owner costs, and gross rent. • Socioeconomic: Income and benefits, health insur- ance coverage, and poverty status for families and for individuals by age. • Education: School enrollment and educational attainment. To access estimates from My Congressional District, select a state and choose a congressional district using the drop-down menus (see Figure 2.1). There is also an 11 U.S. Census Bureau, Data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 12 U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov Resources, <www.census 13 U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov .gov/content/census/en/data/what-is-data-census-gov.html>. /mycd/>. Figure 2.1. My Congressional District Home Page Source: U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 5 What Congress Needs to Know 5 U.S. Census Bureau option to identify a congressional district by entering a ZIP code. After selecting a congressional district, select one of the six topical areas to browse the data on that topic (see Figure 2.2). A box underneath the table gives you the option of displaying the data with or without accompanying margins of error. For information about understanding and using the margins of error for ACS estimates, see “Understanding Error and Determining Statistical Significance” in the Census Bureau’s hand- book Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know.14 There is also a “Download and Share” icon under the table that allows users to download the data and share it on social media platforms, or post it on a blog or other Web site. 14 U.S. Census Bureau, Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know, <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks /general.html>. Figure 2.2. Selecting a Topical Area Source: U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. 6 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 6 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauIf you click the “Download and Share” icon, you can either download a comma-separated values (CSV) file with data just for the congressional district you have selected or for all districts within the state (see Figure 2.3). There is also an option to embed the results page on a Web site for a specific congressional district. In 2017, over 70 members of Congress embedded My Congressional District on their member Web sites, which is a great way to highlight the characteristics of their districts to their constituents. Figure 2.3. Downloading and Sharing Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. Why this tool may be right for you Why you may want to consider another tool It contains statistics for every congressional district in The geography selection is limited to congres- a user-friendly and intuitive interface. sional districts. It combines ACS data on population, housing, educa- tion, and the economy with County Business Patterns It contains only a subset of all ACS and County data on employment, payroll, and establishments by Business Patterns topics. sector. The results page can be embedded on your Web site. sons or selections of multiple congressional The tool does not allow side-by-side compari- districts. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 7 What Congress Needs to Know 7 U.S. Census Bureau3. CASE STUDIES USING ACS DATA Case Study #1: Exploring Ancestry Data in My Congressional District Skill Level: Beginner Subject: Ancestry Type of Analysis: Analyzing characteristics of a congressional district Tool Used: My Congressional District The ancestry question on the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) measures the character- istics of ethnic groups, beyond the Hispanic origin and race questions. Data based on this question help cre- ate a more detailed picture of cultural groups. Members of Congress and their staffs may be interested in this information to better understand the characteristics of their constituents. Federal agencies also use these data to enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin.15 Accessing data on ancestry and other district-specific information is quick and easy using the My Congressional District tool on the Census Bureau’s Web site (see Figure 3.1).16 My Congressional District combines the latest data from the ACS and County Business Patterns to provide a detailed set of social, economic, housing, and demo- graphic characteristics for every congressional district for the current legislative session in the United States. Figure 3.1. My Congressional District Source: U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/> 15 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) Handbook of Questions and Current Federal Uses, <www.census.gov/programs -surveys/acs/operations-and-administration/2014-content-review/federal-uses.html>. 16 U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. 8 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 8 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauFrom the Web site, use the drop-down boxes (labeled 1 and 2) to choose your state and district (see Figure 3.2). If you do not know the district number, you can use the ZIP code search tool, which links users to the U.S. House of Representatives district lookup tool. Figure 3.2. Selecting District From My Congressional District Drop-Down Menu Source: U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. After you have selected your district, the right side of the window updates with demographic, socioeconomic, housing, and employment information about the district. Information is arranged by subject area: People, Workers, Housing, Socio-Economic, Education, and Business. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 9 What Congress Needs to Know 9 U.S. Census BureauNativity information is found within the “People” topic, which is the default display when a user first chooses a district (see Figure 3.3). Information for Sex and Age are displayed first, but you can use the gray bar on the right to scroll down to information about Ancestry. Members of Congress and their staffs can use this information to better understand the ancestral makeup of their constituents. For example, in 2017, there were 2,375 people of Czech ancestry in California Congressional District 49. Figure 3.3. Ancestry Information for California Congressional District 49 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. To view information in any of the other subject areas, click on the associated icon. 10 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 10 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauUsers who are interested in knowing the margin of error—or level of uncertainty—associated with the estimates can view that information by checking the box “Display ACS Margin of Error” below the data table (see Figure 3.4). The estimate of people with Czech ancestry has a margin of error of +/-956, indicating a high likelihood that the true value of this estimate falls somewhere between 1,419 and 3,331 in California Congressional District 49. Figure 3.4. Ancestry Data With Margin of Error Source: U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 11 What Congress Needs to Know 11 U.S. Census BureauThe My Congressional District tool offers several options for downloading and sharing data (see Figures 3.5 and 3.6). Clicking on the “Download and Share” icon allows users to download a comma-separated values (CSV) file with all the data for their district or for all districts in their state. Users can also share their results on social media platforms or download a widget, which can be embedded on a Web site to display the most recent data available for the selected congressional district. Figure 3.5. Downloading Data for Congressional District Source: U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. 12 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 12 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauFigure 3.6. Downloading and Sharing Data for Congressional District Source: U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. Data displayed in the application are for the most recent year available. Details on exact year and data source, as well as any important notes, can be found by scrolling to the bottom of each data table. ACS estimates for other geographic areas can be found in data.census.gov, the Census Bureau’s primary tool for accessing population, housing, and economic data from the ACS, the Puerto Rico Community Survey, the decen- nial census, and many other Census Bureau data sets.17 Data.census.gov provides comprehensive access to ACS tables for a wide range of geographic areas, including states, congressional districts, cities, counties, census tracts, and block groups. 17 U.S. Census Bureau, Data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 13 What Congress Needs to Know 13 U.S. Census BureauCase Study #2: Finding Selected Housing Characteristics for a Congressional District Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced Subject: Housing Type of Analysis: Analyzing housing characteristics within a congressional district Tool Used: Data.census.gov The U.S. Census Bureau’s My Congressional District tool offers a quick and easy solution for finding the latest American Community Survey (ACS) data on population and housing characteristics in a congressional district.18 What if a congressional staffer needs more detailed information? For example, suppose they need to find infor- mation about the distribution of rental cost burden within his or her district to assess the potential demand for a rental assistance program. To answer this question, go to the data.census.gov Web site at <https://data.census.gov/>. Choose Advanced Search under the search bar that says, “I’m looking for …” This brings you to the Advanced Search window (see Figures 3.7 and 3.8). Figure 3.7. Data.census.gov Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 18 U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District, <www.census.gov/mycd/>. 14 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 14 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauFigure 3.8. Using Advanced Search in Data.census.gov Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 15 What Congress Needs to Know 15 U.S. Census BureauTo find information on a congressional district, start with the “Geography” filter and click “Congressional District.” Congressional districts are nested within states, so first select your state. Then select your district number, mak- ing sure to select the correct legislative session (for example, 115th Congress). Ensure that a check mark appears next to the district you have selected and that the geography shows as a selected filter at the bottom of the screen (see Figure 3.9). TIP: If you also add the year to your selections under the “Years” filter (for example, Years>2017), you do not have to worry about selecting the wrong legislative session as the congressional district will default to the cor- responding session. Figure 3.9. Selecting a Congressional District in Data.census.gov Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 16 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 16 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauAfter selecting the congressional district, you can choose the data product of interest. In this example, we are interested in a table called DP04: “Selected Housing Characteristics,” which is a data profile that includes fre- quently requested housing data. To select this table, click on “Surveys” to display a list of available data products. Then select “ACS 1-Year Estimates Data Profiles” (see Figure 3.10) and click “Search” in the bottom right corner. Figure 3.10. Selecting a Data Product in Data.census.gov Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 17 What Congress Needs to Know 17 U.S. Census BureauClicking “Search” with your selected filters brings you to the All Results page. This page has a quick statistic at the top of the page relevant to your search. Underneath, there is a list of the three most relevant tables. To view the full list of available data profiles, select “View All Tables” (see Figure 3.11). Figure 3.11. Navigating the All Results Page Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 18 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 18 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauSelecting the option to view all tables brings you to the Table Results page with a full list of relevant tables in the left pane and a preview of each selected table in the right pane. Click on “Selected Housing Characteristics” to preview the table, and select “Customize Table” in the upper right corner to view the table with all download and customization options (see Figure 3.12). Figure 3.12. Selecting the Table From the Tables Pane Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 19 What Congress Needs to Know 19 U.S. Census BureauNow you can view the table with customization and download options displayed at the top (see Figure 3.13). You can scroll through the table for information, and you have the option to collapse sections by clicking on the down arrow next to each category. You also have the option to transpose the table, show and hide margins of error using the “Margin of Error” button, and move and/or lock different columns by dragging and dropping the column headers. Figure 3.13. Viewing the Table in the Customize Table Page Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. To view information about rental cost burden, scroll down to the very bottom of the table to a section titled “Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI)” (see Figure 3.14). This section includes a distribution of rental cost as a percentage of household income, so you can use cost burden limits proposed or set by the program to determine which categories you would like to include in your reporting. Figure 3.14. Finding Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 20 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 20 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauIf you would like to save this specific block of data from the table, the easiest way to do this is to highlight the section of interest, right click, and then select “Copy with headers.” Your selection is then copied into your clipboard with the column headers as well as the geography name (in this case, the name of the congressional district) and can be pasted into another application (see Figure 3.15). Figure 3.15. Copying Selections of Interest Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 21 What Congress Needs to Know 21 U.S. Census BureauIf you would like to download the table in CSV format, click on “Download” in the tool bar at the top of the page (see Figure 3.16). You can then change the year or select multiple years. When you finish making your selections, click “Download” in the bottom right corner. Figure 3.16. Downloading the Full Table as a CSV File Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 22 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 22 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauCase Study #3: Poverty and Income Data for New Markets Tax Credit Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced Subject: Poverty Type of Analysis: Analyses of poverty estimates within a community Tool Used: Data.census.gov New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) provide a way for certified Community Development Entities (CDEs) to provide below-market rate financing for qualified businesses in low-income communities. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through a competitive application process. One of the qualifying criteria is that the business or development project must be in a low-income community. According to U.S. Code, low- income communities are census tracts where the poverty rate is at least 20 percent, or the median family income is less than 80 percent of the state or metropolitan statistical area median family income.19 Congressional staff can use the American Community Survey (ACS) to determine which census tracts within their districts qualify as “low income” and whether a potential project is in an eligible census tract. For example, assume you are a staff member in the office of Virginia’s 6th District and want to determine whether four census tracts in the city of Roanoke would qualify as low-income communities under NMTC criteria. Start by navigating to the data.census.gov Web site at <https://data.census.gov>. Click “Advanced Search” under the search bar. This will bring you to the Advanced Search page (see Figures 3.17 and 3.18). Figure 3.17. Data.census.gov Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 19 Legal Information Institute, 26 U.S. Code § 45D. New markets tax credit, <www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/45D>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 23 What Congress Needs to Know 23 U.S. Census BureauFigure 3.18. Using Advanced Search in Data.census.gov Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 24 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 24 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauTo access information about census tracts in Roanoke, Virginia: • Begin with the Geography filter. Select “Geography” in the navigation pane on the left side of the screen. This expands a list of all the available geographic levels. • Move the white button to the right to show Summary Levels. • Select “140 - Census Tract.” • Then scroll to select “Virginia” from the “140 - Census Tract (State)” filter. • Next, scroll to select “Roanoke city, Virginia” from the “Virginia (County)” filter. • Scroll to check the boxes of your desired tracts from the “Roanoke city, Virginia” filter. For this case study, check Census Tracts 9, 10, 24, and 25, of Roanoke city, Virginia (see Figure 3.19). • Then click “Search” in the bottom right corner. Figure 3.19. Selecting Geographic Areas by Using Advanced Search Filters Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 25 What Congress Needs to Know 25 U.S. Census BureauOn the search results page, you can preview a list of available tables by selecting either “View All Tables” or by clicking on “Tables” at the top of the page (see Figure 3.20). Figure 3.20. Viewing Available Tables for Selected Census Tracts Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 26 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 26 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauOn the left side of the page, you will see a list of available tables, while the right side of the page will display a preview of the selected table. To find your desired table, you can either use the scroll bar or enter an additional filter. Since the desired table is not shown on the first page, select “Filter.” Select “Topics,” and then use the filters to select “Income and Poverty,” “Poverty,” and “Poverty” again. To preview the available poverty tables, collapse the filter menu by clicking the chevron above “Hide” in the upper right corner of the filter window (see Figure 3.21). Figure 3.21. Selecting Table Topic Filters Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Select “Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months” to preview the table. For the purposes of this case study, we are using 2017 ACS 5-year estimates. You can select the desired survey year by clicking on the “Product” selection and then selecting “2017: ACS 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables.” You can either view the table in data.census.gov or download the table to view the data in another format. For this example, we will view the table in data.census.gov (see Figure 3.22). Figure 3.22. Viewing the Table in Data.census.gov Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 27 What Congress Needs to Know 27 U.S. Census BureauUse the horizontal scroll bar to view all the tract-level estimates and their associated margins of error. In this example, all four tracts have poverty rates higher than 20 percent. To make sure that the lower bound of the confidence interval for each poverty rate estimate does not fall below 20 percent, subtract the margin of error from each poverty rate estimate. For example, the poverty rate for Census Tract 9 is 38.9 percent and the margin of error is 9.2 percent. The lower bound is 38.9 minus 9.2 or 29.7 percent. The lower bound remains above 20 percent for all four of these census tracts.20 The second criteria for NMTC eligibility is a requirement that the median family income for a census tract not exceed 80 percent of the median family income for the metropolitan statistical area (if the tract is part of a met- ropolitan or micropolitan statistical area) or for the state (if the tract is not part of a metropolitan statistical area). Since we already know the table ID that contains these data, type “B19113” into the search bar at the top of the page. Then select “Median Family Income in the Past 12 Months (In 2017 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)” (see Figure 3.23). Figure 3.23. Searching for a Table Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Click on the “Product” selection and select “2017: ACS 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables.” Since the table shows the United States as the default geography, you need to filter by geography to add the census tracts and metro- politan statistical area required for your analysis. Select “Geographies” (see Figure 3.24). Figure 3.24. Changing the Geography Selection for a Table Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. 20 Statistical testing would be needed to determine whether this poverty estimate is significantly different from 20 percent. For more information, see the section on “Understanding Error and Determining Statistical Significance” in the Census Bureau’s handbook Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know, <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks /general.html>. 28 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 28 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census BureauAdd the four census tracts to your “Selected Filters.” Because these four tracts are part of the Roanoke, VA Metro Area, add this area to your filters, as shown in Figure 3.25. Figure 3.25. Adding the Metropolitan Statistical Area Geography Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. After closing the filter menu, make sure that the 2017 ACS 5-year estimates are selected. Then select “Download” from the menu at the top of the screen. Check that the default download specifications in the “Download Tables” window are correct and select “Download” again (see Figure 3.26). Figure 3.26. Downloading a Table With Median Family Income in Data.census.gov Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 29 What Congress Needs to Know 29 U.S. Census BureauSelect “Download Now” after the file is prepared (see Figure 3.27). Figure 3.27. Downloading the Compressed (ZIP) File Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov, <https://data.census.gov>. From the compressed folder, open the file with “data_with_overlays” shown in the file name to analyze the data in a spreadsheet. Divide median family income for each of the tracts by the median family income of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area ($66,334). The results suggest that none of the tracts have median family income values that exceed 80 percent of the median family income for the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. However, a statistical test would be needed to confirm that this is correct. For more information about statistical tests, see the section on “Understanding Error and Determining Statistical Significance” in the Census Bureau’s handbook Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know.21 21 U.S. Census Bureau, Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know, <www.census.gov /programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks/general.html>. 30 Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 30 What Congress Needs to Know U.S. Census Bureau4. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES U.S. Census Bureau, What Is the American Community Survey? <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about.html>. U.S. Census Bureau, Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks/general.html>. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Resources for Congress Flyer <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/library/outreach-materials/flyers/acs-constituent-answers.html>. U.S. Census Bureau, Questions on the Form and Why We Ask <www.census.gov/acs/www/about/why-we-ask-each-question/>. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Handbook of Questions and Current Federal Uses <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/operations-and-administration/2014-content-review/federal-uses.html>. U.S. Census Bureau, Library, Uses of Census Bureau Data in Federal Funds Distribution <www.census.gov/library/working-papers/2017/decennial/census-data-federal-funds.html>. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Data Releases <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/news/data-releases.html>. U.S. Census Bureau, Geography and ACS <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/geography-acs.html>. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Data Tables and Tools <www.census.gov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/>. U.S. Census Bureau, Data.census.gov: Census Bureau’s New Data Dissemination Platform Release Notes and Frequently Asked Questions <https://data.census.gov/assets/releasenotes/faqs-release-notes.pdf>. U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov Resources <www.census.gov/data/what-is-data-census-gov.html>. U.S. Census Bureau, My Congressional District <www.census.gov/mycd/>. U.S. Census Bureau, State Data Center (SDC) Program <www.census.gov/about/partners/sdc.html>. American Community Survey Online Community <https://acsdatacommunity.prb.org/>. Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data 31 What Congress Needs to Know 31 U.S. Census Bureau