Open Census MCP Server

United States Census Bureau | An official website of the United States Government Understanding and Using Puerto Rico Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know April 2020 Suppose a mayor wants to know if a job training initiative has reduced the level of unemployment in a municipio. A business owner in San Juan wants information about the changing characteristics of workers and their commuting patterns. A public health agency is interested in identifying vulnerable populations that may need evacuation assistance during an emergency. Where could they go for this information? The U.S. Census Bureau’s Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS) is designed to meet the needs of policymakers, business leaders, planners, and others who need good data to make informed decisions. The PRCS is part of the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) program, providing a detailed portrait of the social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics of communities throughout Puerto Rico. [/cont ent/da m/Cen sus/lib rary/p ublicat ions/2 020/a cs/acs _prcs_ handb ook_2 020.pd f] Underst anding and Using Puerto Rico Commu nity Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know [10.8 MB] American Communi ty Survey This guide provides an overview of what data users need to know about working with PRCS data—particularly how the PRCS differs from the ACS and the major geographic areas for which PRCS data are available. It also includes some recent case studies that show how PRCS data are being used to help address important policy and program issues in Puerto Rico. Download by Section 1. Understanding the PRCS: The Basics [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_prcs_handbook_2020_ch01.pdf] American Community Survey 2. How is the PRCS Different from the ACS? [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_prcs_handbook_2020_ch02.p df] American Community Survey 3. Geographic Areas Covered in the PRCS [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_prcs_handbook_2020_ch03.pd f] American Community Survey 4. Accessing PRCS Data [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_prcs_handbook_2020_ch04.pdf] American Community Survey 5. Case Studies Using PRCS Data [1.4 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_prcs_handbook_2020_ch05.pdf] American Community Survey 6. Additional Resources [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_prcs_handbook_2020_ch06.pdf] American Community Survey ACS vs. PRCS Others in Series Publication What State and Local Government Users Need to Know August 2020 This handbook helps data users from state and local governments learn about ACS data and provides examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions. [/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks/state-local.html] Publication Geography and the American Community Survey February 2020 This guide provides an overview of geographic areas for which ACS data are available, special considerations in working with spatial data, and more. [/programs-surveys/acs/library/handbooks/geography.html] 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] Related Information VIEW ALL [/PROGRAMS-SURVEYS/ACS/LIBRARY/HANDBOOKS.HTML] About the Puerto Rico Community Survey [/prcs] FLYER A Comparison of the ACS and the Puerto Rico Community Survey [/acs-vs-prcs-flyer] American Community Survey Resources for Puerto Rico [/programs-surveys/acs/information-for/puerto-rico.html] Page Last Revised - May 1, 2025