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American Community Survey (ACS): ACS & Census

Comparison: Census 2000, Census 2010, and American Community Survey

Census 2000, short formCensus 2010, short form
  • asked of every person and housing unit
  • data available down to block
  • data available on
    • Age
    • Sex
    • Race
    • Hispanic or Latino origin
    • Household relationship
    • Tenure (Owner/Renter)
  • asked of every person and housing unit
  • data available down to block
  • data (will be) available on
    • Age
    • Sex
    • Race
    • Hispanic or Latino origin
    • Household relationship
    • Tenure (Owner/Renter)
Census 2000, long form2005-2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  • asked of a sample of persons and housing units
  • data available down to block group
  • data available on
    • Population: Demographic Characteristics
      • Age
      • Sex
      • Race
      • Hispanic or Latino origin
      • Household relationship
    • Population: Social Characteristics
      • Marital status
      • Place of birth, citizenship, and year of entry
      • School enrollment and educational attainment
      • Ancestry
      • Residence 5 years ago (migration)
      • Language spoken at home and ability to speak English
      • Veteran status
      • Disability
      • Grandparents as caregivers
    • Population: Economic Characteristics
      • Income
      • Labor force status
      • Occupation, industry, and class of worker
      • Place of work and journey to work
      • Work status
    • Housing: Physical Characteristics
      • Units in structure
      • Year structure built
      • Number of rooms and number of bedrooms
      • Year moved into residence
      • Plumbing and kitchen facilities
      • Telephone service
      • Vehicles available
      • Heating fuel
      • Farm residence
    • Housing: Financial Characteristics
      • Tenure (Owner/Renter)
      • Value of home or monthly rent paid
      • Utilities, mortgage, taxes, insurance, and fuel costs
  • N.B. There is no Census 2010 long form.
  • asked of a sample of persons and housing units
  • data available down to block group. More info: Geography, Geography and the American Community Survey
  • data available on (more info):
    • Population: Demographic Characteristics
      • Age
      • Sex
      • Race
      • Hispanic Origin
      • Relationship to Householder
    • Population: Social Characteristics
      • Marital Status and Marital History
      • Place of Birth, Citizenship, and Year of Entry
      • Educational Attainment and School Enrollment
      • Ancestry
      • Residence One Year Ago
      • Language Spoken at Home
      • Veteran Status, Period of Military Service, and VA Service-Connected Disability Rating
      • Disability
      • Grandparents as Caregivers
      • Fertility
    • Population: Economic Characteristics
      • Income
      • Labor Force Status
      • Industry, Occupation, and Class of Worker
      • Place of Work and Journey to Work
      • Work Status Last Year
      • Vehicles Available
      • Food Stamps Benefit
      • Health Insurance Coverage
    • Housing: Physical Characteristics
      • Units in Structure
      • Year Structure Built
      • Rooms, Bedrooms
      • Year Moved Into Unit
      • Plumbing and Kitchen Facilities
      • Telephone Service Available
      • House Heating Fuel
      • Farm Residence
    • Housing: Financial Characteristics
      • Tenure (Owner/Renter)
      • Housing Value
      • Rent
      • Selected Monthly Owner Costs
  • Be aware that "the ACS does not provide official counts of the population in between censuses. Instead, the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program will continue to be the official source for annual population totals, by age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex." (Compass, p. 4)

Sources: Census 2000 Basics (no longer available on the Census Bureau website), Explore the Form, A Compass for Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What General Data Users Need to Know.

For more information: