American Community Survey (ACS): ACS & Census

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

Census 2000, short form	Census 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 form	2005-2009 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)