American Community Survey Main - U.S. Census Bureau

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Question Corner
for Survey Respondents

Why do you need to know how much money I make?

Income data are used to determine poverty status, to measure economic well-being, and to assess the need for assistance. These data are included in federal allocation formulas for many government programs. More.

Why did I get the American Community Survey form?

Your address was selected as part of a sample. Your responses will represent other households in your community. More.

Why is the Census Bureau calling me?

If you don't mail back your form or if you leave questions blank, we may call you. More.

Why do you ask what time I leave for work?

We ask about what time you leave for work to develop statistics on commuting patterns. Commuting data are essential for planning highway improvements and developing public transportation services. More.

How do you protect my information?

We never reveal your identity to anybody else. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone, -- not the IRS, not the FBI, not the CIA, and not with any other government agency. More.

Do I have to fill out the questionnaire?

Yes. You are legally obligated to answer all the questions, as accurately as you can. More.

Is the American Community Survey legitimate?

Yes. The American Community Survey is legitimate. It is a survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. More.

Language Brochures

Questions and Answers about the American Community Survey in 11 languages. [pdf format]

العربية Arabic
中文 Chinese
English English
Français French
Kreyòl ayisyen Haitian Creole
한 국 어 Korean
PolskiPolish
Português Portuguese
русский Russian
En español Spanish
Việt Ngữ Vietnamese

The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing statistical survey that samples a small percentage of the population every year -- giving communities the information they need to plan investments and services. Learn more.

Your answers to the American Community Survey help federal, state and local leaders make decisions that affect your community. Learn more about how your responses impact your community.

Start learning about the ACS with three tips about the data. Find additional information about geography in the ACS, comparison guidance, and user specific handbooks. Learn more in Guidance for Data Users.

2011 ACS 1-Year Estimates Are Now Available

American Community Survey's annual data release provides statistics on population and housing characteristics, such as:

Income and Earnings
Health Insurance
Poverty
and many more

Learn more about the 2011 ACS 1-Year Data Release or access the data directly on the American FactFinder website.

American Community Survey: Measuring the dynamic changes in America

“The American Community Survey shows us WHO we are and HOW we are changing... The ACS is the only source for local comparable data.”

America's Economy - Mobile App

Take the pulse of the U.S. Economy straight from your phone. The America's Economy app provides real-time updates for 16 key economic indicators released from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Get the App!

Explore the Form

This interactive sample ACS form allows you to click through the pages of the form. Select a page from the navigation panel (example shown below) and then a question number to view a description of how the information is used and how those uses translate into benefits for your community.

Did you receive a survey?

Learn why you were selected; why you should participate; how to respond; how we protect your privacy; why we ask specific questions; and more in About the Survey.

New Statistics for Race, Tribal, Hispanic Origin and Ancestry Groups

Explore new U.S. race and ethnicity statistics, available for the first time since the 2000 Census. Learn more about this special data release. Get Selected Population Tables | American Indian and Alaska Native Tables.

An American Community

The ACS enables decision-makers to appropriately fund school-lunch programs, place new hospitals, build new businesses and take other actions that lead to healthy towns and cites. Learn how decision-makers use ACS statistics to help your community: An American Community infographic.