American Community Survey

The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing survey that provides data every year -- giving communities the current information they need to plan investments and services. Information from the survey generates data that help determine how more than $400 billion in federal and state funds are distributed each year.

With topics ranging from "type of heating fuel" to "total income," ACS is a direct descendent of the Census Bureau's decennial long form that went to sample households in every census since 1940.

Constituents frequently ask:

• Is this survey legitimate?
• Do I have to answer?
• Is my privacy protected?

The answer to these questions is YES, under Title 13 of the U.S. Code.

Find out the reason behind each individual question in Questions on the form and why we ask.

Constituents who participate in the ACS make a genuine and important contribution to their community, state, and nation. Please thank them for contributing!

We have developed several resources for you. They include:

• sample questionnaires and instructional guides
• answers to common constituent questions [PDF 208KB]
• a list of U.S Census Bureau Regional Offices
• Questions and Answers Brochure [PDF 3.4MB]
• American Community Survey - Data Collection Procedures

State and local leaders use ACS data to determine the needs of communities, such as where to put new highways, schools, hospitals, offices, and community centers. Companies use data from the American Community Survey to learn about the local population and housing and to make investment decisions in your state and Congressional district. ACS data are used for many programs of interest to Congress, such as the Voting Rights Act, portraits of legislative districts and much more.

For more detail, see our handbook, A Compass for Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What Congress Needs to Know [PDF 1.9MB].

Or contact the Census Bureau's Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs: 301-763-6100, cao@census.gov

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