U.S. Census & Demographics: American Community Survey (ACS)

Data Sources

  • Social Explorer (licensed resource) (easiest to use, choose "Data & Tools" then reports.)
    Has the 1, 3 and 5 year annual datasets from 2006 forward.
    Tables are listed both with SE numbers and names and with AFF numbers and names.
    Includes only the Detailed Tables and not the profiles subject and quick tables.
  • Census Bureau 
    • data.census.gov 
      What data are available on data.census.gov?
    • ACS FTP site (expert users only)
      Complete data from all ACS 1 year estimates files .
    • Tables in the ACS
      Tables that start with the letter "B" are detailed tables on a specific topic.
      Tables that start with the letter "C" are collapsed versions (fewer rows) of a "B" table.
      Topics covered in table starting with "G" or "S" repeat information found in the "B" tables either for a specific geographic area and/or on a theme that combines topics.
  • Geography and ACS
  • The U.S. Gazetteer files provide a listing of all geographic areas for selected geographic area types. The files include geographic identifier codes, names, area measurements, and representative latitude and longitude coordinates.
  • Metropolitan and Micropolitan Definitions
  • NY County FIPS Codes
  • Tracts are only available in the 5 year estimates product.
  • Block groups are available in 5 year estimates at the FTP sites.
  • Geographic Correspondence Engines (Geocorr) from the Missouri Census Data Center with geographies for 1990, 2000, 2014, 2018, 2022.
  • The boundary files used by the ACS are the same as the Decennial Census.
  • Use the Tiger/Line Shape files, choosing the most recent boundary files for ACS dates with a time span ending in 2010 or later and choosing the 2009 boundary files for ACS 2009 and earlier.
  • The exception to these rules is PUMA boundaries. The ACS 2010 uses 2000 PUMA boundaries.

Working with ACS data