Ready to start? Check out data.census.gov, the Census Bureau’s main data dissemination tool. Here, you can access tables and maps with ACS data. You can also view data.census.gov Resources if you need additional information.
Where can I download ACS data?
1. Access American FactFinder at then click on “Download Center” from the blue toolbar.
Is the ACS survey legitimate?
According to sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Community Survey (ACS) is indeed legitimate. While the 2020 Census is the 10-year survey and primarily a population count determining each state’s congressional representation, the ACS is different.
What happens if I don’t answer the American Community Survey?
Those who decline to complete the survey may receive visits to their homes from Census Bureau personnel. Because it is a mandatory survey, it is governed by federal laws that could impose a fine of as much as $5,000 for refusing to participate. To date, no person has been prosecuted for refusing to answer the ACS.
How is ACS collected?
The ACS is a large demographic survey collected throughout the year using mailed questionnaires, telephone interviews, and visits from Census Bureau field representatives to about 3.5 million household addresses annually.
What is a 5-year estimate?
While an ACS 1-year estimate includes information col- lected over a 12-month period, an ACS 5-year estimate includes data collected over a 60-month period. In the case of ACS 1-year estimates, the period is the calendar year (e.g., the 2015 ACS covers the period from January 2015 through December 2015).
What happens if you dont respond to the census?
By census law, refusal to answer all or part of the census carries a $100 fine. The penalty goes up to $500 for giving false answers. In 1976, Congress eliminated both the possibility of a 60-day prison sentence for noncompliance and a one-year prison term for false answers.
