Handbooks for Data Users
You can use American Community Survey (ACS) data in different ways and for different reasons. Each one of our downloadable PDF handbooks helps a particular group with specific how-to instructions and/or case studies.
For an introduction to ACS data, we recommend the handbook Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What All Data Users Need to Know.
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PublicationUnderstanding and Using ACS Data: What All Data Users Need to KnowThis handbook helps general data users learn how to access and use ACS data and provide concrete examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.
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PublicationWhat Users of Data for Amer. Indians and Alaska Natives Need to KnowThis handbook helps users of data for AIAN learn how to access and use ACS data and provide concrete examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.
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PublicationWhat Federal Agencies Need to KnowThis handbook helps federal agencies use ACS data for eligibility determinations, allocation of funds, program parameters, and more.
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PublicationWhat ACS Public Use Microdata Sample File Users Need to KnowThis guide helps data users learn how to access PUMS files, create PUMS tables, and measure accuracy and margins of error.
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PublicationWhat Users of Data for Rural Areas Need to KnowThis handbook helps users of data about rural areas learn about ACS data and provides examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.
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PublicationWhat the Business Community Needs to KnowThis handbook helps business data users learn how to access and use ACS data and provide concrete examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.
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PublicationWhat State and Local Government Users Need to KnowThis handbook helps data users from state and local governments learn about ACS data and provides examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions.
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PublicationWhat Congress Needs to KnowThis handbook helps congressional staff use ACS data to respond to constituent inquiries, draft floor/press statements, conduct legislative research, and more.
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PublicationWhat Puerto Rico Community Survey Data Users Need to KnowThis handbook helps PRCS data users learn how to access and use PRCS data and provide concrete examples of how PRCS data can answer real-world questions.
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PublicationWhat Researchers Need to KnowThis handbook helps researchers learn more about estimates for geographic areas, how to access data products, sampling error, and more.
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PublicationWhat Users of the Census Data API Need to KnowThis guide provides an overview of the Census Data API and how it can be used to build custom queries to quickly and consistently access ACS data.
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PublicationWhat Journalists Need to KnowThis handbook helps journalists learn how to search ACS data for statistics and trends with examples of how to use the ACS to uncover and enhance stories.
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PublicationGeography and the American Community SurveyThis guide provides an overview of geographic areas for which ACS data are available, special considerations in working with spatial data, and more.
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PublicationWhat ACS Summary File Data Users Need to KnowThis guide provides an overview of the ACS Summary File and how it can be used to access data on America’s communities.
Page Last Revised - October 18, 2022