The 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates, 2008-2010 ACS 3-year estimates, and additional geographies and detail for the 2006-2010 ACS 5-year estimates are available in the new American FactFinder.

ACS estimates from earlier years are currently available only in the legacy American FactFinder. These datasets will be available in the new American FactFinder in early 2012.

Three tips for using American Community Survey data

1.     The 2010 Census shows the number of people who live in the U.S. and the American Community Survey shows how people live.

·         Use data from the American Community Survey to obtain demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics.

·         Use numbers from the 2010 Census to obtain counts of the population and their basic characteristics (sex, age, race, Hispanic origin, and homeowner status).

·         Use data from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program in the years between censuses. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program produces official population estimates for the nation, states,counties, cities and towns, plus housing unit estimates for states and counties.

2.     All American Community Survey (ACS) data are estimates.

·         The Census Bureau collects American Community Survey data from a sample of the population in the United States and Puerto Rico--rather than from the whole population All ACS data are survey estimates. To help you interpret the reliability of the estimate, the Census Bureau publishes a margin of error (MOE) for every ACS estimate.

·        American Community Survey collects and releases data by the calendar year for geographic areas that meet specific population thresholds.