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The Decennial Census and American Community Survey (ACS) contain demographic and socioeconomic data on the US population and housing. The Census and ACS are collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. The HRS-CDR provides Census data for 1990, 2000, and 2010, and ACS data for 2008-12 and 2012-16 at the State, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), County, and Census Tract levels of analysis.

Data Summary

Dataset Name: U.S. Decennial Census and American Community Survey
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Years: The Decennial Census is collected every ten years. The American Community Survey is collected annually, and made available in 1-year and 5-year increments depending on geographic level.
Geographies: Household; CDR uses tables provided at the census tract, county, and state levels

Suggested Citation: 

  • ACS 1 year: Jennifer Ailshire, Jong Woo Nam, Eun Young Choi. 2024. Contextual Data Resource (CDR): American Community Survey 1-year Data, 2006-2021, Version 3.0. Los Angeles, CA: USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health.
  • Census and ACS 5-year: Jennifer Ailshire, Jong Woo Nam, Eun Young Choi. 2024. Contextual Data Resource (CDR): US Decennial Census and American Community Survey Data, 1990-2021, Version 3.0. Los Angeles, CA: USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health.

Ailshire, Jennifer and Catherine Pérez. (2018). “Unequal Places: Socioeconomic and Race/Ethnic Differences in Older Adults’ Exposure to Adverse Neighborhood Social, Economic, and Physical Conditions.” Generations, 42(2):20-27.

Data Sources

U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Decennial Census and American Community Survey. Prepared by Social Explorer. https://www.socialexplorer.com