But what about the ACS?

1. But what about the ACS? What is the American Community Survey? Replacement of the Long Form Continuous Survey Methodology Conducted Monthly

2. According to the Census Bureau The ACS is… A large, continuous demographic survey • Produces annual and multi-year estimates of the characteristics of the population and housing • Produces characteristics, not a population count • Produces information for small areas including tracts, block groups and population subgroups - updated every year • Key component of reengineered 2010 census

3. ACS Facts About 1 in 40 Households Sampled per year 250,000 Households Sampled per month Same Transportation questions as 2000 Long Form Decennial Long Form is History, Kaput, Gone!

4. But why change and have an ACS? Eliminate the Census Long Form for 2010 and Thereafter Eliminate the peak in Congressional funding Eliminate the peak in hiring and training Census takers

5. How does the ACS work? Three Methods of Data Collection 1. MailSelf-administered mail-out/mail-back 2. TelephoneComputer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) 3. Personal VisitsComputer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) 1:3

6. When will it start? It already has

7. American Community Survey Data Release Timetable

8. Aug. 2010 In August of 2006 you got 2005 data Aug. 2008

9. Aug. 2008

10. Aug. 2010 2010 April 1 August Dec. (PL 94-171)

11. Main differences between Census Long Form and ACS

12. Some Emerging Issues People might be counted twice, e.g. once at summer cabin and once at a “permanent home”. Or once at university and once at parent’s home. Areas with seasonal populations, e.g. due to “snow bird” migration, and due to school enrollments, with housing occupancy that varies from 95% to 40% might show up as 80%.

13. Mail back rates from Minority populations are significantly lowerSource: C2SS test

14. Different Non Response Follow-up rates based on mail back returns lThat is, in areas with low mail- back returns, a higher NRFU rate will be implemented lThus, standard errors will be more consistent across neighborhoods

15. Understanding Sample Error Sample Error is larger because the number of census forms collected each year are smaller. Changes of plus or minus 2% may be due to Sample Error and do not reflect measurable change.

16. Comparing ACS directly to 2000 Data can be iffy Statistical Significance Tests Standard Error = Margin of Error / 1.65 But what about MOEs for 2000 data? 90% Confidence

17. Chapter 8: Accuracy of the Data Estimate Standard Errors Adjust for Survey Design Factors - Table C http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/doc/sf3.pdf

18. Things to consider when trying to compare ACS directly to Decennial data Seasonality12 months instead of "April 1") (different jobs and workers, especially in summer Group Quarterscurrently not in 2005 ACS Non-responsefollow-up differences Data collection periodACS is very long, compared to very short in decennial Sample Sizes and MOEsACS is about 1 in 40 households compared to about 1 in 6

19. Data Release Schedule 1-year data in 2006 (every year thereafter) 3-year data in 2008 (every year thereafter) 5-year data in 2009 (every year thereafter) Plus the within-year release schedules

21. Within-Year Data Release Schedule for 2005 Data August 15, 2006 Demographic and SocialCharacteristics August 29, 2006 Economic Characteristics; Public Use Microdata File October 3, 2006 Housing Characteristics; Narrative Profiles; Workplace Base Tables November 14, 2006 Selected Population Profiles

22. August 15th Demographic and Social

23. August 29th Economic Characteristics and PUMS too

24. October 3rd Housing ---- Etcetera i.e. Workplace Tables

25. October 3rd Etcetera … For Workplace Geography

26. November 14 Selected Population Profiles

27. Where do I get ACS? FactFinder

28. There is a lot here Even built in significance tests

30. Note difference between DC and NJ

31. A place to start mining ACS Go to Detailed Tables

32. Check out all the Tabs

33. Pick Your Geography

34. State . . .

35. Places . . .

36. Then Tables . . .

37. Note the Tabs

38. Keyword Search

39. “B” and “C” Tables

40. Full Table – PASSED FILTERING Statistically too Small

41. Collapsed Table

42. You Can Also Download the Results

43. Download Options . . .

44. My Selection

45. What I took home

46. Brand New CTPP Data Product ACS CTPP Data Profiles 1. Resident Person Information 2. Resident Household Characteristics 3. Worker/Workplace Data

47. Resident Person Information for… States, Large Cities, MSAs Florida Statewide data Mode to work Travel Time to work Departure Time for work Mode to work by Travel Time Mode to work by Average Travel Time

48. Resident Household Characteristics for.. The Nation, States, All PUMAs, Counties and Places over 65k Wisconsin Statewide data Mode to work by Vehicles Available Vehicles Available in Households Household Size by Vehicles Available Vehicles Available by Workers in Household Persons in Households by Workers in Household

49. Worker / Workplace Data for… States, Counties and Places over 65k Total Workers -- Travel Time to work -- Mode to Work Get ACS CTPP Data Profiles online or from the Class Workbook CD

50. On-going concerns about ACS • Will the sample be sufficient for small geographic area reporting? Will tract and BG and TAZ reporting occur after 60 months of data collection? • Will Congress continue to fund the survey continuously, especially if CB asks for increasing budgets to meet the sample size requirements? (or will CB decrease the sample size, resulting in loss of small area tabulation?) Group Quarters