We are pleased to announce the release of the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files.
The ACS 5-year PUMS files show the full range of population and housing unit responses collected on individual ACS questionnaires for a subsample of ACS housing units and group quarters persons (approximately five percent of the United States population).
PUMS files allow data users to conduct a custom analysis, though the files also tend to be more complicated to use. Working with PUMS data generally involves downloading large datasets onto a local computer and analyzing them using statistical software such as R, SPSS, Stata, or SAS.
PUMS data can be accessed via the Census Bureau's FTP site, American FactFinder, or via the DataFerrett tool. This tool is particularly useful for researchers who need a quick statistic or do not have access to statistical software.
The 2017 tab of the PUMS Technical Documentation page is now updated to include the PUMS ReadMe, subjects included in the PUMS, data dictionary, code lists, Accuracy of the PUMS, and PUMS Estimates for User Verification.
We are pleased to announce the release of the 2013-2017 ACS Variance Replicate Estimate Tables. These tables allow advanced users to calculate margins of error (MOEs) when collapsing data within a table or across geographies. This method provides a more accurate MOE than available approximation formulas.
To access these estimates, visit the Variance Replicate Estimates data page or through the Census Bureau's FTP site.
The Variance Replicate Estimate Tables documentation page is also updated to include technical documentation, a table and geography list, and table shells.