U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2014-2018 ACS 5-Year PUMS File and Variance Replicate Estimate Tables, plus 2018 ACS 1-Year Supplemental Estimates

2014-2018 ACS 5-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2014-2018 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 data.census.gov and the Census Bureau's FTP site

The 2018 tab of the PUMS Technical Documentation page is now updated to include the PUMS ReadMe, subjects in the PUMS, data dictionary, code lists, Accuracy of the PUMS, and PUMS Estimates for User Verification.

2014-2018 ACS 5-Year Variance Replicate Estimate Tables

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2014-2018 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 Tables Data page or through the Census Bureau's FTP site.

The Variance Replicate Tables Documentation page is also updated to include technical documentation, a table and geography list, and table shells.

2018 ACS 1-Year Supplemental Estimates

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2018 ACS 1-year Supplemental Estimates.

Supplemental Estimates are simplified versions of popular ACS tables for geographic areas with at least 20,000 people, compared to the 65,000 population minimum for the standard ACS 1-year estimates. 

Visit the Census Bureau's data.census.gov or use the Census API to start exploring these estimates.