Public Use Microdata Area Boundaries in 2012 ACS PUMS files

Mark Mather over 10 years ago

For those who use Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the PUMS files, note that the 2008-2012 and 2010-2012 multiyear files are different than previous files because they include two sets of PUMA boundaries. According to the Census Bureau's data documentation:

"Due to disclosure avoidance procedures, the ACS PUMS does not release overlapping geographies for any record. Therefore the records from data years 2008 through 2011 still carry the older 2000-based PUMA codes. Only the 2012 records display the newer 2010-based PUMA geography."

For those accessing data for PUMAs from these files, this means that PUMA codes come from two different variables (and geographic boundaries may differ) depending on the survey year in which the respondent was interviewed (2012 vs. earlier years).

See data documentation here:
www.census.gov/.../ACS2010_2012_PUMS_README.pdf

Douglas White over 10 years ago

Is there any chance that the Census is going to release the older PUMS data in the new geographies? One of the large selling points of the ACS is allowing the user to make more timely comparisons between areas. Changing the geography, and not making older data consistent really hampers the ability to do that.
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Sirius Fuller over 10 years ago

If you are looking for 3-year or 5-year ACS estimates (not PUMS) using the new PUMA geographies, they are published on American FactFinder (http://factfinder2.census.gov). Unfortunately, there are no plans to release the old PUMS files with the new PUMA geographies.

You may not be aware of this, but there was a Census Bureau webinar recently discussing the new PUMS files. There is a crosswalk between the old and new PUMA codes available from the Missouri state data center. This is not an official Census Bureau tool. It is available at mcdc.missouri.edu/.../geocorr12.html.
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