While working with the H056001 variable (Median Contract Rent [dollars]) at the census tract level from Summary File 3 of the 2000 Census, I noticed there are "jam values" in the data of "2000+" and "100-". It is unclear to me whether a jam value of "100-" represents 100 or less or 99 or less. I do see a single tract with a value of 100 in the data, so I expect the jam value of "100-" to represent values of 99 or less. However, there are also values of 0 in the data. Should these values of 0 be treated as missing data/suppressed data? I haven't been able to find clear documentation for these 0 values and what they represent. I am leaning towards the idea that they should be treated as missing given the Universe for this variable is Specified renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent (i.e. a median of $0 for cash rent is not realistic).
I also looked at the b25058_001 variable (Median Contract Rent [dollars]) at the census tract level from the 2008-2012 5-Year ACS and the 2013-2017 5-Year ACS. In these data there are also jam values of "2000+" and "100-". There are no values of 0, but there are values of "-". I'm assuming a value of "-" means the estimate was unavailable or suppressed?
There is some language on this in the Subject Definitions https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/tech_docs/subject_definitions/2020_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf?# (See Contract Rent, "No Rent Paid"):
Units not paying cash rent are generally provided free by friends or relatives who live elsewhere and allow occupancy without charge. Rent-free houses or apartments may be provided to compensate caretakers, ministers, tenant farmers, etc.
Thanks for sharing, Diana! Under Median and Quartile Contract Rent in the PDF it looks like units that reported "no rent paid" are excluded from the median contract rent computations, which is helpful to know too.