Accessing and Using Block Group Data From the ACS Warren A. Brown Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research

Using ACS Data for Block Groups Mapping to Identify Block Groups Accessing Via DataFerrett Improving Reliability

Using ACS Data for Block Groups Mapping to Identify Block Groups Accessing Via DataFerrett Improving Reliability

Mapping in AFF: City of Auburn, NY

Mapping Census Tracts

Mapping Block Groups

Block Groups of Interest

List of Block Groups StateCountyTractBlock Group

Using ACS Data for Block Groups Mapping to Identify Block Groups Accessing Via DataFerrett Improving Reliability

Log in to DataFerrett

Select “DataFerrett”

Enter address

Step 1: Get Data

Locate the ACS Summary Data Listed below the “5-Year Summary File” are the tables. Scroll down to find the desired topics.

Select Topic Table Selected table B25091 dealing with home owner costs. Click on the topic to view all the variables (rows) making up the table.

Select Variables Click to highlight rows of the table. Then click on box for “Browse…” to select variables.

Features and Limitations of ACS Summary File A pop up notice providing info about current release

Important Features and Limitations of the Current Release of the ACS 5-Year Summary File in DataFerrett December 2011 I. Introduction II. Important Features and Limitations of the DataFerrett Release on January 31, 2011 III. Known Bugs IV. Geography

I. Introduction What is available?. What should I do before accessing this dataset in DataFerrett? … go through the Supplement to the User Guide for the ACS Summary FileSupplement to the User Guide for the ACS Summary File How do I access the ACS Summary File data in DataFerrett? Differences between the data extracted from DataFerrett and the data downloaded from the Census Bureau FTP site Census Bureau FTP site user selects tables from a list and views or downloads the selected data.

II. Important Features and Limitations (partial list for presentation) All 930 detailed tables in the ACS Summary File are included All tables released at the census block group level are included Thematic mapping is available for several geographic summary levels For detailed information about the geographic areas for which a detailed table is available, see Appendix E of the ACS Summary File Tech Doc. New! Margins of Error (MOEs) are now treated as attibutes of the estimates. This means they are no longer selectable as independent variables. The user can now choose to include or exclude the margins of error in an extract. If they are to be included, they can be output in a separate file or interleaved with the estimates in a single extract file.

Back to Selecting Variables

Browse/Select Variables & Values For each Table select the variables (rows) 1 or select ALL variables (whole table) 2. Then press “OK”

Confirmation of Selected Variables

Geographic Variables Required Double click on the variable with the X

Select Geography Unit: Census Block Group

Select Block Group within Census Tract

Select Census Tract within County

Select County within State

Select State: New York

Select County: Cayuga

Select Tracts: 407; 417; 418; 421

Select Block Groups

Block Groups Selected - Finish

Step 2: Download Data Save Codebook

Codebook

Select Download Options

Notice of Batch Mode

Save Query Commands

Link to Requested Data

Link to Requested Data Estimates and MOE Files

Estimates

Estimates in Excel

Margins of Error

Margins of Error in Excel

Using ACS Data for Block Groups Mapping to Identify Block Groups Accessing Via DataFerrett Improving Reliability

Interest in webinar? Mapping and Identifying Tracts and Block Groups Accessing ACS Data for Tracts and BGs Assessing Reliability of Estimates Preparing Reliable Reports

Contact Info: Warren A. Brown Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research E: T: W: ciser.cornell.edu