Navigating the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Data: Accessing Multiyear Data for Hawaii Morgan Walls-Dines, Ph.D. Information Services Specialist Los Angeles Regional Office U.S. Census Bureau 1/09

2 Overview of Session  Background of Decennial and ACS  Overview of ACS  ACS Multiyear Data  Questions & Break  Part II: How to access ACS Data using the Website

333 Decennial Census In Census 2000, the census used 2 forms 1.“short” form 1.“short” form – asked for basic demographic and housing information, such as age, sex, race, how many people lived in the housing unit, and if the housing unit was owned or rented by the resident 2.“long” form 2.“long” form – collected the same information as the short form but also collected more in-depth information such as income, education, and language spoken at home Only a small portion of the population, called a sample, received the long form.

Census and ACS  2010 Census will focus on counting the U.S. population  The sample data are now collected in the ACS  Puerto Rico is the only U.S. territory where the ACS is conducted  2010 Census will have a long form for U.S. territories such as Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands  Same “short form” questions on the ACS

555 What is the American Community Survey?

6 ACS Overview ACS Overview  The ACS is a large, continuous demographic survey  The ACS produces annual and multi-year estimates of the characteristics of the population and housing  Produces characteristics, not a population count  Key component of the decennial census program

777 Target Population  Resident population of the United States and Puerto Rico - Living in housing units and group quarters  Current residents at the selected address - “Two month” rule

8 Sample  Questionnaires mailed to about 1 in 480 addresses each month throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  1 in 40 addresses per year (2.5% of the population).  Average of addresses per month per congressional district.  Total of 3 million addresses each year, or 250,000 per month.  Inclusion of population in group quarters beginning in 2006.

99 American Community Survey: Content 9

10 Social Characteristics Education  Education  Marital Status  Fertility  Grandparent Caregivers  Veterans  Disability Status Status Place of Birth  Place of Birth  Citizenship  Year of Entry  Language Spoken at Home  Ancestry/Tribal Affiliation Affiliation

11 Economic Characteristics Income  Income  Benefits  Employment Status  Occupation  Industry  Commuting to Work  Place of Work

12 Housing Characteristics Tenure (own vs. rent)  Tenure (own vs. rent)  Occupancy & Structure  Housing Value  Taxes & Insurance  Utilities  Mortgage/Monthly Rent

13 Demographic Characteristics Sex  Sex  Age  Race  Hispanic Origin

Content Changes  Three new questions –Health Insurance Coverage –Veteran’s Service-connected Disability –Marital History  Deletion of one question –Time and main reason for staying at the address  Changes in some wording and format

15 Methodology  Sample includes about 3 million addresses each year  Three modes of data collection –mail –phone –personal visit  Data are collected continuously throughout the year

American Community Survey Data for Geographic Areas with 65,000 or more Population Hawaii State - Hawaii Hawaii Co., Honolulu Co., Maui Co. Counties – Hawaii Co., Honolulu Co., Maui Co. County Subdivisions Honolulu CDP Places – Honolulu CDP Honolulu Metro Area Metropolitan Areas – Honolulu Metro Area CD1, CD2 Congressional Districts – 110 th - CD1, CD2 American Indian Areas HI Dept. of Education School Districts – HI Dept. of Education 00100, Public Use Microdata Areas – 00100, 00200, through , through 00307

17 Reference Map of Honolulu CDP

18 Using the Data: Factors to Consider  Universe and residence rules residence rules  Time Periods  Reference Periods

19 ACS Universe Total resident population of the United  Total resident population of the United State and Puerto Rico State and Puerto Rico  Household population in 2005 and prior ACS years prior ACS years  Group Quarters population added to sample in 2006 to sample in 2006

20 Residence Rules The American Community Survey uses  The American Community Survey uses a “two-month” rule a “two-month” rule  Decennial census based upon the concept of “usual residence” concept of “usual residence”

21 Residence Rules  Resident of a housing unit if a person: - Lives there year round - Lives there year round - Lives there more than 2 months but not year round - Lives there more than 2 months but not year round - Is living there now with no other place to live - Is living there now with no other place to live - Is away now for 2 months or less - Is away now for 2 months or less  Not a resident of a housing unit if a person: person: - Lives there 2 months or less with another - Lives there 2 months or less with another residence residence - Is away now for more than 2 months - Is away now for more than 2 months

22 Period Estimates  Describes the characteristics of an area over a specific period of time over a specific period of time  Contrasts with point-in-time estimates that describe the characteristics of an that describe the characteristics of an area on a specific date area on a specific date  1-year, 3-year, and 5-year estimates are released for geographic areas that meet specific population thresholds

23 Reference Periods ACS uses the interview date as the  ACS uses the interview date as the single reference point, or as the end of single reference point, or as the end of a reference period, for all data collection. a reference period, for all data collection.

24 Questions With No Specific Reference Period Most ACS questions  Most ACS questions do not stipulate a do not stipulate a period of time that period of time that should be referenced should be referenced  Interpretation is yearly average since the average since the data are collected data are collected each month and each month and averaged across months averaged across months

25 Questions With a Specific Reference Period Relative to Interview Date Other questions specify a period of time relative to  Other questions specify a period of time relative to the date of interview the date of interview  Interpretation is still a yearly average but yearly average but covering a slightly covering a slightly different period of time different period of time than the calendar year than the calendar year

26 Group Quarters  Place where people live or stay that is normally owned or managed by an entity or organization owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing or services for the residents. providing housing or services for the residents. Two types of group quarters: 1. Institutional 1. Institutional 2. Non-institutional 2. Non-institutional Group Quarters Population includes all people not living in households. Group Quarters Population includes all people not living in households. - This term includes those people residing in group - This term includes those people residing in group quarters as of the date the ACS was conducted. quarters as of the date the ACS was conducted.

27 Overview of ACS Timeline Overview of ACS Timeline  First year of data collection for full sample in  Data for calendar year 2007 released beginning in August  Annual data for geographic areas over 65,000 population.  3 year averages are now available for geographic areas 20,000 to 65,000.  5 year averages for geographic areas under 20,000 in 2010.

28 Timeline  ACS Data single year collection (e.g. 2007) is closed out just after the beginning of a calendar year (e.g. 2008)  Single-year and multiyear data products start to become available in the summer of the same year.  For example 2007 ACS estimates were released in 2008  The cycle repeats EVERY year

Release Schedule for ACS Data Release Schedule for ACS Data

30 Data Products Release Schedule Data Product Population SizeData released in: of Area Year Estimates65, for Data Collected in: 3-Year Estimates20, for Data Collected in: 5-Year EstimatesAll Areas* for Data Collected in: * Five-year estimates will be available for areas as small as census tracts and block groups. Source: US Census Bureau

31 What do I need to know before using ACS data and data products?

32 Understanding Estimates and Margin of Error

33 Estimates  ACS data are estimates  ACS data are not counts of the population or housing  Population counts are produced from the decennial census - Counts are updated throughout the decade through the Population Estimates Program

34 Margin of Error (MOE) Definition: A measure of the precision of an estimate at a given level of confidence (90%, 95%, 99%) –MOEs at the 90% confidence level for all published ACS estimates Confidence Interval Definition: A range that is expected to contain the population value of the characteristic with a known probability.

Family Income in Past 12 Months (In 2007 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)

36 Interpreting Margin of Error  Indicates that a data user can be 90 percent certain that the estimate and the population value differ by no more than the value of the MOE  MOE can help data users assess the reliability of an estimate  MOE can help data users avoid misinterpreting small differences between estimates as significant

37 American Community Survey: Multiyear Data

38 Review: Period Estimate Definition: An estimate that describes the average characteristics of an area over a specific time period. - Period for ACS 1-year estimates is the calendar year year - Different from a point-in-time estimate - Different from a point-in-time estimate

39 What is a Multiyear Estimate? Definition: A period estimate that encompasses more than one calendar year.  Period for ACS multiyear estimates is either 3 or 5 calendar years

40 Population Thresholds for ACS Estimates 1-year estimates 3-year estimates 5-year estimates 65,000 + people XXX 20,000+ people XX Less than 20,000 people X

41 Constructing Multiyear Estimates  Data are pooled across 36 or 60 months  Data are weighted to produce estimates  Estimates are controlled for age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin  Multiyear estimates are not an average of 1-year estimates

42 When should I use multiyear estimates?

43 Use Multiyear Estimates When …  No 1-year estimate is available  Margins of error for 1-year estimates are larger than required  Analyzing data for small population groups

44 Currency vs. Reliability CurrencyReliability 1-year estimates provide information based on the last year Larger sample sizes produce estimates that are more statistically reliable 3-year estimates provide information based on the last year and the 2 years before that 3-year estimates are based on 3 times as many sample cases as 1-year estimates 5-year estimates provide information based on the last year and the 4 years prior 5-year estimates are based on 5 times as many sample cases as 1-year estimates

45 Reliability Note: Fictional data

46 What should I be aware of when using multiyear estimates?

47 Inflation Adjustment  Dollar-valued data items are inflation adjusted to the most recent year for the period  Income, rent, home value, and energy costs  Adjusted using inflation factors based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI)  Adjustment designed to put the data into dollars with equal purchasing power

48 Geographic Boundaries  Multiyear estimates are based on geographic boundaries as of January 1 of the last year in the multiyear period  Boundary Annexation Survey collects boundary changes  Boundaries of other statistical areas will be updated every decade in conjunction with the decennial census

49 Geographic Boundaries Amarillo city, Texas

50 Population Controls  Estimates of housing units and people are controlled to the population estimates derived from the Population Estimates Program  Multiyear estimates are controlled to the average of the individual year’s estimates for the period

51 How can I use multiyear estimates to make comparisons?

52 Comparing Across Geographies Only compare the same type of estimate  1-year estimates to other 1-year estimates  3-year estimates to other 3-year estimates  5-year estimates to other 5-year estimates Same time period

53 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Handbook for General Audiences. Map of Hawaii by County

54 Comparing Across Time Periods Same geographic area –Use caution if geographic boundaries have changed over time –Easier to compare non-overlapping periods –Make comparisons using the same length time period

55 Overlapping Periods

56 Comparing ACS Data with Census 2000  Global differences exist between ACS and Census 2000  Comparisons can be made for most population and housing subjects  compACS.htm compACS.htm compACS.htm

57 American Community Survey Comparing Data 57

58 American Community Survey: Summary  A survey developed by the Census Bureau to provide demographic, economic, and housing data of America’s communities every year.  The ACS will replace the long form in  The ACS provides annual estimates.

59 Summary: Multiyear Data  Multiyear estimates are period estimates  Multiyear estimates include geographies with a minimum threshold of 20,000  Data users should consider the tradeoffs of currency versus reliability

60 Summary: Multiyear Data Comparisons  Comparisons between estimates of different geographies should be based on ACS data from the same time periods  It is easier to compare estimates from non-overlapping periods

61 Part II: Accessing American Community Survey Multiyear Data

62 American Community Survey: Multiyear Overview  Data available on website.  Data for geographic areas over 20,000 population  Data for total population—household population and group quarters

63 American Community Survey Data Products Profiles –Fact Sheet –Data Profiles –Narrative Profiles –Comparison Profiles –Selected Population Profiles Tables –Detailed Tables –Subject Tables –Ranking Tables –Geographic Comparison Tables Thematic Maps Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files Population Estimates Program

64 Fact Sheet

65 Data Profiles

66 Data Profiles  Shows estimates for current year  ACS Demographic & Housing Estimates  Selected Social Characteristics  Selected Economic Characteristics  Selected Housing Characteristics  Population & Housing Narrative Profile

72 Narrative Profiles

73 Comparison Profiles 73

Selected Population Profiles Produce a report on a population sub-group of interest Various Race or Ethnic Groups Various Race or Ethnic Groups Various Ancestry Groups Various Ancestry Groups Population threshold of 65,000 for selected race, ethnic or ancestry group Population threshold of 65,000 for selected race, ethnic or ancestry group

75 Selected Population Profiles 75

Selected Population Profile: Native Hawaiian Alone in U.S.

Selected Population Profile: Native Hawaiian Alone or in Combination

Selected Population Profile Country of Birth: Japan

79 How do I access ACS Data tables?

80 U.S. Census Bureau Home Page

81 American FactFinder

83 ACS Data Products

84 Select Your Geography

85 Select the Subject of Interest

86 Geographic Comparison Table

87 Base Tables (Detailed Tables)  Basic distributions of characteristics  The foundation upon which other data products are built  Show estimates with its margin of error. By adding and subtracting the margin of error from the point estimate, you produce the range around it called the confidence interval. (there is 90% certainty that the true answer lies within the listed upper and lower percentages).  Include over 1,200 tables on basic characteristics  9 Race and Hispanic origin iterations for more than 40 characteristics

88 Detailed Tables Examples  Sex by Age by Race and Hispanic Origin  Means of Transportation to Work by Travel Time to Work  Median Number of Rooms in Housing Units  School Enrollment by Level of School  Poverty Status in the past 12 Months by Sex and Age

Poverty Status in the past 12 Months by Sex and Age

B and C Detailed Tables B NH/PI Alone by Selected Groups

B and C Detailed Tables C NH/PI Alone by Selected Groups

92 Detailed Tables 92 Data Source Universe Margin of Error Table Name Table Numbe r Collapsed Version

93 Detailed Tables – Collapsed Version 93

94 B SEX BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER – Universe: POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER Detailed Tables

95 Subject Tables

96 Subject Tables  Approximately 60 tables that highlight a particular subject of interest.  Derived from Detailed Tables  Shows more detail than is available in the Profiles  For a given topic, present distributions for a few relevant subgroups  Allow for other measures such as percentages, medians and aggregates where appropriate

98 Margin of Error

99 Ranking Tables

Click

102 Ranking Tables 102

States whose estimate is not statistically significant from Hawaii

105 Geographic Comparison Tables

106 Geographic Comparison Tables  Over 70 tables for each comparison area  Compare geographic areas within the Nation  Combined Statistical Areas  Congressional District by State  County by State  Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area  Place by State  States  Urban/Rural and Inside/Outside Metropolitan & Micropolitan Area  Urbanized Area  Compare geographic areas within a state  Congressional District  County  Public Use Microdata Area  School District  Urban/Rural and Inside/Outside Metropolitan & Micropolitan Area  Can be viewed as a thematic map

108 Thematic Maps M1001 Percent of Grandparents responsible for their Grandchildren 108

109 Population Estimates

110 EstimatesPopulation  National by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin  State and county totals  Produced in conjunction with the Federal-State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates (FSCPE)  State by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin  County by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin  Incorporated place and minor civil division totals Housing units  State  County

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Other Products Special Tabulations  Done on a reimbursable basis similar to the Special Tabs based on the 2000 Decennial Census  Disclosure Review Board has different rules for these tables than for the regular data products  For more information, go to the following URL: Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)  Created each year from the full ACS sample  Size will be approximately 1% of the total sampling universe  Recoding and other techniques applied to data to protect confidentiality  For more information, go to the following URL:

114 Public Use Microdata Sample

115 DataFerrett

116 DataFerrett

117 Help from American FactFinder

118 ACS File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Site

Table is not available for the selected geography because its total population is less than 1,000,000 or the population within the geography for the selected subject falls below a threshold of 65,000. Table is not available for geographic components. Data are not available for the selected geography because the population for the selected race, ethnic or ancestry group falls below a population threshold of 65,000. To view a table for the selected geography, choose a more broadly defined population group. To view a table for the selected population group, change your selection to a larger geography.

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122 The ACS Compass Products  Set of educational handbooks aimed at specific audiences  Presentation slides on important ACS topics  E-learning tutorial  Webpage: Compass/compass_series.html 122

123 For more information Subscribe to “ACS Alert” Visit the ACS/PRCS website: Contact by telephone: Contact by

124 Summary: How Census Data Can Help You!  ACS data are provided free and accessible through website:  You can access any Census data on website when you know: (1) Timeframe (2) Geography (3) Type of data you need based on use of data. based on use of data.

125 U.S. Census Bureau Partnership & Data Services Program Sherman Way, Suite 400 Van Nuys, CA (888) Toll Free L.A. Regional Website: Resources: Need Assistance?