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Learn more about comparing the 2016 ACS 1-year estimates with:
To learn more about comparing the 2012-2016 ACS 5-year estimates with the 2007-2011 ACS 5-year estimates visit the 5-year to 5-year Comparison Guide page.
If you would like to compare the 2016 ACS 1-year with estimates with ACS estimates prior to the 2015 ACS, please refer to the year-by-year comparison guidance throughout the entire time span. For example, to compare the 2016 ACS 1-year estimates with the 2014 ACS 1-year estimates, please reference:
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The entire population continually ages into older age groups over time and babies fill in the youngest age group. So, the population of a certain age is made up of a completely different group of people from one time period to the next. Since populations occasionally experience booms/increases (for example, the postwar Baby Boom from 1946-1964) and busts/decreases in births, deaths, or migration, one should not necessarily expect that the population in an age group in Census 2000 should be similar in size or proportion to the population in the same age group in different data year(s). For example, Baby Boomers were age 36 to 54 in Census 2000 while they were age 52 to 70 in the 2016 ACS 1-year, and between ages 48 to 70 in the 2012-2016 5-year period. So, the age groups 55 to 59, 60 to 64, and 65 to 69 would show a considerable increase in population when comparing Census 2000 data with the single year or multiyear ACS data.
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Beginning with the 2008 ACS questionnaire, the layout of the sex question response categories was changed to a horizontal side-by-side layout from a vertically stacked layout on the mail paper ACS questionnaire. For more information on differences in the questionnaire, see 2007 ACS Grid-Sequential Test report.
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Differences between the 2016 ACS and Census 2000 may be the result of demographic changes and/or differences in question wording (the ACS question on race was revised in 2008 to make it consistent with the 2010 Census race question), race reporting, or methodological differences in the population estimates used as ACS controls.
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The ACS question on Hispanic origin was revised in 2008 to make it consistent with the 2010 Census Hispanic origin question. Any change, compared with Census 2000, may be due to demographic changes, questionnaire changes, differences in ACS population controls, and/or methodological differences in the population estimates.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Ancestry is the only item for which a "not reported" category is published since missing ancestries are never assigned or allocated. The extent of missing ancestry answers was higher in Census 2000 than in the ACS. The difference in the level of response may contribute to the difference in the two distributions.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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For data year 2012 and subsequent years, note that the topmost year of entry category in many tables was changed from "2000 or later" to "2010 or later." For data year 2011 and earlier, note that Census 2000 represents data collected as of April 1, 2000 and thus the "2000" year of entry category accounts for the first quarter (Jan-Mar) in 2000 only. The ACS represents data collected throughout the entire year and thus the "2000" year of entry category accounts for the entire year of 2000.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS asked for residence 1 year ago whereas Census 2000 asked for residence 5 years ago.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS excludes taxicabs in the tabulation category of "public transportation" and includes them in the category "taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle or other means." However, Census 2000 included taxicabs in the "public transportation" tabulation category.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS used a joint relationship/marital status edit and 2010 Census did not. The ACS also has a category for foster children which is not in the 2010 Census. Differences in weighting schemes between the census and the ACS could produce inconsistencies in comparisons.
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The ACS used a joint relationship/marital status edit and Census 2000 did not. Also, Census 2000 provided more response categories because of a write-in option that was not used in the ACS. Differences in weighting schemes between the census and the ACS could produce inconsistencies in comparisons.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS used a joint relationship/marital status edit and 2010 Census did not. The ACS also has a category for foster children, which is not in the 2010 Census. Differences in weighting schemes between the census and the ACS could produce inconsistencies in comparisons.
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The ACS used a joint relationship/marital status edit and Census 2000 did not--these edits are used to determine categories of family types. Also, Census 2000 provided more response categories because of a write-in option that was not used in the ACS. Differences in weighting schemes between the census and the ACS could produce inconsistencies in comparisons.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Due to a write-in option, Census 2000 provided more response categories than the ACS from which to derive estimates of subfamilies. In addition, the weighting schemes that were used to produce the final estimated numbers of subfamilies were different.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS used a joint relationship/marital status edit and Census 2000 did not.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
The question was not asked in Census 2000
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
The question was not asked in Census 2000
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS reference period was 3 months preceding the date of interview, while the Census 2000 reference period was any time since February 1, 2000.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS has two separate categories for completing high school - "Regular high school diploma" and "GED or alternative credential." Census 2000 has only one category for completing high school - "HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE - high school diploma or equivalent (for example: GED)." As a result, users may see differences in distributions when comparing Census 2000 to ACS data from 2008 and later years.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
The question was not asked in Census 2000
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Some languages need additional steps for comparison. Please refer to the 2016 Language Data User Note for comparability guidance.
The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Some languages need additional steps for comparison. Please refer to the 2016 Language Data User Note for comparability guidance.
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As ACS data are collected every month of the year, adjacent years will have some reference months in common. Hence, comparing the 2016 ACS 1-year with the 2015 ACS 1-year estimates is not an exact comparison of the economic conditions in 2016 with those in 2015. For a discussion of this and related issues, see Hogan, Howard, "Measuring Population Change Using the American Community Survey," Applied Demography in the 21st Century, Steven H. Murdock and David A. Swanson eds., Springer Netherlands, 2008. For specific questions and answers about sources of poverty data, see Questions and Answers about Sources of Poverty Data[PDF - <1.0 MB].
The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS collects data throughout the year on an on-going, monthly basis and asks for a respondent's income over the "past 12 months." Census 2000, however, collected the income data for a fixed period of time -- "during 1999" (the last calendar year). For example, the 2016 ACS 1-year data reflect incomes over 2015-2016, and the 2012-2016 ACS 5-year data reflect incomes over 2011-2016. In a comparison study between Census 2000 income data and the 2000 ACS, income collected in Census 2000 was found to be about 4 percent higher than that in the 2000 ACS. For more information on the differences of income in the ACS and Census 2000, see Income in the American Community Survey: Comparison to Census 2000[PDF - <1.0 MB]. For specific questions and answers about sources of poverty data, see Questions and Answers about Sources of Poverty Data[PDF - <1.0 MB].
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As ACS data are collected every month of the year, adjacent years will have some reference months in common. Hence, comparing the 2016 ACS 1-year with the 2015 ACS 1-year estimates is not an exact comparison of the economic conditions in 2016 with those in 2015. For a discussion of this and related issues, see Hogan, Howard, "Measuring Population Change Using the American Community Survey," Applied Demography in the 21st Century, Steven H. Murdock and David A. Swanson eds., Springer Netherlands, 2008. For specific questions and answers about sources of poverty data, see Questions and Answers about Sources of Poverty Data[PDF - <1.0 MB].
The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS collects data throughout the year on an on-going, monthly basis and asks for a respondent's income over the "past 12 months." Census 2000, however, collected the income data for a fixed period of time -- "during 1999" (the last calendar year). For example, the 2016 ACS 1-year data reflect incomes over 2015-2016, and the 2012-2016 ACS 5-year data reflect incomes over 2011-2016. In a comparison study between Census 2000 income data and the 2000 ACS, income collected in Census 2000 was found to be about 4 percent higher than that in the 2000 ACS. For more information on the differences of income in the ACS and Census 2000, see Income in the American Community Survey: Comparison to Census 2000[PDF - <1.0 MB]. For specific questions and answers about sources of poverty data, see Questions and Answers about Sources of Poverty Data[PDF - <1.0 MB].
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The 2016 ACS disability questions are different from the Census 2000 disability questions, thus comparisons cannot be made.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The 2016 ACS disability questions are different from the Census 2000 disability questions, thus comparisons cannot be made.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The 2016 ACS disability questions are different from the Census 2000 disability questions, thus comparisons cannot be made.
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As ACS data are collected every month of the year, adjacent years will have some reference months in common. Hence, comparing the 2016 ACS 1-year with the 2015 ACS 1-year estimates is not an exact comparison of the economic conditions in 2016 with those in 2015. For a discussion of this and related issues, see Hogan, Howard, "Measuring Population Change Using the American Community Survey," Applied Demography in the 21st Century, Steven H. Murdock and David A. Swanson eds., Springer Netherlands, 2008. For specific questions and answers about sources of poverty data, see Questions and Answers about Sources of Poverty Data [PDF - <1.0 MB].
The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
Compare with Caution
The ACS collects data throughout the year on an on-going, monthly basis and asks for a respondent's income over the "past 12 months." Census 2000, however, collected the income data for a fixed period of time -- "during 1999" (the last calendar year). For example, the 2016 ACS 1-year data reflect incomes over 2015-2016, and the 2012-2016 ACS 5-year data reflect incomes over 2011-2016. In a comparison study between Census 2000 income data and the 2000 ACS, income collected in Census 2000 was found to be about 4 percent higher than that in the 2000 ACS. For more information on the differences of income in the ACS and Census 2000, see Income in the American Community Survey: Comparison to Census 2000[PDF - <1.0 MB]. The Census Bureau recommends using CPI-U-RS adjustment factors published annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to adjust 1999 median, mean, and per capita income dollar amounts shown in Census 2000 Summary File 3 to 2016 dollars by multiplying the 1999 dollar amounts by the CPI-U-RS factor of 1.4415372. For CPI-U-RS inflation adjustment factors for other years see Updated CPI-U-RS, All items, 1977-2016[PDF - <1.0 MB]. Furthermore, direct comparisons of income and earnings distributions between Census 2000 and the 2016 ACS are not possible due to inflation. Users interested in making distribution comparisons need to inflation adjust individual income records using the Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) files from Census 2000.
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As ACS data are collected every month of the year, adjacent years will have some reference months in common. Hence, comparing the 2016 ACS 1-year with the 2015 ACS 1-year estimates is not an exact comparison of the economic conditions in 2016 with those in 2015. For a discussion of this and related issues, see Hogan, Howard, "Measuring Population Change Using the American Community Survey," Applied Demography in the 21st Century, Steven H. Murdock and David A. Swanson eds., Springer Netherlands, 2008. For specific questions and answers about sources of poverty data, see Questions and Answers about Sources of Poverty Data [PDF - <1.0 MB].
The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
Compare with Caution
The ACS collects data throughout the year on an on-going, monthly basis and asks for a respondent's income over the "past 12 months." Census 2000, however, collected the income data for a fixed period of time -- "during 1999" (the last calendar year). In a comparison study between Census 2000 income data and the 2000 ACS, income collected in Census 2000 was found to be about 4 percent higher than that in the 2000 ACS. For more information on the differences of income in the ACS and Census 2000, see Income in the American Community Survey: Comparison to Census 2000[PDF - <1.0 MB]. The Census Bureau recommends using CPI-U-RS adjustment factors published annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to adjust 1999 median, mean, and per capita income dollar amounts shown in Census 2000 Summary File 3 to 2016 dollars by multiplying the 1999 dollar amounts by the CPI-U-RS factor of 1.4415372. For CPI-U-RS inflation adjustment factors for other years see Updated CPI-U-RS, All items, 1977-2016 [PDF - <1.0 MB]. Furthermore, direct comparisons of income and earnings distributions between Census 2000 and the 2016 ACS are not possible due to inflation. Users interested in making distribution comparisons need to inflation adjust individual income records using the Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) files from Census 2000.
Compare with Caution
As ACS data are collected every month of the year, adjacent years will have some reference months in common. Hence, comparing the 2016 ACS 1-year with the 2015 ACS 1-year estimates is not an exact comparison of the economic conditions in 2016 with those in 2015. For a discussion of this and related issues, see Hogan, Howard, "Measuring Population Change Using the American Community Survey," Applied Demography in the 21st Century, Steven H. Murdock and David A. Swanson eds., Springer Netherlands, 2008. For specific questions and answers about sources of poverty data, see Questions and Answers about Sources of Poverty Data[PDF - <1.0 MB].
The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
Compare with Caution
The ACS collects data throughout the year on an on-going, monthly basis and asks for a respondent's income over the "past 12 months." Census 2000, however, collected the income data for a fixed period of time -- "during 1999" (the last calendar year). For example, the 2016 ACS 1-year data reflect incomes over 2015-2016, and the 2012-2016 ACS 5-year data reflect incomes over 2011-2016. In a comparison study between Census 2000 income data and the 2000 ACS, income collected in Census 2000 was found to be about 4 percent higher than that in the 2000 ACS. For more information on the differences of income in the ACS and Census 2000, see Income in the American Community Survey: Comparison to Census 2000[PDF - <1.0 MB]. The Census Bureau recommends using CPI-U-RS adjustment factors published annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to adjust 1999 median, mean, and per capita income dollar amounts shown in Census 2000 Summary File 3 to 2016 dollars by multiplying the 1999 dollar amounts by the CPI-U-RS factor of 1.4415372. For CPI-U-RS inflation adjustment factors for other years see Updated CPI-U-RS, All items, 1978-2016 [PDF - <1.0 MB]. Furthermore, direct comparisons of income and earnings distributions between Census 2000 and the 2016 ACS are not possible due to inflation. Users interested in making distribution comparisons need to inflation adjust individual income records using the Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) files from Census 2000.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Since Census 2000, the period of military service categories on the ACS questionnaire were updated to: 1) include the most recent period "September 2001 or later;" 2) update the Korean War and World War II dates to match the official dates as listed in US Code, Title 38; and 3) collapse peacetime periods between the Vietnam era and the 1990 Gulf War. While the response categories differ slightly from those in Census 2000, data from the two questions can still be compared to one another.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS has two separate questions for veteran status and period of military service, whereas in Census 2000, both were asked in a two part question. The veteran status question itself remained similar until 2013. In 2013, the italicized instruction to the question was removed and the response categories were revised and rearranged. Users should use caution when comparing 2016 ACS data with Census 2000.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
The question was not asked in Census 2000
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
The question was not asked in Census 2000
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The reference periods are different due to year-round ACS data collection. The ACS reference period is the week prior to the respondent completing the interview, or the field representative conducting the interview. Because questionnaires are mailed-out and field interviews are conducted throughout the year, there is a revolving reference period. For Census 2000, the reference period was the week prior to Census Day (April 1, 2000). The Census 2000 Summary File 3 (SF3) labor force data for some places where colleges are located appear to overstate the estimates of people in the labor force, the unemployed, and the percent unemployed because of data capture errors.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS reference period is 12 months preceding the date of interview, while the Census 2000 reference period was the 1999 calendar year.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The ACS reference period is 12 months preceding the date of interview, while the Census 2000 reference period was the 1999 calendar year.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The 2016 ACS Industry by Class of Worker tables combine "Unpaid family workers" with "Self-employed in own not incorporated business workers." The Census 2000 tables use different tabulation categories than the ACS. Also, the Census 2000 tables did not include the "full-time, year-round" population and there were no median earnings Class of Worker tables. Thus, comparisons cannot be made for this population or characteristic.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Census 2000 industry codes are 3-digit codes based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 1997. The 2016 ACS industry codes are 4-digit codes based on NAICS 2012. Codes and descriptions, particularly within manufacturing, wholesale trade and retail trade sectors changed. For a summary of the 2012 code changes and a Census 2000/2002 to 2012 industry crosswalk, visit the Industry and Occupation page.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Census 2000 occupation codes are 3-digit codes based on Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) 2000. The 2016 ACS occupation codes are 4-digit codes based on SOC 2010. Codes and descriptions, particularly within the information technology, healthcare, printing, and human resources occupation categories changed. For a summary of 2010 code changes and a Census 2000/2002 to 2010 occupation crosswalk, visit the Industry and Occupation page.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Beginning in 2008, the ACS bedrooms question contained different wording and response options than the Census 2000 question.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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For Census 2000, tables were not released for total renter-occupied units. The universe in the ACS is "renter occupied" whereas in Census 2000 the universe was "specified renter-occupied housing units," thus comparisons cannot be made.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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For Census 2000, tables were not released for total renter-occupied units. The universe in the ACS is "renter occupied" whereas in Census 2000, the universe was "specified renter-occupied housing units," thus comparisons cannot be made.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Changes made between 2007 and 2008 to the ACS question wording as well as the response options resulted in an increase in the "Lacking Kitchen Facilities" category compared with pre-2008 ACS and Census 2000.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census; however, mortgage status can be obtained from the tenure question (owned with a mortgage or loan, including home equity loans; or owned free and clear, without a mortgage or loan).
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The with a mortgage/without a mortgage categories were released in Census 2000 for both total owner-occupied units and specified owner-occupied units.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Due to the differences in residence rules between ACS and Census 2000, the absence of population controls used to adjust for undercoverage in the reported number of current residences, and the differences in the reported number of rooms due to changes in the room question between 2007 and 2008, comparisons between ACS and Census 2000 are not recommended.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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For Census 2000, tables were not released for total owner-occupied units. The universe in the ACS is "owner-occupied" whereas in Census 2000, the universe was "specified owner-occupied housing units," thus comparisons cannot be made.
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Before 2016, complete plumbing required running water, a flush toilet, and bathtub or shower. In 2016, the question about whether the housing unit had a toilet was removed; beginning in 2016, running water and bathtub or shower constituted complete plumbing.
The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Changes made between 2007 and 2008 to the ACS question wording as well as the response option resulted in an increase in the "Lacking Plumbing Facilities" category compared with pre-2008 ACS and Census 2000. In 2016, these differences between the current year ACS and pre-2008 ACS and Census 2000 was compounded by the new definition of complete plumbing. Before 2016, complete plumbing required running water, a flush toilet, and bathtub or shower. In 2016, the question about whether the housing unit had a toilet was removed; beginning in 2016, running water and bathtub or shower constituted complete plumbing.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The universe in the ACS is "owner occupied" whereas in Census 2000, the universe was "specified owner-occupied housing units," thus comparisons cannot be made.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Beginning in 2008, the ACS rooms question contained different wording and response options than the Census 2000 question.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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For Census 2000, tables with full distribution were released for total owner-occupied units but medians were not shown. When available, compare like universes.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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In 2008, there was a change in the wording and response options for the ACS question on telephone service.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Because the ACS and the Decennial Census differ in their design and data collection methods, users should note that estimates of vacancy rates may also differ. For more information on vacancy rates between the ACS and Census, see Comparing 2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates of Occupancy Status, Vacancy Status, and Household Size with the 2010 Census - Preliminary Results.
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Because the ACS and the Decennial Census differ in their design and data collection methods, users should note that estimates of vacancy rates may also differ. For more information on vacancy rates between the ACS and Census, see Comparing 2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates of Occupancy Status, Vacancy Status, and Household Size with the 2010 Census - Preliminary Results.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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Unlike Census 2000, the ACS allowed a write-in for values over $250,000 until 2007. Beginning in 2008, value was collected as a continuous variable. For Census 2000, tables with full distribution, medians, and aggregate values were released for both specified owner-occupied units as well as total owner-occupied units. ACS only releases tables for total owner-occupied units. When making comparisons users should compare like universes.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
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The total group quarters (GQ) population in the ACS may not be comparable with the 2010 Census. The ACS does not include all the GQ types that are found in the decennial census. For instance, domestic violence shelters, soup kitchens, regularly scheduled mobile food vans, and shelters for victims of natural disasters. The exclusion of these GQ types from the ACS may result in a small bias in some ACS estimates to the extent that the excluded population is different from the included population.
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The total group quarters (GQ) population in the ACS may not be comparable with Census 2000 because there are some Census 2000 GQ types that were out of scope in the ACS such as domestic violence shelters and soup kitchens. Also, there are some Census 2000 GQ type categories that are no longer valid (e.g., residential care facility providing "Protective Oversight," hospitals/wards for the chronically ill, and hospitals/wards for drug/alcohol abuse). The exclusion of these GQ types from the ACS may result in a small bias in some ACS estimates to the extent that the excluded population is different from the included population.
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The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
The question was not asked in Census 2000
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Questions on computer and Internet use were updated in 2016. For example, a category for tablet was added and the term “handheld” was updated to “smartphone”. These changes have contributed to a higher reported rate of computer ownership or use. Question wording changes may also have contributed to higher levels of Internet subscriptions, especially among those connecting with a “cellular data plan” or “mobile broadband” connection. Reported rates of Internet subscriptions through satellite services also seem to have been affected. See Comparing 2016 Computer and Internet Use to Previous Years Data User Note.
The question was not asked in the 2010 Census
The question was not asked in Census 2000
* Each subject area is listed with its 2-digit code identifier. This code corresponds to the second and third characters of the ACS table number. For example, Table B08303 - Travel Time to Work has the second and third digits of "08" which corresponds to the subject Journey to Work; Workers; and Commuting.
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