Glossary · Programs & credentials
American Community Survey (ACS)
Also called: ACS 5-year estimates
The Census Bureau's ongoing yearly household survey, the main source for local figures like home age, heating fuel, income and home ownership.
What it means
Because the ACS surveys a sample of households every year instead of counting everyone, its figures are estimates with margins of error. Data for smaller places are usually published as five-year estimates, such as 2020–2024.
Why it matters in an audit
When a metro page says what share of homes were built before 1980 or heat with gas, that's an ACS estimate, which helps you judge how typical your house is.