Have you ever thought about how, or why, new roads, schools, after-school programs, or hospitals are placed in communities? What makes communities attractive to new businesses or tourists? Why there is no ATM or bike-share kiosk on a street corner? The answers often lie in the numbers—numbers that reflect what our communities look like, how our communities have changed, and how those changes impact our daily lives.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) is designed to answer these types of questions and to meet the needs of policymakers, business leaders, planners, and others nationwide who need good data to make informed decisions. The ACS provides a detailed portrait of the social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics of America’s communities.