The American Community Survey (ACS) is a new nationwide survey designed to provide communities a fresh look at how they are changing. It is a critical element in the Census Bureau's reengineered decennial census program. the ACS collects information such as age, race, income, commute time to work, home value, veteran status, and other important data.

The ACS collects and produces population and housing information every year instead of every ten years. Collecting data every year provides more up-to-date information throughout the decade about the U.S. population at the local community level. About three million housing unit addresses are selected annually, from across every county in the nation.

In 2009 two types of estimates are available from the American Community Survey: 1-year estimates based on data collected in a single year (between January 2008 and December 2008) and 3-year estimates based on data collected in three consecutive years (between January 2006 and December 2008).

Beginning with the 2005 ACS, and continuing every year thereafter, 1-year estimates are available annually for geographic areas with a population of 65,000 or more. This includes the nation, all states and the District of Columbia, all congressional districts, approximately 800 counties, and 500 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, among others. They have smaller sample size than the 3-year estimates, and are More current than the 3-year estimates.