Skip to Main Content

U.S. Census Data & Statistics

This guide provides information and tools needed for researching U.S. Census data and statistics.

Microdata Explained

MICRODATA FILES

Microdata files are files with non-aggregated data about the units sampled. For surveys of individuals, microdata files contain records for each individual interviewed; for surveys of organizations, the microdata contain records for each organization. These files show the responses made by a person or organization in the survey. May differ from statistical files where data are aggregated from many individual records.

To ensure confidentiality, the Census Bureau publishes microdata only after it is stripped of all identifying information.

PUBLIC USE MICRODATA AREA (PUMA)

A statistical area defined to contain a population of 100,000 or greater for which the Census Bureau tabulates public use microdata sample (PUMS) data. American Community Survey and decennial census population and housing microdata are disseminated using these defined areas. The American Community Survey also publishes one year estimate data for PUMAs.

PUBLIC USE MICRODATA SAMPLE (PUMS) FILES

Computerized files containing a small sample of individual records, with identifying information removed, from the census long form and from the American Community Survey showing the population and housing characteristics of the people included on those forms.

Videos About Microdata