U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2016 American Community Survey

The U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2016 American Community Survey (ACS) on September 14. According to the data, nearly half (48.3%) of the 43.8 million renter households in the U.S. in 2016 were cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

Among renter households with annual incomes of less than $20,000, 88.8% were cost-burdened, and among those with annual incomes between $20,000 and $34,999, 75.6% were cost-burdened. Only 6.1% of renter households with annual incomes of $75,000 or more were cost-burdened.

The ACS collects U.S. demographic, housing, economic, and commuting data on an annual basis. Approximately 3.5 million households are selected annually to complete the survey. Annual survey results are available at the state, county, and local levels for jurisdictions with at least 65,000 residents. These results are published in pre-tabulated summary tables available on American FactFinder’s website.

The Census Bureau will release later in the year the ACS Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), which provides researchers with untabulated records from the latest ACS about individuals and housing units. NLIHC utilizes ACS PUMS data to conduct its annual The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Housing report, an in-depth examination of the affordability of the rental housing stock and cost burdens in all 50 states and the 50 largest metropolitan areas.

The 2016 ACS is available on American FactFinder’s website at: http://bit.ly/2gghFV3