Data Dictionary - ACS 2010 (1-Year Estimates) - American Community Survey 2010

Data Dictionary:

ACS 2010 (1-Year Estimates)

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Survey: ACS 2010 (1-Year Estimates)

Data Source:

U.S. Census Bureau

Data set: American Community Survey 2010 (ACS10)

Table:

B99171. Imputation of Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months for Unrelated Individuals [15]

Universe: Universe: Unrelated individuals 15 years and Over for whom poverty status Is determined

Table Details

B99171.

Imputation of Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months for Unrelated Individuals

Universe: Universe: Unrelated individuals 15 years and Over for whom poverty status Is determined

Variable	Label
B99171001	Total
B99171002	No Income Imputed
B99171003	Dollar Value of Zero Imputed
B99171004	More than 0 to Less than 10 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed
B99171005	10 to Less than 25 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed
B99171006	25 to Less than 50 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed
B99171007	50 to Less than 100 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed
B99171008	100 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed
B99171009	No Income Imputed
B99171010	Dollar Value of Zero Imputed
B99171011	More than 0 to Less than 10 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed
B99171012	10 to Less than 25 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed
B99171013	25 to Less than 50 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed
B99171014	50 to Less than 100 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed
B99171015	100 Percent of Total Income for Individual Imputed

Relevant Documentation:

Excerpt from:	Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2010 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
	ACS 2010-1yr Summary File: Technical Documentation -> Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation -> 2010 Subject Definitions -> Quality Measures -> Imputation Rates

Imputation Rates

Missing data for a particular question or item is called item nonresponse. It occurs when a respondent fails to provide an answer to a required item. The ACS also considers invalid answers as item nonresponse. The Census Bureau uses imputation methods that either use rules to determine acceptable answers or use answers from similar housing units or people who provided the item information. One type of imputation, allocation, involves using statistical procedures, such as within-household or nearest neighbor matrices populated by donors, to impute for missing values.

Overall Person Characteristic Imputation Rate

This rate is calculated by adding together the weighted number of allocated items across a set of person characteristics, and dividing by the total weighted number of responses across the same set of characteristics.

Overall Housing Characteristic Imputation Rate

This rate is calculated by adding together the weighted number of allocated items across a set of household and housing unit characteristics, and dividing by the total weighted number of responses across the same set of characteristics.
These rates give an overall picture of the rate of item nonresponse for a geographic area.

Appendix A. Field of Degree Classification

Five-Group Classification	Fifteen-Group Classification	Examples
Science and Engineering	Computers, Mathematics and Statistics	Computer Science, Mathematics, General Statistics
	Biological, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences	Cellular and Molecular Biology, Soil Sciences, Natural Resource Management
	Physical and Related Sciences	Physics, Organic chemistry, Astronomy
	Psychology	Psychology, Counseling, Child psychology
	Social Sciences	Criminology, Sociology, Political Science
	Engineering	Chemical Engineering, Thermal engineering, Electrical engineering
	Multidisciplinary Studies	Nutritional science, Cognitive science, Behavioral science
Science and Engineering Related	Science and Engineering Related	Pre-Med, Physical therapy, Mechanical engineering technology
Business	Business	Business administration, Accounting, Human resources development
Education	Education	Early childhood education, Higher education administration, Special education
Arts, Humanities, and Other	Literature and Languages	English, Foreign language and literature, Spanish
	Liberal Arts and History	Philosophy, Theology, American history
	Visual and Performing Arts	Interior design, Dance, Voice
	Communications	Mass communications, Journalism, Public relations
	Other	Public Administration, Pre-law, Kinesiology

Four Main Group Classifications and Thirty-Nine Subgroup Classifications of Languages Spoken at Home with Illustrative Examples

Four Main Group Classifications	Thirty-Nine Subgroup Classifications
Spanish	Spanish or Spanish Creole Examples: Ladino, Pachuco
Other Indo-European languages	French
	Examples: Cajun, Patois
	French Creole
	Examples: Haitian Creole
	Italian
	Portuguese or Portuguese Creole Examples: Papia Mentae
	German
	Example: Luxembourgian
	Yiddish
	Other West Germanic languages
	Examples: Dutch, Pennsylvania Dutch, Afrikaans
	Scandinavian languages
	Examples: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish
	Greek
	Russian
	Polish
	Serbo-Croatian
	Examples: Croatian, Serbian
	Other Slavic languages
	Examples: Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian
	Armenian
	Persian
	Gujarati
	Hindi
	Urdu
	Other Indic languages
	Examples: Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, Romany
	Other Indo-European languages
	Examples: Albanian, Gaelic, Lithuanian, Romanian
Asian and Pacific Island languages	Chinese
	Examples: Cantonese, Formosan, Mandarin
	Japanese
	Korean
	Mon-Khmer, Cambodian
	Hmong
	Thai
	Laotian
	Vietnamese
	Other Asian languages
	Examples: Dravidian languages (Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil), Turkish
	Tagalog
	Other Pacific Island languages
	Examples: Chamorro, Hawaiian, Ilocano, Indonesian, Samoan
All other languages	Navajo
	Other Native North American languages
	Examples: Apache, Cherokee, Dakota, Pima, Yupik
	Hungarian
	Arabic
	Hebrew
	African languages
	Examples: Amharic, Ibo, Yoruba, Bantu, Swahili, Somali
	Other and unspecified languages
	Examples: Syriac, Finnish, Other languages of the Americas, not reported

Poverty Factors and Thresholds

The 2010 Poverty Factors:

Interview Month	Poverty Factors
January	2.22296
February	2.22775
March	2.23167
April	2.23592
May	2.24004
June	2.24377
July	2.24574
August	2.24803
September	2.25017
October	2.25231
November	2.25449
December	2.25663

Poverty Thresholds in 1982, by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 Years Old (Dollars)

Size of family unit	Related children under 18 years
	None	One	Two	Three	Four	Five	Six	Seven	Eight or more
One person (unrelated individual)
Under 65 years	5,019
65 years and over	4,626
Two persons
Householder under 65 years	6,459	6,649
Householder 65 years and over	5,831	6,624
Three persons	7,546	7,765	7,772
Four persons	9,950	10,112	9,783	9,817
Five persons	11,999	12,173	11,801	11,512	11,336
Six persons	13,801	13,855	13,570	13,296	12,890	12,649
Seven persons	15,879	15,979	15,637	15,399	14,955	14,437	13,869
Eight persons or more	17,760	17,917	17,594	17,312	16,911	16,403	15,872	15,738
Nine persons or more	21,364	21,468	21,183	20,943	20,549	20,008	19,517	19,397	18,649

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Race Combination and Median Standard Distribution

Two or More Races (57 Possible Specified Combinations)

White; Black or African American
White; American Indian and Alaska Native
White; Asian
White; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
White; Some other race
Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native
Black or African American; Asian
Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Black or African American; Some other race
American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian
American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race
Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Asian; Some other race
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native
White; Black or African American; Asian
White; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
White; Black or African American; Some other race
White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian
White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race
White; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
White; Asian; Some other race
White; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian
Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race
Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Black or African American; Asian; Some other race
Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race
American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian
White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race
White; Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
White; Black or African American; Asian; Some other race
White; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race
White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
White; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race
Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race
White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
White; Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race

Median Standard Distributions

In order to provide consistency in the values within and among data products, standard distributions from which medians and quartiles are calculated are used for the American Community Survey. Standard Distribution for Median Age:

[116 data cells]
Under 1 year
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
.
.
.
112 years
113 years
114 years
115 years and over
Standard Distribution for Median Age at First Marriage:
[9 cells]
5 to 9 years
10 to 14 years
15 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 to 49 years
Standard Distribution for Median Agricultural Crop Sales:
[5 data cells]
Less than $1,000
$1,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Bedrooms:
[9 data cells]
No bedroom
1 bedroom
2 bedrooms
3 bedrooms
4 bedrooms
5 bedrooms
6 bedrooms
7 bedrooms
8 or more bedrooms
Standard Distribution for Median Condominium Fees:
[15 data cells]
Less than $50
$50 to $99
$100 to $199
$200 to $299
$300 to $399
$400 to $499
$500 to $599
$600 to $699
$700 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,749
$1,750 or more
Standard Distribution for Median Contract Rent/Quartile Contract Rent/Rent Asked/Gross Rent:
[23 data cells]
Less than $100
$100 to $149
$150 to $199
$200 to $249
$250 to $299
$300 to $349
$350 to $399
$400 to $449
$450 to $499
$500 to $549
$550 to $599
$600 to $649
$650 to $699
$700 to $749
$750 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 or more
Standard Distribution for Duration of Current Marriage:
[101 data cells]
Under 1 year
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
.
.
.
97 years
98 years
99 years
100 years and over
Standard Distribution for Median Earnings and Median Income (Individuals):
[101 data cells]
Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $7,499
$7,500 to $9,999
$10,000 to $12,499
$12,500 to $14,999
$15,000 to $17,499
$17,500 to $19,999
$20,000 to $22,499
$22,500 to $24,999
$500 to $549
$550 to $599
$600 to $649
$650 to $699
$700 to $749
$750 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 or more
Standard Distribution for Duration of Current Marriage:
[101 data cells]
Under 1 year
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
.
.
.
97 years
98 years
99 years
100 years and over
Standard Distribution for Median Earnings and Median Income (Individuals):
[101 data cells]
Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $7,499
$7,500 to $9,999
$10,000 to $12,499
$12,500 to $14,999
$15,000 to $17,499
$17,500 to $19,999
$20,000 to $22,499
$22,500 to $24,999
$140,000 to $142,499
$142,500 to $144,999
$145,000 to $147,499
$147,500 to $149,999
$150,000 to $152,499
$152,500 to $154,999
$155,000 to $157,499
$157,500 to $159,999
$160,000 to $162,499
$162,500 to $164,999
$165,000 to $167,499
$167,500 to $169,999
$170,000 to $172,499
$172,500 to $174,999
$175,000 to $177,499
$177,500 to $179,999
$180,000 to $182,499
$182,500 to $184,999
$185,000 to $187,499
$187,500 to $189,999
$190,000 to $192,499
$192,500 to $194,999
$195,000 to $197,499
$197,500 to $199,999
$200,000 to $202,499
$202,500 to $204,999
$205,000 to $207,499
$207,500 to $209,999
$210,000 to $212,499
$212,500 to $214,999
$215,000 to $217,499
$217,500 to $219,999
$220,000 to $222,499
$222,500 to $224,999
$225,000 to $227,499
$227,500 to $229,999
$230,000 to $232,499
$232,500 to $234,999
$235,000 to $237,499
$237,500 to $239,999
$240,000 to $242,499
$242,500 to $244,999
$245,000 to $247,499
$247,500 to $249,999
$250,000 or more
$140,000 to $142,499
$142,500 to $144,999
$145,000 to $147,499
$147,500 to $149,999
$150,000 to $152,499
$152,500 to $154,999
$155,000 to $157,499
$157,500 to $159,999
$160,000 to $162,499
$162,500 to $164,999
$165,000 to $167,499
$167,500 to $169,999
$170,000 to $172,499
$172,500 to $174,999
$175,000 to $177,499
$177,500 to $179,999
$180,000 to $182,499
$182,500 to $184,999
$185,000 to $187,499
$187,500 to $189,999
$190,000 to $192,499
$192,500 to $194,999
$195,000 to $197,499
$197,500 to $199,999
$200,000 to $202,499
$202,500 to $204,999
$205,000 to $207,499
$207,500 to $209,999
$210,000 to $212,499
$212,500 to $214,999
$215,000 to $217,499
$217,500 to $219,999
$220,000 to $222,499
$222,500 to $224,999
$225,000 to $227,499
$227,500 to $229,999
$230,000 to $232,499
$232,500 to $234,999
$235,000 to $237,499
$237,500 to $239,999
$240,000 to $242,499
$242,500 to $244,999
$245,000 to $247,499
$247,500 to $249,999
$250,000 or more
$5,000 to $7,499
$7,500 to $9,999
$10,000 to $12,499
$12,500 to $14,999
$15,000 to $17,499
$17,500 to $19,999
$20,000 to $22,499
$22,500 to $24,999
$25,000 to $27,499
$27,500 to $29,999
$30,000 to $32,499
$32,500 to $34,999
$35,000 to $37,499
$37,500 to $39,999
$40,000 to $42,499
$42,500 to $44,999
$45,000 to $47,499
$47,500 to $49,999
$50,000 to $52,499
$52,500 to $54,999
$55,000 to $57,499
$57,500 to $59,999
$60,000 to $62,499
$62,500 to $64,999
$65,000 to $67,499
$67,500 to $69,999
$70,000 to $72,499
$72,500 to $74,999
$75,000 to $77,499
$77,500 to $79,999
$80,000 to $82,499
$82,500 to $84,999
$85,000 to $87,499
$87,500 to $89,999
$90,000 to $92,499
$92,500 to $94,999
$95,000 to $97,499
$97,500 to $99,999
$100,000 to $102,499
$102,500 to $104,999
$105,000 to $107,499
$107,500 to $109,999
$110,000 to $112,499
$112,500 to $114,999
$115,000 to $117,499
$117,500 to $119,999
$120,000 to $122,499
$122,500 to $124,999
$125,000 to $127,499
$127,500 to $129,999
$130,000 to $132,499
$132,500 to $134,999
$135,000 to $137,499
$137,500 to $139,999
$140,000 to $142,499
$142,500 to $144,999
$145,000 to $147,499
$147,500 to $149,999
$150,000 to $152,499
$152,500 to $154,999
$155,000 to $157,499
$157,500 to $159,999
$160,000 to $162,499
$162,500 to $164,999
$165,000 to $167,499
$167,500 to $169,999
$170,000 to $172,499
$172,500 to $174,999
$175,000 to $177,499
$177,500 to $179,999
$180,000 to $182,499
$182,500 to $184,999
$185,000 to $187,499
$187,500 to $189,999
$190,000 to $192,499
$192,500 to $194,999
$195,000 to $197,499
$197,500 to $199,999
$200,000 to $202,499
$202,500 to $204,999
$205,000 to $207,499
$207,500 to $209,999
$210,000 to $212,499
$212,500 to $214,999
$215,000 to $217,499
$217,500 to $219,999
$220,000 to $222,499
$222,500 to $224,999
$225,000 to $227,499
$227,500 to $229,999
$230,000 to $232,499
$232,500 to $234,999
$235,000 to $237,499
$237,500 to $239,999
$240,000 to $242,499
$242,500 to $244,999
$245,000 to $247,499
$247,500 to $249,999
$250,000 or more
Standard Distribution for Median Monthly Housing Costs:
[30 cells]
Less than $100
$100 to $149
$150 to $199
$200 to $249
$250 to $299
$300 to $349
$350 to $399
$400 to $449
$450 to $499
$500 to $549
$550 to $599
$600 to $649
$650 to $699
$700 to $749
$750 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,749
$1,750 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,499
$3,500 to $3,999
$4,000 to $4,499
$4,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $5,499
$5,500 to $5,999
$6,000 or more
Standard Distribution for Median Real Estate Taxes Paid:
[14 data cells]
Less than $200
$200 to $299
$300 to $399
$400 to $599
$600 to $799
$800 to $999
$1,000 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,999
$4,000 to $4,999
$5,000 to $7,499
$7,500 to $9,999
$10,000 or more
Standard Distribution for Median Rooms:
[14 data cells]
1 room
2 rooms
3 rooms
4 rooms
5 rooms
6 rooms
7 rooms
8 rooms
9 rooms
10 rooms
11 rooms
12 rooms
13 rooms
14 or more rooms
Standard Distribution for Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs/Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs by Mortgage Status (With a Mortgage):
[23 data cells]
Less than $100
$100 to $199
$200 to $299
$300 to $399
$400 to $499
$500 to $599
$600 to $699
$700 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,749
$1,750 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,499
$3,500 to $3,999
$4,000 to $4,499
$4,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $5,499
$5,500 to $5,999
$6,000 or more
Standard Distribution for Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs by Mortgage Status (Without a Mortgage):
[17 data cells]
Less than $100
$100 to $149
$150 to $199
$200 to $249
$250 to $299
$300 to $349
$350 to $399
$400 to $499
$500 to $599
$600 to $699
$700 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,999
$2,000 or more
Standard Distribution for Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income by Mortgage Status:
[13 data cells]
Less than 10.0 percent
10.0 to 14.9 percent
15.0 to 19.9 percent
20.0 to 24.9 percent
25.0 to 29.9 percent
30.0 to 34.9 percent
35.0 to 39.9 percent
40.0 to 49.9 percent
50.0 to 59.9 percent
60.0 to 69.9 percent
70.0 to 79.9 percent
80.0 to 89.9 percent
90.0 percent or more
Standard Distribution for Median Total Mortgage Payment:
[21 data cells]
Less than $100
$100 to $199
$200 to $299
$300 to $399
$400 to $499
$500 to $599
$600 to $699
$700 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,749
$1,750 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,499
$3,500 to $3,999
$4,000 to $4,499
$4,500 to $4,999
$5,000 or more
Standard Distribution for Median Usual Hours Worked Per Week Worked in the Past 12 Months:
[9 data cells]
Usually worked 50 to 99 hours per week
Usually worked 45 to 49 hours per week
Usually worked 41 to 44 hours per week
Usually worked 40 hours per week
Usually worked 35 to 39 hours per week
Usually worked 30 to 34 hours per week
Usually worked 25 to 29 hours per week
Usually worked 15 to 24 hours per week
Usually worked 1 to 14 hours per week
Standard Distribution for Median Value/Quartile Value/Price Asked:
[24 data cells]
Less than $10,000
$10,000 to $14,999
$15,000 to $19,999
$20,000 to $24,999
$25,000 to $29,999
$30,000 to $34,999
$35,000 to $39,999
$40,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $59,999
$60,000 to $69,999
$70,000 to $79,999
$80,000 to $89,999
$90,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $124,999
$125,000 to $149,999
$150,000 to $174,999
$175,000 to $199,999
$200,000 to $249,999
$250,000 to $299,999
$300,000 to $399,999
$400,000 to $499,999
$500,000 to $749,999
$750,000 to $999,999
$1,000,000 or more
Standard Distribution for Median Vehicles Available:
[6 data cells]
No vehicle available
1 vehicle available
2 vehicles available
3 vehicles available
4 vehicles available
5 or more vehicles available
Standard Distribution for Median Year Householder Moved Into Unit:
[13 data cells]
Moved in 2010
Moved in 2009
Moved in 2008
Moved in 2007
Moved in 2006
Moved in 2005
Moved in 2004
Moved in 2003
Moved in 2002
Moved in 2001
Moved in 2000
Moved in 1990 to 1999
Moved in 1980 to 1989
Moved in 1970 to 1979
Moved in 1969 or earlier
Standard Distribution for Median Year Structure Built:
[16 data cells]
Built in 2010
Built in 2009
Built in 2008
Built in 2007
Built in 2006
Built in 2005
Built in 2004
Built in 2003
Built in 2002
Built in 2001
Built in 2000
Built 1990 to 1999
Built 1980 to 1989
Built 1970 to 1979
Built 1960 to 1969
Built 1950 to 1959
Built 1940 to 1949
Built 1939 or earlier

Excerpt from:	Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2010 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
	ACS 2010-1yr Summary File: Technical Documentation -> Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation -> 2010 Subject Definitions -> Population Variables -> Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months

Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months

Poverty statistics in ACS products adhere to the standards specified by the Office of Management and Budget in Statistical Policy Directive 14. The Census Bureau uses a set of dollar value thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. Further, poverty thresholds for people living alone or with nonrelatives (unrelated individuals) vary by age (under 65 years or 65 years and older). The poverty thresholds for two-person families also vary by the age of the householder. If a family's total income is less than the dollar value of the appropriate threshold, then that family and every individual in it are considered to be in poverty. Similarly, if an unrelated individual's total income is less than the appropriate threshold, then that individual is considered to be in poverty.

How the Census Bureau Determines Poverty Status

In determining the poverty status of families and unrelated individuals, the Census Bureau uses thresholds (income cutoffs) arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The matrix consists of family size (from one person to nine or more people) cross-classified by presence and number of family members under 18 years old (from no children present to eight or more children present). Unrelated individuals and two-person families are further differentiated by age of reference person (RP) (under 65 years old and 65 years old and over).

To determine a person's poverty status, one compares the person's total family income in the last 12 months with the poverty threshold appropriate for that person's family size and composition (see example below). If the total income of that person's family is less than the threshold appropriate for that family, then the person is considered "below the poverty level," together with every member of his or her family. If a person is not living with anyone related by birth, marriage, or adoption, then the person's own income is compared with his or her poverty threshold. The total number of people below the poverty level is the sum of people in families and the number of unrelated individuals with incomes in the last 12 months below the poverty threshold.

Since ACS is a continuous survey, people respond throughout the year. Because the income questions specify a period covering the last 12 months, the appropriate poverty thresholds are determined by multiplying the base-year poverty thresholds (1982) by the average of the monthly inflation factors for the 12 months preceding the data collection. See the table in Appendix A titled "Poverty Thresholds in 1982, by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 Years (Dollars)," for appropriate base thresholds. See the table "The 2010 Poverty Factors" in Appendix A for the appropriate adjustment based on interview month.

For example, consider a family of three with one child under 18 years of age, interviewed in July 2010 and reporting a total family income of $14,000 for the last 12 months (July 2009 to June 2010). The base year (1982) threshold for such a family is $7,765, while the average of the 12 inflation factors is 2.24574 Multiplying $7,765 by 2.24574 determines the appropriate poverty threshold for this family type, which is $17,438 Comparing the family's income of $14,000 with the poverty threshold shows that the family and all people in the family are considered to have been in poverty. The only difference for determining poverty status for unrelated individuals is that the person's individual total income is compared with the threshold rather than the family's income.

Individuals for Whom Poverty Status is Determined

Poverty status was determined for all people except institutionalized people, people in military group quarters, people in college dormitories, and unrelated individuals under 15 years old. These groups were excluded from the numerator and denominator when calculating poverty rates.

Specified Poverty Levels

Specified poverty levels are adjusted thresholds that are obtained by multiplying the official thresholds by specific factor. Using the threshold cited from the previous example (a family of three with one related child under 18 years responding in July 2010), the dollar value at 125 percent of the poverty threshold was $ 21,798 ($ 17,438x 1.25).

Income Deficit

Income deficit represents the difference between the total income in the last 12 months of families and unrelated individuals below the poverty level and their respective poverty thresholds. In computing the income deficit, families reporting a net income loss are assigned zero dollars and for such cases the deficit is equal to the poverty threshold.

This measure provides an estimate of the amount, which would be required to raise the incomes of all poor families and unrelated individuals to their respective poverty thresholds. The income deficit is thus a measure of the degree of the impoverishment of a family or unrelated individual. However, please use caution when comparing the average deficits of families with different characteristics. Apparent differences in average income deficits may, to some extent, be a function of differences in family size.

Aggregate Income Deficit

Aggregate income deficit refers only to those families or unrelated individuals who are classified as below the poverty level. It is defined as the group (e.g., type of family) sum total of differences between the appropriate threshold and total family income or total personal income. Aggregate income deficit is subject to rounding, which means that all cells in a matrix are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")

Mean Income Deficit

Mean income deficit represents the amount obtained by dividing the aggregate income deficit for a group below the poverty level by the number of families (or unrelated individuals) in that group. (The aggregate used to calculate mean income deficit is rounded. For more information, see "Aggregate Income Deficit.") As mentioned above, please use caution when comparing mean income deficits of families with different characteristics, as apparent differences may, to some extent, be a function of differences in family size. Mean income deficit is rounded to the nearest whole dollar. (For more information on means, see "Derived Measures.")

Excerpt from:	Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2010 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
	ACS 2010-1yr Summary File: Technical Documentation -> Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation -> 2010 Subject Definitions -> Population Variables -> Household Type and Relationship -> Relationship to Householder -> Unrelated Individual

Unrelated Individual

An unrelated individual is: (1) a householder living alone or with nonrelatives only, (2) a household member who is not related to the householder, or (3) a person living in group quarters who is not an inmate of an institution.

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