American Community Survey (1 Viewer)

[huthut]

I received this thing in the mail, and apparently it is a random MANDATORY survey thing from the census. How often do people get this? I did not even know it existed. I figured I could crank through it pretty fast, and then it kept getting into random stuff that I had to look up like what my last month electricity bill was, how much I pay for flood insurance, and whether my house has cold and hot water, a sink with a faucet etc. What is the rarity of receiving these? Should I be expecting one every few years, or did I win the lottery and it is like 1:1000 or something? It took like 45 minutes to fill out, and went into way too much detail about things that seemed rather mundane. 

 

[Cjw_55106]

The Google tells me this:

Because it is a mandatory survey, it is governed by federal laws that could impose a fine of as much as $5,000 for refusing to participate. To date, no person has been prosecuted for refusing to answer the ACS.

Participants: 3.5 million households/year

 

[AAABatteries]

I check my mail very infrequently and then toss most of what I get when I go through it.  There’s a chance I got one and trashed it.  

 

[The Z Machine]

It's like a mini, but more detailed Census.  Provides lots of high quality data to the public.  Lots of private companies also utilize the data set for strategic planning.

Thanks for doing your part.

 

[huthut]

Going by the number of households in the US, apparently it is a 1 in 35.5 chance to receive. Lucky me. Not to give too much away, but if you are looking at this, I am the house that both has a fridge, and running hot and cold water. 

 

[Kanil]

Going by the number of households in the US, apparently it is a 1 in 35.5 chance to receive. Lucky me. Not to give too much away, but if you are looking at this, I am the house that both has a fridge, and running hot and cold water. 

With or without a faucet?

 

[Gally]

Did it say anything about your brother in law cheating?  What ever happened with that?  hahahaa

 

[dgreen]

Going by the number of households in the US, apparently it is a 1 in 35.5 chance to receive. Lucky me. 

Yes, it's approximately a 3% sample. I'm pretty sure once you're selected, you're ineligible to be in the sample for a few more years. The ACS started in 2005 so I'm sure others here have been in it by now.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

i got one this year, first time I ever remember.  and yes, had the same reaction when i went to try to just fire it off quickly.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I check my mail very infrequently and then toss most of what I get when I go through it.  There’s a chance I got one and trashed it.  

Sounds like jury duty.  As long as you did not sign for it, must have got lost in the mail.

 

[El Floppo]

Going by the number of households in the US, apparently it is a 1 in 35.5 chance to receive. Lucky me. Not to give too much away, but if you are looking at this, I am the house that both has a fridge, and running hot and cold water. 

LOOK AT YOU

 

[worrierking]

I had to do it a few years ago.  I was very surprised at the length and detail.  Now I am the chairman of our local Census Complete Count Committee and we are getting blowback from people who are confusing the ten question census with the 100+ question community survey.  

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Going by the number of households in the US, apparently it is a 1 in 35.5 chance to receive. Lucky me. Not to give too much away, but if you are looking at this, I am the house that both has a fridge, and running hot and cold water. 

This is fairly close to going to Vegas and putting all your money on a roulette wheel number between 1 and 36.  And then winning.