Housing Questions

Housing

American Community Survey

Housing: Question on Units in Structure

�

Please answer the following
questions about the house,
apartment, or mobile home at the
address
onappears
the mailing
label.
Question
as it
in the
questionnaire.

1

Which best describes this building?
Include all apartments, flats, etc., even if
vacant.
A mobile home
A one-family house detached from any
other house
A one-family house attached to one or
more houses
A building with 2 apartments
A building with 3 or 4 apartments
A building with 5 to 9 apartments
A building with 10 to 19 apartments
A building with 20 to 49 apartments
A building with 50 or more apartments
Boat, RV, van, etc.

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

2

A

Answer questions 4 – 6 if this is a HOUS
OR A MOBILE HOME; otherwise, SKIP t
question 7a.

4 How many acres is this house or
mobile home on?

Less than 1 acre � SKIP to questio
1 to 9.9 acres
10 or more acres

5 IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what

were the actual sales of all agricultu
products from this property?
None
$1 to $999
$1,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 or more

About when was this building first built?
2000 or later – Specify year

MEETING FEDERAL NEEDS

6 Is there a business (such as a store o
barber shop) or a medical office on
this property?

The number of units in the structure subdivides the housing inventory into one-family
Yes
homes, apartments, and mobile homes. These data are integral components used
by the
1990Development
to 1999
No areas of
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
to set Fair Market Rents for all
the country. When combined with other
American
Community Survey items such as tenure
1980 to
1989
(whether a home is owned or rented),
income,
and
year structure built, units in structure serves
1970 to 1979
a. How many separate rooms are in
7 Department
as the basic identifier of housing used in many federal programs. The U.S.
of
house, apartment, or mobile hom
1960 to 1969
Health and Human Services is required to profile housing unit types for the Low-Income
Home
Rooms must
be separated by built-in
to 1959
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)1950
eligible
households.
archways or walls that extend out at

3

1940 to 1949

6 inches and go from floor to ceiling.

1939 or earlier

• INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
• EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, bal
foyers, halls, or unfinished baseme

When did PERSON 1 (listed on page 2)
move into this house, apartment, or
mobile home?
Month

Year

Number of rooms

b. How many of these rooms are bed
Count as bedrooms those rooms you
list if this house, apartment, or mobile
were for sale or rent. If this is an
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0"
Number of bedrooms

§.4{W¤
ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 5, Base (Black)

ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page

American Community Survey
Housing: Question on Units in Structure

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Housing

Emergency Preparedness

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development uses these data to assess
the multifamily housing market in local
areas before issuing any funds for assisted
housing.

Federal, state, and local officials use these
data to identify concentrations of mobile
homes in tornado- and hurricane-prone
areas in creating emergency-preparedness
plans.

State and local planners use data about the
number of housing units by structure type
to forecast the need for services such as
roads and hospitals.

Banking

Health
The Indian Health Service and local health
agencies use these data to assess the
potential for the spread of communicable
disease.

Data about the type of structure is used to
assess fairness in home lending practices.
Energy
Data about utility costs by type of
structure are used to analyze current
energy supply and consumption and
predict how consumption will change in
the future.

www.census.gov

A one-family house attached to one or
more houses
A building with 2 apartments
A building with 3 or 4 apartments
A building with 5 to 9 apartments

American Community
Survey
A building with 10 to 19 apartments
A building
with 20 to Built
49 apartments
Housing: Question on Year
Structure
A building with 50 or more apartments
Boat, RV, van, etc.

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.
2

5 IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what

were the actual sales of all agricultural
products from this property?
None
$1 to $999
$1,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 or more

About when was this building first built?
2000 or later – Specify year

6 Is there a business (such as a store or
barber shop) or a medical office on
this property?
Yes

1990 to 1999

No

1980 to 1989
1970 to 1979

7 a. How many separate rooms are in this

house, apartment, or mobile home?
Rooms must be separated by built-in
archways or walls that extend out at least
6 inches and go from floor to ceiling.

1960 to 1969
1950 to 1959
1940 to 1949
1939 or earlier

• INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
• EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, balconies,
foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

3

When did PERSON 1 (listed on page 2)
move into this house, apartment, or
mobile home?

MEETING FEDERAL NEEDS

Number of rooms

The year the structure was built Month
determines
Year the age of housing units. These data are
b. How many ofin
these rooms are bedrooms?
integral components used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Count
as
bedrooms
the development of Fair Market Rents for all areas of the country. These data are valuable those rooms you would
list if this house, apartment, or mobile home
to several federal agencies in developing formulas for allocating funds and determining
were for sale or rent. If this is an
efficiency/studio
apartment, print "0".
substandard housing. Funding formulas used by the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban
Development mandate the use of these data. These data are also used to design
U.S.
Numberthe
of bedrooms
Department of Energy’s legislatively mandated Residential Energy Consumption Survey.

§.4{W¤
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
Energy

Banking

ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 5, Base (Black)

The age of housing is used to forecast
future energy consumption.
Housing

These data are used in housing assistance
programs as a component of measures of
substandard housing. These data are used
to allocate funds to local governments
under the Community Development
Block Grant Program and Public Housing
Modernization formulas.

ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 5, Gr

The Federal Reserve Board uses these
data to implement the Home Mortgage
Disclosure Act that requires lending
institutions to disclose details of lending
practices as a safeguard against unfair
housing practices in certain communities.
Social Services
Local areas use these data about the year
structure was built for forecasting the
needs for services such as fire protection.
These data are used to profile the ages
of the structures lived in by eligible
households under the Low-Income Home
Energy Assistance Program.

www.census.gov

Yes
1990 to 1999

No

1980 to 1989

American Community
1970 toSurvey
1979
1960Moved
to 1969 into Unit
Housing: Question on Year

7 a. How many separate rooms are in

house, apartment, or mobile hom
Rooms must be separated by built-i
archways or walls that extend out a
6 inches and go from floor to ceiling

1950 to 1959
1940 to 1949
1939 or earlier

• INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
• EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, ba
foyers, halls, or unfinished baseme

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.
3

Number of rooms

When did PERSON 1 (listed on page 2)
move into this house, apartment, or
mobile home?
Month

Year

b. How many of these rooms are be
Count as bedrooms those rooms you
list if this house, apartment, or mobi
were for sale or rent. If this is an
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

Number of bedrooms

MEETING FEDERAL NEEDS

§.4{W¤

Data about the year the householder moved into the unit provides information on the specific
period of time when mobility occurs, especially for recent movers (those who moved into their
current home in the 12 months prior to interview). This item measures neighborhood stability
and helps identify transient communities.
These data
are5,
integral
components used by the
U.S.
ACS-1(2009)KFI,
Page
Base (Black)
ACS-1(2009)KFI,
Pag
Department of Housing and Urban Development in the development of Fair Market Rents for
all areas of the country. Government agencies also use these data to calculate turnover among
specified population groups such as elderly and minority households.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Social Services

Housing

State and local areas use data about
mobility to project the need for schools
and services such as police and fire
protection.

State and local planners study and analyze
demographic and economic characteristics
of households that have recently moved to
assess the adequacy of the housing stock
to meet shelter needs.

Local agencies use these data to evaluate
changes in service requirements in a given
area because of migration of older people
to or from the area.

Emergency Preparedness
Federal and local emergency management
agencies use these data to assess the
amount of displacement caused by
hurricanes and other natural disasters.

www.census.gov

Housing
American Community Survey
Housing: Questions on Farm Residence

Please answer the following
questions about the house,
apartment, or mobile home at the
address on the mailing label.

A

Answer questions 4 – 6 if this is a HOUSE
OR A MOBILE HOME; otherwise, SKIP to
question 7a.

Questions as they appear in the questionnaire.

Which best describes this building?
nclude all apartments, flats, etc., even if
vacant.

4 How many acres is this house or
mobile home on?

A mobile home
A one-family house detached from any
other house
A one-family house attached to one or
more houses
A building with 2 apartments

e. a stove or range?
f. a refrigerator?

$2,500 to $4,999

Boat, RV, van, etc.

$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 or more

About when was this building first built?

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

2000 or later – Specify year

g. telephone service from
which you can both make
and receive calls? Include
cell phones.

9 How many automobiles, vans, and tr

$1,000 to $2,499

A building with 50 or more apartments

c. a bathtub or shower?

10 or more acres

$1 to $999

A building with 20 to 49 apartments

b. a flush toilet?

1 to 9.9 acres

None

A building with 10 to 19 apartments

Yes

a. hot and cold running water?

d. a sink with a faucet?

were the actual sales of all agricultural
products from this property?

A building with 5 to 9 apartments

home have –

Less than 1 acre � SKIP to question 6

5 IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what

A building with 3 or 4 apartments

8 Does this house, apartment, or mobi

6 Is there a business (such as a store or
barber shop) or a medical office on
this property?

MEETING
FEDERAL NEEDS
Yes

of one-ton capacity or less are kept a
home for use by members of this
household?
None
1
2
3
4
5
6 or more

1990 to 1999 America’s farm population is identified
No based on the number of acres and volume of sales of

statesFUEL
basedison
1980 to 1989 agricultural products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture allocates funds
used MOST for heatin
10toWhich
the
farm
population
and
uses
this
information
from
the
American
Community
Survey
to identify
house,
apartment,
or mobile home?
1970 to 1979
7 a. How many separate rooms are in this
farms for the Census of Agriculture.
house, apartment, or mobile home?
1960 to 1969
Gas: from underground pipes servi
Rooms must be separated by built-in
neighborhood
1950 to 1959
archways or walls that extend out at least
Gas: bottled, tank, or LP
1940 to 1949
6 inches and go from floor to ceiling.
1939 or earlier

• INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
• EXCLUDE bathrooms,
porches, balconies,
foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.

When did PERSON 1 (listed on page 2)
move into this house, apartment, or
mobile home?

Month

Year

Number of rooms

Rural Development

Electricity
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
Coal or coke
Wood
Solar energy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture uses
The Economic Research ServiceOther
uses fuel
these
these data to allocate federal funds to
data to produce economic and No
social
fuel used
b. How many of these rooms are bedrooms?
states based, in part, on the farm
service
information
Countresidence
as bedrooms those
rooms
you wouldto help Congress and
population, as determined bylist
the
American
the administration
develop and evaluate
if this
house, apartment,
or mobile home
Community Survey.
were for sale or rent.rural
If thispolicies.
is an
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0".

Number of bedrooms

www.census.gov

§.4{W¤
ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 5, Base (Black)

ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 5, Green Pantone 354 (10, 20, 40 and 50%

ntinued)
s building?

ng

4 How many acres is this house or

etc., even if

was the cost
s house,
tached from any
e home?

mobile home on?

Less than 1 acre � SKIP to question 6

b. a flush toilet?
c. a bathtub or shower?
d. a sink with a faucet?

American
Community Survey
questions
Ce. aAnswer
1 to
9.9 acres receive Food Stamps or
stove or
range? 16 – 20 if you or
this
household
12 IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, did anyone in

someone else in this household OWNS
f. aorrefrigerator?
IS BUYING this house, apartment, or
ollars
8 Does
this home.
house,Otherwise,
apartment,
or to
mobile
ing
ached to one or
mobile
SKIP
E on
Yes
Answer
questions
4
–
6
if
this
is
a
HOUSE
g.
telephone
from
A
home
have
–service
e,
the
next
page.
which
you
can
both
make
A MOBILE HOME; otherwise, SKIP to
Yes
No
me
at the
5 OR
IN THE No
PAST 12 MONTHS, what
and receive calls? Include
ments
question 7a.
bel.
cell
phones.
were the actual sales
of all agricultural
hotquestionnaire.
and cold running water?
Questions
as they appear ina.the
apartments
products from this property?
13 Is this house, apartment, or mobile home
b. a flush toilet?
apartments
or
condominium fee
part
of aacres
condominium?
s building?
None
16
About
how
much do you
think
many
is this house or
4 How
9
How
many
automobiles,
vans,
andthis
trucks
9etc.,
apartments
c.
aone-ton
bathtub
or lot,
shower?
even
if
ctricity
not used
house
and
apartment,
orkept
mobile
mobile
home
on?
of
capacity
or
less
are
at
$1 Yes
to
$999
� What is the monthly
home
(and
lot,members
if owned)of
would
9 apartments
home
for
useaby
this sell for
d.
a
sink
with
faucet?
condominium
fee?
For
renters,
$1,000
to $2,499
Less
than
1 acre � SKIP to question 6
if it were for sale?
wasapartments
the cost
household?
more
answer only if you pay the
, apartment,
$2,500
to
$4,999
1 to 9.9 acres
e. aAmount
stove or– range?
condominium fee in addition to
None Dollars
tached from any
your
rent; otherwise, mark the
$5,000
to $9,999
10
or more
acres
f.
a
refrigerator?
"None" box.
ollars
$1
.00
$10,000 or more
ached to one or
, service, from
g.
telephone
2
Monthly amount – Dollars
which you can both make
lding first built?
5 IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what
3 receive calls? Include
and
ments
$ sales of all agricultural
.00
cell
phones.
were
theaactual
17
What
are the annual real estate taxes on
6
Is
there
business
(such
as
a
store
or
4
year
,
apartments
products
from
this
property?
THIS
property?
barber shop) or a medical office on
or
condominium fee
OR
5
apartments
this property?
Annual amount – Dollars
None
9
How
automobiles, vans, and trucks
icity
payment
6many
or more
9
apartments
None
of one-ton capacity or less are kept at
Yesto $999
$1
$
.00
9 apartments
home for use
No
, by members of this
not used
No
$1,000
to $2,499
household?
more apartments
ORis used MOST for heating this
$2,500 to $4,999
10 Which FUEL
None
NTHS, what was
14 Is this house, apartment, or mobile home – house,
apartment, or mobile home?
$5,000
to $9,999
None
a. How
many
separate
rooms are in this
7 ACS-1(2009)KFI
d sewer for this Source:
Mark
(X) ONE
box.
1
house,
apartment,
r mobile home? If
$10,000
or more or mobile home?
Gas: from underground pipes serving the
2
Rooms
must by
be you
separated
by built-in
Owned
or someone
in this
ss than 12 months,
neighborhood
household
with
mortgage
archways
or walls
thata extend
outor
at least
ding first built?
18 What
the annual
payment
for fire,
3
Gas:isbottled,
tank, or
LP
loan?
home
loans.
6 inches
andInclude
go from
floorequity
to ceiling.
hazard,
and
flood
insurance
on THIS
MEETING
FEDERAL
NEEDS
Dollars
6 Is there a business (such as a store or
4
year
Electricity
property?
Ownedorbya you
or someone
in this
barber
shop)
medical
office
on
• INCLUDE
bedrooms,
kitchens,
etc.
household
and
clear
(without
a
5
The value
of home
and free
property
is an
important
measure
of neighborhood
quality, housing
Fuel
oil,
kerosene,
etc.
this
Annual
amount
– Dollars
• property?
EXCLUDE
bathrooms,
mortgage
or loan)?porches, balconies,
affordability,
and
wealth.
By
asking
about
acreage
and
a
business
or
medical
office, these
6
or
more
foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.
Coal or coke
Rented? for units without excessive land, or
$ commercial .00
data can beYes
tabulated
or medical activities
Number of rooms
Wood
,
edcondominium
on page 2) fee
No Occupied
without
payment
of These data provide socioeconomic information not
or
that may distort
the value
of the
property.
artment, or
Solar
energy
rent? � SKIP
to C and comparative 10
captured by household
income
information
on
the
state
of local
Which FUEL
is used
MOST
for housing
heating this
OR
Other
fuel uses
apartment,
or these
mobiledata
home?
markets. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urbanhouse,
Development
to develop
7 a. How many separate rooms are in this
None The U.S. Department of
housing
assistance
plans
for
elderly
and
low-income
households.
No
fuel
used
NTHS, what was the b. house,
How many
of theseor
rooms
are
bedrooms?
apartment,
mobile
home?
from underground
pipes
serving the
Transportation
uses
the
information
for
the
developmentGas:
of transportation
plans,
policies,
and
osene, wood, etc.,
Answer
questions
15a
androoms
b ifbuilt-in
this
house,
Count
as
bedrooms
those
you
would
B Rooms
must
be separated
by
neighborhood
ment, or mobileprograms.
apartment,
mobile
home
is out
RENTED.
list
if thisBureau
house,
apartment,
or
mobile
home
The
of
Economic
Analysis
uses these data in preparing the value of housing
archways
oror
walls
that
extend
at least
Gas: bottled, tank, or LP
ed here less than 12
Otherwise,
toand
question
were
fornational
saleSKIP
or rent.
Iffloor
this
is 16.
an accounts. Value data
6
inches
and
go
from
to
ceiling.
services for
the
regional
are incorporated in annual reports to
ost.
efficiency/studio
apartment,
print
"0".
Electricity
Congress• on
housing
production,
occupancy,
and
tenure,
and
in analyses of housing needs.
INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
– Dollars
Number of bedrooms
Fuel
oil,
kerosene, etc.
• EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, balconies,
halls, or unfinished basements.
Coal or coke
15 a.foyers,
What is the monthly rent for this
Number
of
rooms
Wood
house,
apartment,
or
mobile
home?
ed on page 2)
artment, or
Solar energy
Monthly amount – Dollars
5
or condominium fee
Other fuel
$
.00
se fuels not used
, these rooms are bedrooms?
No fuel used
b. How many of
Count as bedrooms those rooms you would
e 5, Base (Black)
ACS-1(2009)KFI,
Pageany
5, Green Pantone 354 (10, 20, 40 and 50%)
list
if this the
house,
apartment,
mobile
home
b. Does
monthly
rent or
include
were
for sale or rent. If this is an
meals?
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0".
Yes
a Food
Stamp
benefit card?
Housing:
Questions
on Value
10 or more
acres

W¤

Number of bedrooms

No

{_¤
W¤

6,Base
Base(Black)
(Black)
ee5,

5
ACS-1(2009)KFI,Page
Page5,
6,Green
GreenPantone
Pantone354
354(10,
(10,20,
20,40
40and
and50%)
50%)
ACS-1(2009)KFI,

American Community Survey
Housing: Questions on Value

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Housing

Social Services

Statistics about housing value are used by
local agencies in determining the adequacy
of housing units for older people, the
cost of maintaining owned units, and
the potential usefulness of home equity
conversion programs.

These data are used to allocate funds for
home mortgage insurance for the elderly,
and lower- and moderate-income and
displaced families in programs under the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development.

Banking
Data about home values are used by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development as an independent check
of appraised values for determining the
amount of mortgage to be financed.

Local social service organizations use
these data for locating service areas
and identifying clients wanting specific
services, such as thrift and discount stores,
to be located nearby.
Transportation
These data are used in developing
transportation plans for local areas by
assessing the impact on the value of
homes affected by road, bridge, and
subway construction, and related problems
such as noise and pollution.

www.census.gov

Boat, RV, van, etc.

$2,500 to $4,999

None

$5,000 to $9,999

1

$10,000 or more

2

American Community Survey

About when was this building first built?
2000 or later – Specify year

3

6 Is there a business (such as a store or

4

Housing: Question on
Rooms
barber
shop) or a medical office on

5

this property?

6 or more

Yes
1990 to 1999

QuestionNo
as it appears in the questionnaire.

1980 to 1989
1970 to 1979

house, apartment, or mobile home?

7 a. How many separate rooms are in this

house, apartment, or mobile home?
Rooms must be separated by built-in
archways or walls that extend out at least
6 inches and go from floor to ceiling.

1960 to 1969
1950 to 1959
1940 to 1949
1939 or earlier

Gas: from underground pipes serv
neighborhood
Gas: bottled, tank, or LP
Electricity

• INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
• EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, balconies,
foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.

When did PERSON 1 (listed on page 2)
move into this house, apartment, or
mobile home?

Month

10 Which FUEL is used MOST for heatin

Year

Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
Coal or coke
Wood

Number of rooms

Solar energy
Other fuel
How many
Source: b.
ACS-1(2009)KFI

of these rooms are bedrooms?
Count as bedrooms those rooms you would
list if this house, apartment, or mobile home
were for sale
or rent. If this NEEDS
is an
MEETING
FEDERAL
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0".

No fuel used

Data about the number of occupants per room is used to measure the extent of overcrowding
Number of bedrooms
among our nation’s households. A housing unit is often considered crowded if it has more
than one person to a room. Many federal agencies use data about crowding to set and
implement policies. The U.S. Department of Energy uses data on the changing size and
structure of homes to forecast future energy demand. The number of rooms in a home also is
used as a measure of housing-unit size in the absence of information on square footage by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses
this information in conjunction with other American Community Survey data to develop its
statePage
per capita
income
estimates used in ACS-1(2009)KFI,
the allocation formulas
criteria of
more
ACS-1(2009)KFI,
5, Base
(Black)
Pageor
5,eligibility
Green Pantone
354
(10, 20, 40 and 50%
than 20 federal programs.

§.4{W¤

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Housing

Social Services

Data about the number of persons per
room are used to allocate funds for
housing assistance to local governments.

Data about the number of rooms are
used to allocate funds to local areas for
home energy assistance to low-income
individuals and families under the LowIncome Home Energy Assistance Program.

City and community officials use data
about the number of persons per room
to determine housing deficiencies in
neighborhoods.
Environment
Data about the average number of
rooms are used in feasibility studies for
developing waste treatment facilities.

www.census.gov

1970 to 1979

7 a. How many separate rooms are in this

house, apartment, or mobile home?
Rooms must be separated by built-in
archways or walls that extend out at least
6 inches and go from floor to ceiling.

1960 to 1969
1950 to 1959
1940 to 1949
1939 or earlier

American Community Survey

• INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
Housing: Question on
Bedrooms

en did PERSON 1 (listed on page 2)
ve into this house, apartment, or
bile home?

th

Year

house, apartment, or mobile home?

Gas: from underground pipes serving t
neighborhood
Gas: bottled, tank, or LP
Electricity

• EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, balconies,
foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.

Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

Number of rooms

Wood

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.
b. How many of these rooms are bedrooms?
Count as bedrooms those rooms you would
list if this house, apartment, or mobile home
were for sale or rent. If this is an
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0".

Coal or coke
Solar energy
Other fuel
No fuel used

Number of bedrooms

§.4{W¤

CS-1(2009)KFI, Page 5, Base (Black)

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 5, Green Pantone 354 (10, 20, 40 and 50%)

MEETING FEDERAL NEEDS
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development uses bedrooms as an essential
variable in calculating Fair Market Rents and in allocating funds for Section 8 certificates and
housing vouchers. These data are useful in tracking changes in the physical characteristics of
the housing inventory over time. The number of bedrooms also is an indicator of housing-unit
size. The U.S. Department of Energy uses data on the changing size and structure of homes to
forecast future energy demand.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Housing
Data about the number of bedrooms
are used to allocate funds to states,
counties, and cities under the Community
Development Block Grant Program.

City and community officials use
data about the number of bedrooms
to determine housing deficiencies in
neighborhoods.

State and local planners use these data
to evaluate the adequacy of the housing
stock to shelter the population.

www.census.gov

American Community Survey

13199054

Housing: Question on Kitchen Facilities

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.

nswer questions 4 – 6 if this is a HOUSE
R A MOBILE HOME; otherwise, SKIP to
uestion 7a.

8 Does this house, apartment, or mobile
home have –

Yes

No

a. hot and cold running water?
b. a flush toilet?

ow many acres is this house or
obile home on?

c. a bathtub or shower?

Less than 1 acre � SKIP to question 6

d. a sink with a faucet?

1 to 9.9 acres

e. a stove or range?

10 or more acres

f. a refrigerator?

N THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what
ere the actual sales of all agricultural
roducts from this property?

g. telephone service from
which you can both make
and receive calls? Include
cell phones.
Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

None

9 How many automobiles, vans, and trucks
of one-ton capacity or less are kept at

$1 to $999

home for use by
members ofNEEDS
this
MEETING
FEDERAL

$1,000 to $2,499

household?
Complete kitchen facilities are defined as a sink with piped water, a range, and a refrigerator.
$2,500 to $4,999
None
These data are integral components
used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
$5,000 to $9,999
Development in the development 1of Fair Market Rents for all areas of the country. Federal
$10,000 or more
agencies use this item to identify 2areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans

and as an indicator of housing quality.
3

there a business (such as a store or
arber shop) or a medical office on
his property?

5
6 or more

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Yes
No

4

Social
forServices
heating this
10 Which FUEL is used MOST
house,
apartment,
or
mobile
home?
Under
the
Older Americans Act, these data
Data
about
complete
kitchen
facilities
How many separate rooms are in this
are used to determine the number of older
aremobile
used to
evaluate the Community
house, apartment, or
home?
Gas: from underground pipes serving the
Rooms must be separated
by built-inBlock Grant Program,
people who live in inadequate housing
Development
a
neighborhood
archways or walls that
extend
out
at
least
and
program that provides grants to
states
and
Gas: bottled, tank, or
LPwho may be candidates for housing
6 inches and go from local
floor to
ceiling.
assistance programs or placement in
governments
for the rehabilitation of
Electricity
alternative housing.
privately
property that is intended
• INCLUDE bedrooms,
kitchens,owned
etc.
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
to be
rentedbalconies,
as residences.
• EXCLUDE bathrooms,
porches,
City and community agencies use these
Housing

foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.

Number of rooms

Coal or coke

These data are used to distribute federal
Wood
funds for housing assistance to
local
Solar energy
governments.

data to pinpoint areas that need special
programs, such as Meals On Wheels.

Other
fuel
City and community officials use
these
No
fuel
used
data
about
complete
kitchen
facilities
How many of these rooms are bedrooms?
to determine
Count as bedrooms those
rooms youhousing
would deficiencies in
list if this house, apartment,
or mobile home
neighborhoods.

www.census.gov

were for sale or rent. If this is an
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0".
Number of bedrooms

5

13199054

American Community Survey

Housing: Question on Plumbing Facilities

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.

wer questions 4 – 6 if this is a HOUSE
MOBILE HOME; otherwise, SKIP to
tion 7a.

8 Does this house, apartment, or mobile
home have –

Yes

No

a. hot and cold running water?
b. a flush toilet?

many acres is this house or
ile home on?

c. a bathtub or shower?

Less than 1 acre � SKIP to question 6

d. a sink with a faucet?

1 to 9.9 acres

e. a stove or range?

10 or more acres

f. a refrigerator?

HE PAST 12 MONTHS, what
e the actual sales of all agricultural
ucts from this property?

g. telephone service from
which you can both make
and receive calls? Include
cell phones.
Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

None

9 How many automobiles, vans, and trucks
of one-ton capacity or less are kept at
MEETING
FEDERAL
NEEDS
home
for use by members
of this
household?

$1 to $999

$1,000 to $2,499

Complete plumbing facilities are defined as hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, and
a bathtub or shower. These data
are essential components used by the U.S. Department of
None
$5,000 to $9,999 Housing and Urban Development in the development of Fair Market Rents for all areas of the
1
$10,000 or more country. Federal agencies use this item to identify areas eligible for public assistance programs
2
and rehabilitation loans. Public health officials use this item to locate areas in danger of ground
3
water contamination and waterborne
diseases.

$2,500 to $4,999

ere a business (such as a store or
er shop) or a medical office on
property?

4
5

6 or more

Yes

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

No

Housing

Social
Services
for heating
this
10 Which FUEL is used MOST

house, apartment, or mobile home?
Data are
about
complete plumbing facilities
Under the Older Americans Act, these data
ow many separate rooms
in this
ouse, apartment, or mobile
home?
are used
to allocate SectionGas:
8 and
are
used
to determine
the number of older
from underground
pipes
serving
the
oms must be separated
by built-in
other
federal housing subsidies
to local
people who live in inadequate housing and
neighborhood
chways or walls that extend out at least
governments.
These programs
who may be candidates for home repair or
Gas: help
bottled, tank, or LP
nches and go from floor
to ceiling.
American families afford decent,
safe,
and
other assistance.
Electricity
NCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens,
sanitaryetc.
housing.
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.These data are used by the Indian Health
EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, balconies,
The
U.S.
Department
of
Housing
Service to identify specific reservations
oyers, halls, or unfinished basements.
Coal orand
coke

mber of rooms

Urban Development uses these data as a
Wood
critical variable to assess the quality of the
Solar energy
housing stock.
Other fuel

that are in greatest need of housing
assistance. This information is included in
its annual report to the Congress.

State and local agencies, along with the
No fuel
used
ow many of these rooms
are bedrooms?
U.S. Department
of Agriculture,
identify
unt as bedrooms those
rooms
you
would
poor quality housing by measuring the
t if this house, apartment, or mobile home
lack of plumbing facilities.

www.census.gov

ere for sale or rent. If this is an
iciency/studio apartment, print "0".

mber of bedrooms

5

American Community Survey

13199054

Housing: Question on Telephone Service Available

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.
8 Does this house, apartment, or mobile

nswer questions 4 – 6 if this is a HOUSE
R A MOBILE HOME; otherwise, SKIP to
uestion 7a.

home have –

Yes

No

a. hot and cold running water?
b. a flush toilet?

ow many acres is this house or
obile home on?

c. a bathtub or shower?

Less than 1 acre � SKIP to question 6

d. a sink with a faucet?

1 to 9.9 acres

e. a stove or range?

10 or more acres

f. a refrigerator?
g. telephone service from
which you can both make
and receive calls? Include
cell phones.

N THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what
ere the actual sales of all agricultural
roducts from this property?
None

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

9 How many automobiles, vans, and trucks
of one-ton capacity or less are kept at

$1 to $999

home for use by
members ofNEEDS
this
MEETING
FEDERAL

$1,000 to $2,499

household?
The lack of telephone service is an important measure of social isolation. The U.S. Department
$2,500 to $4,999
of Health and Human Services andNone
local social service agencies use these data to assess the
$5,000 to $9,999
level of need among elderly and low-income
households. These data also are valuable to a
1
$10,000 or more
number of agencies in evaluating 2how well their policies meet the public’s needs. Under the

Communications Act, the Federal Communications Commission requires data about the number
3
of households having telephone service to measure the extent of universal access to telephone
there a business (such as a store or
4
arber shop) or a service.
medical office on
5

his property?

6 or more

Yes
No

COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
FUEL is used MOST
for heating this
10 Which

house, apartment, or mobile home?
How many separate rooms are in this
Housing
house, apartment, or mobile home?
Gas: from underground pipes serving the
Rooms must be separated by built-in
neighborhood
State
andout
local
agencies use these data
The Administration on Aging uses data
archways or walls that
extend
at least
Gas: bottled, tank, or
LP telephone service as a measure of
develop
plans that deliver emergency
about
6 inches and go from to
floor
to ceiling.
telephone service. These dataElectricity
help them
social isolation, one of the factors cited
• INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
to assess the extent to which elderly
in the Older Americans Act as a source of
Fuel
oil,
kerosene,
etc.
• EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, balconies,
and
low-income
households
have
access
“greatest social need.”
foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.
Coal or coke
Number of rooms

to communication in case they need
Wood
emergency medical or crime prevention
Solar energy
services.
Other fuel

How many of these rooms are bedrooms?
Count as bedrooms those rooms you would
list if this house, apartment, or mobile home
were for sale or rent. If this is an
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0".

The Federal Communications Commission
uses these data to evaluate its universal
telephone service policies.

No fuel used

www.census.gov

Number of bedrooms

5

How many acres is this house or
mobile home on?

c. a bathtub or shower?
d. a sink with a faucet?

Less than 1 acre � SKIP to question 6
1 to 9.9 acres

e. a stove or range?
American Community
Survey

10 or more acres

f. a refrigerator?
Housing: Question on
Vehicles Available
g. telephone service from
which you can both make
and receive calls? Include
cell phones.

N THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what
were the actual sales of all agricultural
products from this property?

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.

None

9 How many automobiles, vans, and trucks
of one-ton capacity or less are kept at
home for use by members of this
household?

$1 to $999
$1,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $4,999

None

$5,000 to $9,999

1

$10,000 or more

2
3

s there a business (such as a store or
barber shop) or a medical office on
his property?

4
5
6 or more

Yes
No

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

10 Which FUEL is used MOST for heating this

house, apartment,
or mobile NEEDS
home?
MEETING
FEDERAL
. How many separate rooms are in this
house, apartment,
or mobile
home?
Vehicles
available
describes, for each
the number
of passenger
cars, vans, and
Gas:household,
from underground
pipes serving
the
Rooms must betrucks
separated
by
built-in
neighborhood
of one-ton capacity or less kept
at home and available for the use of household
archways or walls that extend out at least
in combination with
the
place-of-work
Gas:
bottled,
tank, or LPand journey-to-work data collected in
6 inches and go members.
from floor toUsed
ceiling.

the American Community Survey, data
about vehicles available are essential for transportation
Electricity
• INCLUDE bedrooms,
kitchens,
programs.
Foretc.
the U.S. Department
of
Transportation,
data about vehicles available are used
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
• EXCLUDE bathrooms,
porches,
balconies,
to develop
policies
and to plan a number of transportation programs. The U.S. Department of
foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.
Coal or coke
Energy uses the information to estimate and forecast energy consumption of motor vehicles
Wood
for planning and establishing program
activities as part of the Alternative Fueled Vehicles
Program.
Solar energy

Number of roomsand

Other fuel

b. How many of these rooms are bedrooms?
Count as bedrooms those rooms you would
list if this house, apartment, or mobile home
were for sale or rent.Transportation
If this is an
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0".

No fuel used

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Based on studies of the typical number
of daily trips taken by households with
differing numbers of vehicles available,
state and metropolitan transportation
planning agencies use these data about
vehicles available to estimate total vehicle
travel and forecast future travel and its
effect on their transportation systems.
ACS-1(2009)KFI,
5, Green
Pantone
These dataPage
are used
to help
form the354 (10,

Number of bedrooms

database used by state departments of
transportation and the more than 350
metropolitan planning organizations
responsible for comprehensive
­transportation planning activities.

Programs include transportation safety,
long-range transportation investments,
emergency response, and evacuation
planning.
Social Services
State and local agencies use these
data to determine the5
need for special
transportation services for the elderly and
disabled.
20, 40 and 50%)
Social service agencies use these data
to plan for emergency transportation
services in areas of high concentrations of
households with no vehicle available, such
as isolated rural communities.

www.census.gov

$2,500 to $4,999
None
$5,000 to $9,999
1
$10,000 or more
2

None
1
2

American Community
Survey
3

3
s there a 4business (such
as a storeQuestion
or
Housing:
arber shop) or a medical office on
5
his property?
Yes

4
on Housing
Heating Fuel
5
6 or more

6 or more

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.

No

10 Which FUEL is used MOST for heating this
10 Which FUEL is used MOST for heating this

house, apartment, or mobile home?
house, apartment, or mobile home?
. How many separate rooms are in this
house, apartment, or mobile home?
Gas: from underground pipes serving the
Gas: from
underground
pipes serving the
Rooms must
be separated
by built-in
neighborhood
neighborhood
archways or walls that extend out at least
Gas: bottled, tank, or LP
6 inchesGas:
and bottled,
go from tank,
floor or
to LP
ceiling.
Electricity
Electricity
• INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
Fuel bathrooms,
oil, kerosene,
etc.
• EXCLUDE
porches,
balconies,
foyers,
halls,
unfinished basements.
Coal or coke
Coal
or or
coke
Wood

Number Wood
of rooms

Solar energy

Solar energy

Other fuel

Other fuel

No fuel
used rooms are bedrooms?
. How many
of these
Count as bedrooms those rooms you would
list if this house, apartment, or mobile homeSource:
were for sale or rent. If this is an
efficiency/studio apartment, print "0".

No fuel used
ACS-1(2009)KFI

MEETING FEDERAL NEEDS

Number of bedrooms

The type of primary house heating fuel has long been used as a basic indicator of the
adequacy of the American housing stock. Over the decades, there has been a dramatic shift
in the fuels used to heat America’s homes. The U.S. Department of Energy uses these data to
provide information on energy supply and consumption. Also, the U.S. Department of Energy
5
uses these data to design the 5
Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS),
a legislatively
mandated survey required to provide information on residential and commercial energy use.
These data are widely used by the Environmental Protection Agency for planning and impact
ACS-1(2009)KFI,
Green Pantone 354 (10, 20, 40 and 50%)
en Pantone
354
(10, 20, 40Page
and 5,
50%)
assessment.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Housing
Local planners use these data to identify
areas that may be at risk for unhealthy air
quality as a consequence of reliance on
less efficient and clean home heating fuels.
State and local environmental agencies
interested in promoting alternative fuels,
such as solar energy, use these data to
identify areas with favorable growth
potential.
Energy
Utility companies and fuel oil distributors
use these data to forecast the need
for additional power facilities such as

generating plants, long distance pipelines
for oil or natural gas, and long distance
transmission lines for electricity.
The Environmental Protection Agency
uses these data to assess the adequacy
of energy resources to meet present and
future needs of the general public.
Social Services
These data are needed to determine the
type of fuel used by low-income persons
and families who receive assistance under
the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Program.

www.census.gov

tinued)

Housing (continued)

American
Community
what was the costSurvey
11 a. LAST MONTH,
12 IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, did anyone in
of electricity for this house,

this household receive Food Stamps or

Housing:
Questions
Selected Monthly
Owner
Costscard?
apartment,
or mobileon
home?
a Food
Stamp benefit
Last month’s cost – Dollars

Housing (continued)
$

Yes
No

.00
Questions
as they appear in the questionnaire.

,
OR

11 a. LAST MONTH, what was the cost

C

13199062

IN THE
PAST
12 MONTHS,
did
12 13
Is this
house,
apartment,
oranyone
mobilein
home

C
thispart
household
receive Food Stamps or
of a condominium?
a Food Stamp benefit card?
Yes � What is the monthly
was the cost
IN THE
PAST
12– MONTHS,
did anyone in
12Last
month’s
cost
Dollars
condominium
For renters,
Yes
Answer
questions
16 – 20 iffee?
you or
C
house,
this
household
receive
Foodthe
Stamps
b.
LAST
MONTH,
what was
cost or
answer
only
if you pay
the
someone
else
in
this
household
OWNS
No
home?
Stamp
benefit
card?
of gas
for this
apartment,
$a Food
.00house,
condominium
fee
in
addition
or IS BUYING this house, apartment, or to
or ,mobile home?
your
rent; otherwise,
the
lars
mobile home.
Otherwise,
SKIP tomark
E on
Yes
"None"
box.
Last OR
month’s cost – Dollars
13 Is this
apartment, or mobile home
thehouse,
next page.
No
Included
in rent or condominium fee
part of a condominium?
Monthly amount – Dollars
16
$ charge or electricity
.00
No
not
used
,
Yes � What$is the monthly.00
13 Is this house,
OR apartment, or mobile home
,
condominium
fee? For renters,
r condominium fee
b. LAST
what was the cost
part MONTH,
of a condominium?
16
About
how
much
do
you
think
answer
only
if
you
pay
thethis
Included
in rentapartment,
or condominium fee
OR
of gas for
this house,
tricity not used
house and
lot, apartment,
or mobile
condominium
fee in addition
to
Yes
� Whatiniselectricity
the monthly
or mobile
home?
Included
payment
home (and
owned) would
sell for
yourlot,
rent;if
otherwise,
mark the
None
condominium
fee? For renters,
entered
if it were
for sale?
"None"
box.
Last month’s
costabove
– Dollars
was the cost
answer
only
if
you
pay the
No
No charge or gas not used
apartment,
condominium fee in addition to
AmountMonthly
– Dollarsamount – Dollars
$
your.00
rent; otherwise, mark the
,
c. IN THE PAST
12box.
MONTHS, what was
14 Is$this house,
apartment,
or mobile home
–
"None"
lars
$
.00.00
17
OR of water and sewer for this
, ,
the cost
, ONE box.
Mark
(X)
Monthly amount – Dollars
house,
apartment,
or mobile home?
Included
in rent or condominium
fee If
OR
Owned by you or someone in this
you have lived here less than 12 months,
Includedthe
in
payment
$ electricity
.00
17 Whathousehold
are the
annual
real estate
with a mortgage
ortaxes on
None
estimate
cost.
entered above ,
Include home equity loans.
THISloan?
property?
No
Past
12 months’
cost
Dollars
r condominium fee
OR
No charge
or gas
not– used
Owned
by you
or someone in this
Annual
amount
– Dollars
city payment
household free and clear (without a
None
$
.00
mortgage
or loan)?
,
c. IN THE PAST
12 MONTHS, what was
14 Is this
apartment,
$ house,
.00or mobile home –
Noof water and sewer for this
,
the cost
not used
Mark (X) ONE
box.
OR
Rented?
house, apartment, or mobile home? If
OR
Occupied
payment
of
inless
rentthan
or condominium
Owned
by youwithout
or someone
in this
you have Included
lived here
12 months, fee
NTHS, what was
14estimate
Is this house,
rent? �with
SKIPa to
C
household
mortgage
or
the
cost.apartment, or mobile home –
No
charge
18
None
d sewer for this
Mark (X) ONE box.
loan? Include home equity loans.
Past 12 months’ cost – Dollars
mobile home? If
Owned by you or someone in this
by you
someonewhat
in this
s than 12 months,
d. IN Owned
THE PAST
12 or
MONTHS,
was the
household free and clear (without a
household
withkerosene,
a mortgagewood,
or
$ cost
.00
of oil, coal,
etc.,
18
What
isquestions
the
for house,
fire,
Answer
15apayment
and b if this
B
mortgage
orannual
loan)?
,
loan?
Include
home
equity
loans.
for this house, apartment, or mobile
hazard, and
on THIS
apartment,
or flood
mobileinsurance
home is RENTED.
Dollars
OR If you
Rented? SKIP to question 16.
home?
haveorlived
here less
than 12
property?
Otherwise,
Owned
by you
someone
in this
household
freeor
and
clear (without
months,
estimate
the
cost.
Occupied
without
payment of
Included
in rent
condominium
feea
Annual
amount
– Dollars
mortgage or loan)?
rent? � SKIP to C
Past
12
months’
cost
–
Dollars
No charge
Rented?
$
.00
, is the monthly rent for this
$
.00 payment of
15 a. What
Occupied
without
r condominium fee
,
d. IN THE PAST
12 MONTHS, what was the
house, apartment, or mobile home?
� SKIP
to C
cost ofrent?
oil, coal,
B Answer questions
OR 15a and b if this house,
OR kerosene, wood, etc.,
Monthly
amount
– Dollars
for this house, apartment, or mobile
apartment,
or mobile
home
is RENTED.
None
home? IfIncluded
you haveinlived
here
less than 12 fee
Otherwise,
SKIP
to
question
16.
rent
or
condominium
NTHS, what was the
$
months, estimate the cost.
.00
sene, wood, etc.,
No
charge
or
these
fuels
not
used
Answer
questions
15a
and
b
if
this
house,
B
,
Past
12 months’
cost – home
Dollarsis RENTED.
ment, or mobile
apartment,
or mobile
d here less than 12
Otherwise, SKIP to question 16.
b. Does the monthly rent include any
ost.
$
.00
15 a. What
is the monthly rent for this
meals?
,
house, apartment, or mobile home?
Dollars
OR
Yes
Monthly amount
– Dollars
15 a. What
is the
monthly
rent for this
Included
in rent
or condominium
fee
No
house, apartment, or mobile home?
$
.00
No charge or these fuels not used
,
Monthly amount – Dollars
r condominium fee
Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI
b. Does the monthly rent include any
$
.00
6
e fuels not used
meals?
,
Included
rent
or condominium fee
of electricity
for in
this
house,
apartment,
or
mobile
home?
No charge or electricity not used

Answer ques
someone els
or IS BUYING
mobile home
the next page

Answer question

16
Aboutelse
how
someone
in

andthilo
or IShouse
BUYING
home
(and
mobile home. Otl
if it were fo
the next page.
Amount – Do

$
,
About how muc
house and lot, a
home
(and
lot,
17
What
are
thi
if it THIS
wereproper
for sa

Annual
amou
Amount
– Dollars
$

$

,

,

OR
What areNone
the an
THIS property?

Annual amount –

18 What is the

$ hazard, and
,
property?
ORamou
Annual
None
$

,

What is the OR
ann
hazard, and floo
None
property?

Annual amount –
$

,
OR
None

§.4{_¤

b. Does the monthly rent include any

ACS-1(2009)KFI,
Page 6, Base (Black)
meals?
Yes

Yes
No

ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 6, Green Pantone 354

Housing
(continued)
American
Community
Survey
Housing: Questions on Selected Monthly Owner Costs
19 a. Do you or any member of this

20 a. Do you or any member of this
household have a second mortgage
household have a mortgage, deed of
or a home equity loan on THIS
trust, contract to purchase, or similar
debt on THISQuestions
property? as they appear in the property?
questionnaire.

E

Housing
(continued)
Housing
(continued)
Housing (continued)

Yes, mortgage, deed of trust, or similar a. Do you Yes,
home
equityof
loan
or any
member
this
a. Do
youyou
or any
member
of this
19 19
20 20 a. Do you
or any
member
of this
a. Do
or any
member
of this
debt

household
a second
mortgage
Yes,have
second
mortgage
household have a mortgage, deed of
household
have
a second
mortgage
a. aDo
you equity
or any loan
member
of this
20 or
on on
THIS
orhome
a home
equitymortgage
loan
THIS
trust, contract to purchase, or similar
Yes,
second
and home
household
have
a
second
mortgage
household
have a mortgage, deed of
property?
debt
onNo
THIS
property?
property?
debt
on
THIS
property?
�
SKIP
to question 20a
equity equity
loan loan on THIS
or a home
trust, contract to purchase, or similar
property?
� SKIP
to D
debt
on
THIS property?
Yes,Yes,
mortgage,
deed
of trust,
or similar
Yes,No
home
equity
loanloan
mortgage,
deed
of trust,
or similar
Yes,
home
equity
debt
b. How debt
much
is
the
regular
monthly
Yes,
second
mortgage
secondequity
mortgage
Yes, mortgage, deed of trust, or similar
Yes, home
loan
Yes,debt
contract
to purchase
mortgage
payment
on THIS property?
b. How much is the regular monthly
Yes,
contract
to purchase
Yes,
second
mortgage
andand
home
mortgage
home
Yes,
second
mortgage
Include
only on FIRST
payment
on all second or junior
No Yes,
� payment
SKIP
to question
20a20amortgage
equity
loan
No
�contract
SKIP
to to
question
purchase
equity
loan
or contract
to purchase.
mortgages
and
all
home
equity
loans
Yes, second mortgage and home
No
� SKIP
to to
D D
No
�
SKIP
No � SKIP to question 20a
on
THIS
property?
equity
loan
Monthly amount – Dollars
No �
SKIP to
D
b. How
much
is the
regular
monthly
Monthly
amount
– Dollars
b. How
much
is the
regular
monthly
mortgage
payment
on.00
THIS
property?
$
b. How
much
is the
regular
monthly
mortgage
payment
on
THIS
property?
b.
How
much
is
the
regular
monthly
b. Howpayment
much
the on
regular monthly
, isonly
Include
mortgage
payment
on on
all second
or junior
$
Include payment
only FIRST
on FIRST
mortgage
.00
payment
all second
or junior
mortgage
payment
on
THIS
property?
b. How much
the
regular
monthly
, is
or contract
to purchase.
mortgages
and
all
home
equity
loans
or contract
to purchase.
mortgages
and
all home
equity
loans
OR
Include payment
only on FIRST mortgage
payment
on all second or junior
on
THIS
property?
on
THIS
property?
Monthly
amount
– Dollars
ORand all home equity loans
Monthly
amount
– Dollars
or
contract
to purchase.
mortgages
No regular payment required � SKIP to
Monthly
amount
– Dollars
Monthly
amount
– Dollars
on
THIS
property?
question
20a– Dollars
amount
No regular payment required
$ Monthly
.00 .00
$
Monthly
amount
–.00
Dollars
, ,
$ $
.00
$
.00
, ,
c. Does the
monthly
mortgage
OR,regular
OR
$
.00
,
payment include payments for real
OR OR
No
regular
payment
required
�
SKIP
to
OR
Notaxes
regular
required � SKIP to
estate
onpayment
THIS property?
question
21 if this is a MOBILE
D Answer
question
20a20a
OR payment
question
No No
regular
required
regular
payment
No regular payment required � SKIP to
HOME. Otherwise,
SKIP to Erequired
.
Yes,
taxes
included
in
mortgage
question 20a
No regular payment required
payment
c. Does
thethe
regular
monthly
mortgage
c. Does
regular
monthly
mortgage
No,
taxes
paid
separately
or
taxes
payment
include
payments
for for
real
payment
include
payments
real
not
c. Does
therequired
regular
monthly
mortgage
estate
taxes
on on
THIS
property?
estate
taxes
THIS
property?
Answer
question
21 if21this
is aisMOBILE
Answer
question
if this
a MOBILE
D 21
payment include payments for real
D
What
are
the total
annual
costs
for
HOME.
Otherwise,
SKIP
to
E is.E
HOME.
Otherwise,
SKIP
to
estate
taxes
on
THIS
property?
Yes,Yes,
taxes
included
in
mortgage
Answer
question
21
if
this
a .MOBILE
taxes
included
in mortgage
personal property taxes, site
rent,
D
d. Does
the
regular
monthly
mortgage
payment
payment
HOME. Otherwise,
to E . fees on
registration
fees, SKIP
and license
payment
include
payments
for fire,
Yes, taxes
included
in mortgage
THIS mobile home and its site?
No,payment
taxes
paidpaid
separately
oron
taxes
No,
taxes
separately
orTHIS
taxes
hazard,
or
flood
insurance
not not
required
Exclude real estate taxes.
required
property?
No, taxes paid separately or taxes
What
areare
the
total
annual
costs
for for
21 21
not required
What
the
annual
costs
Annual
costs
–total
Dollars
Yes, insurance included in mortgage
personal
property
taxes,
sitesite
rent,
personal
property
taxes,
rent,
d. Does
the
regular
monthly
mortgage
d. Doespayment
the regular monthly mortgage
What are fees,
the total
annual
for
21
registration
andand
licensecosts
fees
on
registration
fees,
fees
on
payment
include
payments
for for
fire,
$
.00 license
payment
include
payments
fire,
personal
property
taxes,
site
rent,
No,
insurance
paid
separately
or
no
THIS
mobile
home
and
its
site?
d.
Does
the
regular
monthly
mortgage
,
THIS mobile home and its site?
hazard,
or flood
insurance
on on
THIS
hazard,
or
flood
insurance
THIS
registration
fees,
and license fees on
insurance
Exclude
realreal
estate
taxes.
payment
include payments for fire,
Exclude
estate
taxes.
property?
property?
THIS mobile home and its site?
hazard, or flood insurance on THIS
Exclude
real
estate
taxes.
Annual
costs
– Dollars
Annual
costs
– Dollars
property?
Yes,Yes,
insurance
included
in mortgage
insurance
included
in mortgage
payment
payment
costs – Dollars
$ Annual
.00 .00
Yes, insurance included in mortgage
$
No,No,
insurance
paidpaid
separately
or no
, ,
insurance
separately
or no
payment
insurance
insurance
$
.00
No, insurance paid separately or no
,
insurance

household have a mortgage, deed of
a. Do contract
you
any
ofor
this
19 trust,
Yes,orcontract
to purchase
to member
purchase,
similar

Answer questio
next page if you
on page 2. Othe
the mailing inst

questions
E EAnswer
Answer
questio
nextnext
page
if you
lis
page
if you
Answer
questio
Eon page
2. Otherw
on page
2. Othe

page
if you
the next
mailing
instruc
the
mailing
inst
on page 2. Othe
the mailing inst

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

MEETING FEDERAL NEEDS
Selected monthly owner costs, such as mortgage payments and utilities, are a measure of the
cost of homeownership. When combined with income, selected monthly owner costs offer an
excellent measure of affordability and excessive shelter costs. The U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development uses these data in many of its housing assistance programs. The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services uses these data to assess the need for housing
assistance for elderly and low-income homeowners.

§.4{g¤
ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 7, Base (Black)

§.4{g¤
§.4{g¤
§.4{g¤

ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 7, Green Pantone 354 (1

American Community Survey
Housing: Questions on Selected Monthly Owner Costs

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Social Services

Housing

Data about selected monthly owner costs
are used to allocate funds for housing for
the elderly under the Older Americans Act
and for home energy assistance to lowincome individuals and families under
the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Program.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development uses these data as one of the
selection criteria for urban development
grants for cities and counties under the
Community Development Block Grant
Program.

Energy
Data about the cost of utilities are used to
analyze current residential energy supply
and consumption in order to forecast
future needs.

These data are benchmark statistics
used to measure progress toward the
congressional declaration of goals for
national housing policy: a decent home
and suitable living environment for every
American family.

www.census.gov

American Community Survey
Housing: Question on Food Stamps Benefit

1319906

Housing (continued)

a. LAST MONTH, what was the cost
of electricity for this house,
apartment, or mobile home?

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.
12 IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, did anyone in
this household receive Food Stamps or
a Food Stamp benefit card?

Last month’s cost – Dollars
$

Yes
No

.00

,
OR

Included in rent or condominium fee

C

Answer questions 16 – 20 if you or
someone else in this household OWNS
or IS BUYING this house, apartment, or
mobile home. Otherwise, SKIP to E on
the next page.

Source:
ACS-1(2009)KFI
13 Is
this house,

apartment, or mobile home
part of a condominium?

No charge or electricity not used

16 About how much do you think this

house and lot, apartment, or mobile
Yes � What is the monthly
home (and lot, if owned) would sell f
For renters,
MEETINGcondominium
FEDERALfee?
NEEDS
if it were for sale?
b. LAST MONTH, what was the cost
answer only if you pay the
of gas for this house, apartment,
condominium
fee in addition
to Department
Under the Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families program,
the U.S.
Health and
Amountof– Dollars
or mobile home?
your
rent;state
otherwise,
mark the on a variety of outcomes
Human Services continues to monitor and
report
performance
box.stamp participation. The question
Last month’s cost
– Dollarswork status, family formation, "None"
$
.00
including
and food
on food
,
,
Monthly
amount
– Dollars
stamps
can
help
to
assess
state
performance
in
the
current
year,
food
stamp
participation
rate
$
.00
,
for low-income working families with children, and the change in the participation rate of such
$
.00
17 What are the annual real estate taxe
families in the state over the prior year.
OR
,
THIS property?
Included in rent or condominium fee
OR
Annual amount – Dollars
Included in electricity payment
None
entered above
$
.00
No
,
No charge or gas not used

c. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what was
the cost of water and sewer for this
house, apartment, or mobile home? If
you have lived here less than 12 months,
estimate the cost. Governments

14 Is this house, apartment, or mobile home –
Mark
(X) ONE box.
COMMUNITY

BENEFITS

OR
None

Owned by you or someone in this
household with aSocial
mortgage
or
Services
loan? Include home equity loans.

18 What is the annual payment for fire,
hazard, and flood insurance on THIS
Past 12 months’ costState
– Dollars
and local governments need to
Faith-based and other nonprofit
property?
Owned by you or someone in this
compare the number of familieshousehold
and
organizations
use
information about food
free
and
clear
(without
a
$
.00
Annual
amount
– Dollars
individuals needing food assistance
withor loan)?
assistance needs that are not
being
met by
mortgage
,
those receiving food stamps. Special
government programs to plan
and budget .00
OR
Rented?
$
, other
attention needs to be paid to the working
for food banks, food kitchens, and
Occupied without payment of
Included in rent or condominium fee
poor. Adjusting food stamp eligibility
programs.
rent? � SKIP to C
No charge
OR
guidelines and instituting supplemental
food assistance programs could meet
None
d. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS,
the
shortfallswhat
that was
are identified.
cost of oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.,
for this house, apartment, or mobile
home? If you have lived here less than 12
months, estimate the cost.

B

Answer questions 15a and b if this house,
apartment, or mobile home is RENTED.
Otherwise, SKIP to question 16.

Past 12 months’ cost – Dollars
$

.00

,
OR

Included in rent or condominium fee
No charge or these fuels not used

15 a. What is the monthly rent for this

house, apartment, or mobile home?

Monthly amount – Dollars
$

,

.00

b. Does the monthly rent include any
meals?
Yes
No

www.census.gov

of gas for this house, apartment,
or mobile home?

condominium fee in addition to
your rent; otherwise, mark the
"None" box.

Last month’s cost – Dollars
$

OR

American Community $Survey
,

Housing: Question on Tenure

Included in rent or condominium fee
Included in electricity payment
entered above
No charge or gas not used

c. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what was
the cost of water and sewer for this
house, apartment, or mobile home? If
you have lived here less than 12 months,
estimate the cost.
Past 12 months’ cost – Dollars
$

.00

,
OR

Included in rent or condominium fee
No charge

$

Monthly amount – Dollars

.00

,

Amount – Dollars

.00

,

.00

,

17 What are the annual real estate taxe
THIS property?

OR

Annual amount – Dollars

None

QuestionNo
as it appears in the questionnaire.

$

OR

14 Is this house, apartment, or mobile home –

None

Mark (X) ONE box.

Owned by you or someone in this
household with a mortgage or
loan? Include home equity loans.
Owned by you or someone in this
household free and clear (without a
mortgage or loan)?
Rented?

18 What is the annual payment for fire,

hazard, and flood insurance on THIS
property?
Annual amount – Dollars
$

Occupied without payment of
rent? � SKIP to C

.00

,

.00

,
OR

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI
None
d. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what was the
cost of oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.,
B Answer questions 15a and b if this house,
MEETING
FEDERAL
NEEDS
for this house, apartment, or mobile
apartment, or mobile
home is RENTED.
home? If you have lived here less than 12
Otherwise, SKIP to question 16.
Tenure
(whether a home is owned or rented) is the most basic feature of the housing inventory.
months, estimate
the cost.

Homeownership
rates have served as an indicator of the nation’s economy for decades. These
Past 12 months’
cost – Dollars
$

data are an integral component of the formula used by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban
Fair Market
Rents and
also
.00 Development to establish
15 a. What
is the monthly
rent
for are
thisessential for the Federal Housing
,
house, apartment,
mobile home?
Authority’s mortgage insurance program.
The U.S. or
Department
of Health and Human Services is
OR
required to profile the housing tenure
ofamount
Low-Income
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Monthly
– Dollars
The Bureau
Included inhouseholds.
rent or condominium
fee of Economic Analysis uses this information along with other census
$ services for the
.00National and Regional Accounts. This
data
to
prepare
the
value
of housing
No charge or these fuels not used
,
information is used to assess the costs of utilities based on the type of home ownership. Tenure
also is used in calculating homeownership vacancy rates and rental vacancy rates that federal
b. Does the monthly rent include any
and local agencies use to evaluate
the overall viability of local housing markets.
meals?
Yes
No

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Planning
§.4{_¤

Housing

Tenure is one of the integral components
Local planners use data on tenure to
used by the U.S. Department of Housing
assess neighborhood stability.
ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 6, Base (Black)
ACS-1(2009)KFI,
Page
6, Green Pantone
354 (10, 20, 40 and 50%)
and Urban
Development
to establish
Fair Market Rents for different localities
Banking
throughout the country. This information
is used to allocate Section 8 and other
Data on tenure are used to distribute funds
federal housing program subsidies that
for mortgage insurance, for rental housing
assist American families to afford decent,
in urban renewal areas, and for national
safe, and sanitary housing.
defense housing.

www.census.gov

$

.00

,

mortgage or loan)?

OR

Rented?

No charge

$

Occupied without payment of
rent? � SKIP to C

Included in rent or condominium fee

American Community Survey

Question
on Rent
d. IN THE PAST 12 Housing:
MONTHS, what
was the
cost of oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.,
B Answer questions 15a and b if this house,
for this house, apartment, or mobile
apartment, or mobile home is RENTED.
home? If you have lived here less than 12
Otherwise, SKIP to question 16.
months, estimate the cost.
Past 12 months’ cost – Dollars
$

.00

,

Annual amount – Dollars
.00

,
OR
None

Question as it appears in the questionnaire.
15 a. What is the monthly rent for this

house, apartment, or mobile home?

OR

Monthly amount – Dollars

Included in rent or condominium fee
No charge or these fuels not used

$

,

.00

b. Does the monthly rent include any
meals?
Yes
No

§.4{_¤

Source: ACS-1(2009)KFI

MEETING FEDERAL NEEDS

ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 6, Base (Black)
ACS-1(2009)KFI, Page 6, Green Pantone 354 (10, 20, 40 and 50%)
Rent is an essential measure of shelter costs. Rent amounts are critical for the establishment
of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 Fair Market Rents. Fair
Market Rents are used for a wide variety of housing programs that assist American families to
afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. When compared with income, data about rent offer
an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. Various agencies,
including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, use these data to allocate funds
to assist low- and moderate-income families whose rents exceed 30 percent of their household
income. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses this information to prepare estimates of rent
paid on tenant-occupied nonfarm dwellings, which are components used to estimate rental
income of persons for the National Income and Product Accounts.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Social Services
Data about rent are needed to review
and assess the assistance available to
individuals with developmental disabilities.

governments for rehabilitation of privately
owned properties intended for rent as
residences.

Data about rent are needed to evaluate
the effectiveness of the Community
Development Block Grant Program,
which provides grants to states and local

These data are needed to evaluate a
locality’s qualification for federal housing
assistance.

www.census.gov