To highlight ACS (American Community Survey) Awareness Month, the National League of Cities is spotlighting communities that have used ACS data to drive positive change in our From Data to Decisions series.
The American Community Survey (ACS), conducted every year by the U.S. Census Bureau, collects detailed information about demographics, economics, housing and social characteristics of communities nationwide. Unlike the once-a-decade census, the ACS provides timely data that helps cities, towns and villages address today’s pressing issues while also planning for the future.
Without the ACS, many communities would not have access to the accurate, up-to-date information they need to make smart, equitable decisions.
However, on June 4, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a new order that limits the types of privacy protection methods that the Census Bureau must use for its data products. This has resulted in an indefinite delay in ACS 1-Year data and could affect ACS 5-Year data and other census products as their release dates approach. The Association of Public Data Users has warned (PDF) that Commerce’s new order could indefinitely block the release of data products in rural areas and other communities with smaller populations. ACS data is critical for communities to have for planning purposes, and is a tool used by nonprofits, businesses and other integral community partners when deciding when and how to invest in communities. NLC will continue to educate Members of Congress and the U.S. Census Bureau on the importance of ACS data for municipal decision-making and community well-being.
Moraine, Ohio (pop. 6,393)
The City of Moraine relied on ACS data to guide the creation of both their 20-year Comprehensive Plan and Community Parks and Recreation Vision Plan (PDF). In 2024 and 2025, the City used a snapshot of current conditions which included data gathered through ACS, to provide a vision for the future, along with recommendations and strategies on how to achieve the vision and goals outlined within the documents.
“ACS data gives communities like Moraine a better understanding of the people we serve and helps us make more informed decisions about where we’re headed. Having served on the steering committee for our Parks and Recreation Vision Plan, I’ve seen firsthand how good data, combined with direct community input, can help shape priorities and guide long-term planning.”
– Moraine City Councilmember Michael Daugherty
ACS data, paired with community engagement surveys and research, helped their City Council and administration make informed decisions including investment in a new splash pad in 2027.
College Park, Ga. (pop. 13,930)
The City of College Park is currently undergoing a ten-year update to their Comprehensive Plan. The 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update will be a substantial revision to the last major update to the land use vision for the City, which was completed in 2016. Updating the Comprehensive Plan allows local governments in Georgia to maintain their Qualified Local Government (QLG) Status which makes them eligible for selected state grants, loans, funding and permits.
ACS data is a crucial tool for the development of the comprehensive plan update. The city’s planning consultant collected, analyzed and presented data and recommendations to the community based on the ACS.
The ACS data told a story of how the community has lost and gained certain types of housing, who occupies that housing and how often the city is replacing or building new units. It revealed that although the city has lost housing units since 2019, the number of occupied units has increased, and that the majority of occupied units are renters whose share continues to grow.
ACS data directly informs the unique housing challenges College Park faces as well as the opportunities they can explore to address them.
Birmingham, Ala. (pop. 200,733)
The data gathered from the American Community Survey helps Birmingham ensure that critical funding flows exactly where it is needed most. That could mean expanding healthcare access, recruiting new grocery stores and improving neighborhood infrastructure and public transportation.
“In Birmingham, Alabama, we understand that diversity is our greatest strength. Much of that strength is drawn from the collective dismantling of prejudicial policies and discriminatory practices that devalued land and denied credit in certain neighborhoods. This played a major role in shaping the city we see today.
Many people who marched against this systemic oppression are still alive today and live in all nine of our City Council districts. As lawmakers, it’s our responsibility to enact legislation and policies that protect, support, and uplift our most vulnerable communities. The importance of the ACS can’t be overstated.”
– Birmingham City Councilor Crystal Smitherman, District 6
Businesses and investors rely on ACS data to decide where to expand and create jobs. With cities like Birmingham focused on making major investments in workforce development and career training programs, the ACS plays a key role in economic growth and increasing job opportunities for residents.
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About the Author
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