ACS Data Users Group

 View Only
Back to discussions
Expand all | Collapse all

Is it OK to use the ACS Statistical Tool to Compare Different Geography Levels Within Same Survey?

  • 1.  Is it OK to use the ACS Statistical Tool to Compare Different Geography Levels Within Same Survey?

    Posted 10-08-2019 01:02 PM

    Hello - I am a new ACS Census Data User. I am not a statistician, but I understand some of the basics.

    This particular forum doesn't look very active, so please let me know if I should post this question to a different group.

    Ultimately I want to know if it is "legit" to use the ACS Statistical Tool to compare different geographies such as State vs. County (same survey data).

    Ultimately I want to compare WI State Median HH Income to various counties in WI using 2017 5-Yr Survey data.

    I'm thinking it is OK to compare counties to counties since they are at the same level of detail.

    But I'd like to know if there are any caveats when comparing a large geography to a smaller one.

    Thank you,

    -Bliss

    ACS Statistical Tool



  • 2.  RE: Is it OK to use the ACS Statistical Tool to Compare Different Geography Levels Within Same Survey?

    Posted 10-08-2019 01:26 PM
    Yes, you can use the Statistical Testing Tool to test for statistically significant differences between estimates for states and counties (or ACS estimates between different years, population subgroups, etc.)
    -Mark


  • 3.  RE: Is it OK to use the ACS Statistical Tool to Compare Different Geography Levels Within Same Survey?

    Posted 10-08-2019 01:41 PM
    Thank you, Mark.