The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual national survey collected monthly which provides communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year.

Data about families and living arrangements are available for the U.S., states, counties, selected metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, and selected zip codes from 2000 to the present.

Data Tables, Products and Reports

2010 ACS Brief on Same-sex couple households

• Report [PDF - 120k]

Characteristics of Same-Sex Couple Households

• Historic Tables [XLSX - 18k]
• 2013 [XLSX - 48k]
• 2012 [XLS - 75k]
• 2011 [XLS - 75k]
• 2010 [XLS - 76k]
• 2009 [XLS - 76k]
• 2008 [XLS - 41k]
• 2007 [XLS - 43k]
• 2006 [XLS - 56k]
• 2005 [XLS - 51k]

Available Tabulations

There are several recurring tables containing information about same sex couples. These tables are available through American Fact Finder since 2000.

Other Technical and Analytical Reports

Matching Survey Data with Administrative Records to Evaluate Reports of Same-sex Married Couple Households [PDF - 399k] , by Rose M. Kreider and Daphne A. Lofquist. Issued February 2015.

Testing Alternative Relationship and Marital Status Questions on the 2013 American Community Survey-Questionnaire Design Test [PDF - 455k] , by Jamie M. Lewis. Issued June 2014.

Frequently Asked Questions About Same-Sex Couple Households [PDF - 315k]. Issued August 2013.

Same-sex Couple Household Statistics from the 2010 Census 

• Paper [DOC - 1.2M] , by Martin O’Connell and Sarah Feliz. Issued September 2011.
• Detailed Tables [XLS - 182k]
• Figures and Maps [PDF - 2.5M]
• Supplemental Tables [XLS - 69k]

Caution statement for Changes in the Relationship Categories Between 2007 and 2008 [PDF]

Related Papers and Presentations

Using Names to Improve Measurement of Same-sex Married Couples in the American Community Survey 

• Poster [PDF - 359k] , by Daphne A. Lofquist. Presented at The Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, San Diego, CA. April 30-May 2, 2015.
• Abstract [PDF - 184k]

Improving Measurement of Same-Sex Couples [PDF - 364k], by Daphne A. Lofquist and Jamie M. Lewis. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Boston, MA, May 1-3, 2014.

Same-sex Couples’ Consistency in Reports of Marital Status (2012-11) 

• Paper [PDF - 1.2M] , by Daphne A. Lofquist. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, San Francisco, CA, May 3-5, 2012.
• Presentation [PDF - 1.2M] , by Daphne A. Lofquist. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, San Francisco, CA, May 3-5, 2012.

Demographics of Same-Sex Couple Households with Children 

• Paper [PDF - 434k] , by Kristy M. Krivickas and Daphne Lofquist. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Washington, DC, March 31-April 2, 2011.
• Presentation [PPT - 700k]

Comparison of Estimates of Same-Sex Couple Households from the ACS and CPS [PDF - 237k] , by Daphne Lofquist and Renee Ellis. Presented at The Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Washington, D.C. March 31-April 2, 2011.

Changes to the American Community Survey between 2007 and 2008 and their Potential Effect on the Estimates of Same-Sex Couple Households [PDF - 104k] , by Martin O'Connell and Daphne Lofquist. Issued September 2009.

New Estimates of Same-Sex Couple Households from the American Community Survey [PDF - 2.3M] , by Martin O’Connell, Daphne Lofquist, Tavia Simmons, and Terry Lugaila. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Dallas, TX, April 15-17, 2010.

Counting Same-Sex Couples: Official Estimates and Unofficial Guesses 

• Paper [PDF - 70k] , by Martin O'Connell and Daphne Lofquist. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Detroit, MI, April 30-May 2, 2009.
• Detailed Tables [XLS - 64k]
• Map [PPT - 160k]

Editing Unmarried Couples in Census Bureau Data 

• Paper [PDF - 59k] , by Martin O’Connell and Gretchen Gooding. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Los Angeles, CA, March 30-April 1, 2006.
• Presentation
• Poster [PPT - 766k]