The U.S. Census Bureau will host a prerelease webinar on January 22 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the upcoming release of the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. The session aims to guide users on how to access ACS data and provide advice for comparing geographic areas and statistics over time.
The ACS offers detailed information about the U.S. population and housing, including topics such as language use, education, commuting patterns, employment status, mortgage and rent details, income levels, poverty rates, and health insurance coverage. For many of these subjects, the ACS is the only source providing local-level estimates.
According to the Census Bureau, embargo subscribers will be able to access these new statistics beginning January 27 at 10 a.m. ET. This early access covers various geographic regions such as states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, congressional and state legislative districts, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, counties, places, census tracts, and block groups.
Embargoed data will be available until January 29 at 12:01 a.m. ET. During this period, wire services are not allowed to distribute news stories or data files before the public release date in line with the Census Bureau’s embargo policy. All datasets will become publicly accessible by January 29 at 10 a.m. ET.
To obtain embargo access or register for the webinar event itself—featuring Gretchen Gooding (chief of Outreach and Education Branch), Vicki Mack (statistician), and Jewel Jordan (public affairs specialist)—users can visit www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/embargoed_releases or www.census.gov/data/academy/webinars/2026/2020-2024-acs-5-year-prerelease.html.
“The webinar will explain how to access ACS data and give tips on comparing geographies and statistics over time,” according to an official statement from the Census Bureau.
Credentialed media representatives and other data users may ask questions during or after the presentation through an online Q&A feature or via audio participation.
