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Families

Families are an important topic in the ACS and a key framework for considering many kinds of data.

Overview

Families are a major frame through which Census data is tabulated. Many social and economic questions make more sense when framed by the family unit rather than by individuals.

The census concept of "family" is closely related to "household," so it's worth understanding the distinction. Specifically, a family is a household where two or more people are related by birth, marriage, or adoption. Except when precision dictates otherwise, Census Reporter uses "families" to refer to all kinds of households. There are also households of one person living alone, as well as households where none of the people are related to each other. The Census Bureau generally uses the term "nonfamily household" to distinguish these. Census Reporter tags them with the topic "roommates". A limited number of tables specifically organize data about nonfamily households.

The ACS table numbers beginning with 11 are the primary tables about Families and Households. There are 16 tabulations in this group, along with various collapsed versions and racial iterations.

If your research involves family, you may also be interested in a number of tables specifically about Children. There are also several tabulations which include Family Type as a factor. For detailed information about how the Census Bureau tabulates family data, for the ACS and other products, see the Families and Living Arrangements page.

These are the primary family/household tabulations:

Code Title
B11001 Household Type (Including Living Alone)
B11002 Household Type by Relatives and Nonrelatives for Population in Households
B11003 Family Type by Presence and Age of Own Children
B11004 Family Type by Presence and Age of Related Children
B11005 Households by Presence of People Under 18 Years by Household Type
B11006 Households by Presence of People 60 Years and Over by Household Type
B11007 Households by Presence of People 65 Years and Over, Household Size and Household Type
B11008 Cohabiting Couple Households by Presence and Age of Own Children
B11009 Coupled Households by Type
B11010 Nonfamily Households by Sex of Householder by Living Alone by Age of Householder
B11011 Household Type by Units in Structure
B11012 Households by Type
B11013 Subfamily Type by Presence of Own Children
B11014 Population in Subfamilies by Subfamily Type by Relationship
B11015 Households by Presence of Nonrelatives
B11016 Household Type by Household Size
B11017 Multigenerational Households
Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code.
Also available in racial iterations.

Householder

From the Census online glossary, a definition of householder:

The person, or one of the people, in whose name the home is owned, being bought, or rented.

If there is no such person present, any household member 15 years old and over can serve as the householder.

Two types of householders are distinguished: a family householder and a nonfamily householder. A family householder is a householder living with one or more people related to him or her by birth, marriage, or adoption. The householder and all people in the household related to him are family members.

A nonfamily householder is a householder living alone or with nonrelatives only.

Family type

The tables below include "family type" as one of the factors for reporting data. Family types include "married-couple", "female householder, no husband present", and "male householder, no wife present."

Since the 2013 ACS, "married-couple" families includes both opposite-sex and same-sex married couples. See Same-Sex Couples for some more information and links.

Code Title
B09002 Own Children by Family Type and Age
B11003 Family Type by Presence and Age of Own Children
B11004 Family Type by Presence and Age of Related Children
B11013 Subfamily Type by Presence of Own Children
B11014 Population in Subfamilies by Subfamily Type by Relationship
B17006 Poverty Status of Related Children by Family Type by Age of Related Children
B17010‡† Poverty Status of Families by Family Type by Presence of Related Children by Age of Related Children
B17011 Aggregate Income Deficit (Dollars) for Families by Family Type
B17015 Poverty Status of Families by Family Type by Social Security Income by Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Cash Public Assistance Income
B17016 Poverty Status of Families by Family Type by Work Experience of Householder and Spouse
B17022 Ratio of Income to Poverty Level of Families by Family Type by Presence of Related Children by Age of Related Children
B19126 Median Family Income by Family Type by Presence of Own Children
B19128 Aggregate Family Income by Family Type by Presence of Own Children
B19130 Aggregate Family Income by Family Type by Age of Householder
B19131 Family Type by Presence of Own Children by Family Income
B22007 Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP by Family Type by Number of Workers in Family
B23007 Presence of Own Children by Family Type by Employment Status
B23009 Presence of Own Children by Family Type by Number of Workers in Family
Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code.
Also available in racial iterations.