What are “group quarters” and are people with group quarters included in the ACS?
The US Census Bureau defines a group quarter facility as a place where people live or stay that is normally owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing and/or services for the residents. Services may include custodial or medical care as well as other types of assistance. Residency is commonly restricted to those receiving these services, and residents are usually not related to each other. Group quarters include such places as college residence halls, residential treatment centers, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, military barracks, correctional facilities, and workers dormitories. People living in group quarters facilities were included in the 2006 and 2007 ACS, but not in 2005. This difference must be taken into account in comparing different years of ACS data. The population and housing tables on this website were created from pooled 2005, 2006 and 2007 ACS data, and do not include individuals in group quarters.
