DOI: 10.3886/icpsr39419.v1
title: American Communities Project, United States, 2023-2024
title: Version 1

description: These are data files from the American Communities Project's study of American Fragmentation. These surveys asked people in 15 different types of communities about their attitudes on a variety of issues and concerns with the goal of identifying where there are commonalities and differences among them. For most of the types, 13 of 15, the surveys were conducted with a probability-based online panel. For two of the communities, where the populations are particularly sparse, the surveys were conducted via RDD (Random Digit Dialing). Those types are the Aging Farmlands and Native American Lands. Because of the cost of RDD, those types were not included on some questions.
description: Since its founding in 2012, the American Communities Project (ACP) has aimed to improve understanding of the various types of communities across the United States. The initiative was developed to explore new ways of analyzing the diverse social, economic, and cultural environments in which Americans live.
Using a broad set of data, the ACP collaborated with academic researchers to break the United States into 15 community types based on multiple factors, including income, race and ethnicity, education, and religious affiliation. A clustering technique was applied to identify and map these community types, highlighting patterns and distinctions across regions.
The ACP's research connects demographic and economic data with electoral outcomes and consumer behavior, offering insights into the conditions and trends shaping communities in contemporary America. The project seeks to contribute to a more detailed understanding of how different parts of the country are experiencing change and development.
description: The 2023 poll was conducted using both online and telephone methods among a sample of 5,093 Americans aged 18 or older, with 4,493 surveys completed online and 600 interviews conducted via telephone. The online portion took place from June 7 to 23, 2023, utilizing Ipsos' probability-based KnowledgePanel, was offered in both English and Spanish, and recruited from thirteen of the fifteen community clusters. The telephone survey was conducted using a Random Digit Dialing (RDD) sample from June 12 to 23 and again from July 7 to 10, 2023. This phone survey was conducted in English only in the Native American Lands and Aging Farmlands. Due to time limitations, some questions were excluded from the RDD mode to keep the survey from becoming too lengthy.
The 2024 survey followed a similar structure, with a nationally representative probability sample of 5,312 general population adults aged 18 or older, with 4712 completed online and 600 interviews conducted via telephone. The online survey was administered from June 14 to July 1, 2024, and the phone survey was conducted from June 27 to July 6, 2024. As with the previous year, the online survey was conducted through KnowledgePanel targeting the same thirteen segments while the RDD phone survey targeted counties in the Aging Farmlands and Native American Lands. In the Native American Lands, only the cellphone sample was used. In the Aging Farmlands, 75% of interviews were conducted via cellphone and 25% were conducted on landlines.
description: This data includes variables about participants' beliefs, values, and opinions regarding a range of topics such as political attitudes, engagement with news media, their feelings about their communities and the country as a whole. Demographic variables include race, religion, and household attributes.
description: The data are not weighted, however, these data contain two weight variables: <strong>AREAWT</strong> (Community Cluster) and <strong>NATWT</strong> (National) to be used in analysis.
description: The 2023 poll was conducted online from June 7 to 23, 2023 and via telephone from June 12 to 23 and again from July 7 to 10, 2023. A sample of 5,093 Americans aged 18 or older were recruited, with 4,493 surveys completed online and 600 interviews conducted via telephone. 

The 2024 poll was conducted online from June 14 to July 1, 2024 and via telephone from June 27 to July 6, 2024. A sample of 5,312 Americans aged 18 or older were recruited, with 4712 surveys completed online and 600 interviews conducted via telephone.
description: Datasets: 
DS0: Study-Level Files
DS1: Public-Use ACP Year 1-2023 Dataset
DS2: Restricted-Use ACP Year 1-2023 Dataset
DS3: Public-Use ACP Year 2-2024 Dataset
description: People over 18 living in the United States of America. Smallest Geographic Unit: county
description: telephone interview; web-based survey<strong>A note about how to read these data</strong>: The ACP's community types were created by collecting and analyzing 36 different data points across all the 3,100-plus counties in the United States. The result is 15 different kinds of community spread across the United States. Some are regionally clustered, and others are scattered. Learn more about the ACP's 15 community types here.