Comparison of Estimates of Same-Sex Couple Households from the American Community Survey and Current Population Survey

Daphne A. Lofquist, U.S. Census Bureau
Renee Ellis, University of California, Irvine

Over the last several years, there has been a growing desire for estimates of same-sex couples. The U.S. Census Bureau has been attempting to fill this desire using data from the American Community Survey. In this paper, we explore the possibility of additional surveys being used to reliably estimate same-sex couples who reside in the same residence, specifically the Current Population Survey. To do this, we will compare the overall estimates and socio-demographic characteristics of same-sex couple households between the 2008 ACS and 2010 CPS. We find that householders in same-sex relationships in the CPS are slightly younger, more likely to be white, less likely to be employed, less likely to have both partners employed and report a lower income than their ACS counterparts. Education levels and Hispanic origin are similar in the ACS and CPS, as are estimates of the total number of same-sex households.