A public use microdata area (PUMA) is a decennial census area for which the U.S. Census Bureau provides specially selected extracts of raw data from a small sample (5-percent) of population and housing unit records from the American Community Survey that are screened to protect confidentiality. These extracts are referred to as “public use microdata sample (PUMS)” files and they allow data users to create their own statistical tabulations and data summaries. PUMAs are delineated uniquely within each state and comprise areas that contain at least 100,000 people.
