Income data is collected "to create statistics about income, assistance, earnings, and poverty status." The data can be used by various agencies to plan programming and funding requirements for assistance. Read more: https://www.census.gov/acs/www/about/why-we-ask-each-question/income/

Survey, via mail to specific addresses

3.5 million addresses nationwide are randomly selected each year to respond to the American Community Survey. More information about sample sizes, including the Oklahoma sample size each year, are available here: https://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/sample_size_and_data_quality/

Random sampling method of data collection on a rotating basis, participants are legally obligated to answer all questions as accurately as possible. Privacy is protected by the Census Bureau. There is a 90% margin of error for the ACS in general, however, there is also a unique margin of error for each statistic.

The data is publicly available and may be used for cross-community comparisons by the public, journalists, educators, businesses, and various government and nonprofit agencies.