The New York Census Research Data Center (NYCRDC) provides access to Census micro data for approved research projects (see proposal guidelines). These data sets are not a regular part of the Census Bureau data dissemination program. NCHS and AHRQ data are provided under agreements with those agencies. Detailed listings of available data sets are also provided on the CES, NCHS, and AHRQ websites. Further information on the contents of the data sets listed can be found at the Census, AHRQ, and NCHS websites. Researchers need to consult with a NYCRDC Administrator on availability of particular Census data sets before writing research proposals.

Census RDC data
NCHS RDC data
AHRQ RDC data

Census Data Sets at the RDC

Two groups of Census data sets are available:
Economic Data: Censuses and surveys of business establishments and firms. With very few exceptions, no public use files exist for these surveys.
Demographic Data: Censuses and surveys of households and individuals. These data are not public use files. Include complete geography (in many cases down to the block). Items such as income are not topcoded. Individual identifiers such as name, address, and social security numbers are not included.

Other Information: Surveys conducted by the Census Bureau for other agencies may be available with the permission of the sponsoring agency.

Examples of work performed in the RDC system can be found at the CES Working Paper Series.

Individuals or organizations seeking statistics or public use data sets should visit the Census Bureau website.

NCHS RDC Data

Listed below are the NCHS data sets available through the NCHS RDC. More information is available on the NCHS RDC's web page.

Descriptions of differences between NCHS RDC confidential data and public use versions of the data are given in this linked chart. In addition to describing confidential data elements and data sets, it describes the major components of the data, along with samples sizes and periodicity, gives examples of applications, and provides contact information for each program. The chart was compiled by Benjamin Orr and Nazli Toraganli of the New York Census Research Data Center, with support and input from Peter Meyer of NCHS and the various NCHS data programs.

NCHS RDC data sets

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) I, II, and III
National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery
National Hospital Discharge Survey
National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS)
National Home and Hospice Care Survey
National Employer Health Insurance Survey
National Health Provider Inventory
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 1967-2005
National Immunization Survey
Longitudinal Study on Aging (LSOA)
National Survey of Family Growth
State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey
- Health
- Child Well-Being and Welfare, 1997
- National Survey of Early Childhood Health
- National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs
- National Survey of Children's Health
- National Asthma Survey
- National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs
Vital Statistics
- Birth
- Mortality
- Marriages and Divorces
- Fetal Death
- National Death Index

Linked Data
NHIS with Mortality data 1986-2000
NHIS with Medicare Enrollment and Claims data 1991-2000
NHIS with Social Security Administration
Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance data 1962-2003
NHIS with Social Security Administration Supplemental Security Income data 1974-2003
NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study with Mortality data 1971-2000
NHANES I with Medicare Enrollment and Claims data 1991-2000
NHANES I with Social Security Administration Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance data 1962-2003
NHANES I with Social Security Administration Supplemental Security Income data 1974-2003
NHANES II with Mortality data 1976-2000
NHANES II with Medicare utilization and expenditure data 1991-2000
NHANES III with Mortality data 1988-2000
NHANES III with Medicare Enrollment and Claims data (CMS-1991-2000)
NHANES III with Social Security Administration Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance data 1974-2003
NHANES III with Social Security Administration Supplemental Security Income data 1974-2003
LSOA II with Mortality data 1994-2002
LSOA II with Medicare Enrollment and Claims data 1991-2000
LSOA II with Social Security Administration Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance data 1962-2003
LSOA II with Social Security Administration Supplemental Security Income data 1974-2003
1985 NNHS with Mortality data 1985-2002
1985 NNHS with Social Security Administration Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance data 1962-2003
1985 NNHS with Social Security Administration Supplemental Security Income data 1974-2003

AHRQ RDC Data

More information is available on AHRQ's RDC web page.

List of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Datasets that will be available:
- Household Component-Insurance Component linked file (1996-1999, 2001)
- Nursing Home Component (1996)
- Medical Provider Component (except directly identifiable data)
- Two-Year, Two-Panel Files
- Area Resource File (county-level data that can be linked to MEPS-HC)
- MEPS-HC Public Use Files

AHRQ will create a custom extract (e.g., merged analytic files with linking variables removed) for each project.

Please contact AHRQ at CFACTDC@AHRQ.HHS.GOV for complete details on additional non-public MEPS data available for RDC use. Other AHRQ confidential data files may be made available at a later date.

Note: There are two different MEPS-IC data sets. The MEPS-IC household sample is available via AHRQ's RDC process. The MEPS-IC list sample is collected by the Census Bureau for AHRQ and falls under the Census RDC proposal process.