Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

A Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a U.S. federal geographic unit used to group a core city and its surrounding communities that are socially and economically integrated. MSAs standardize regions for collecting and reporting population, labor, income, and other statistical data.

How MSAs are defined

  • An MSA must contain at least one urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more.
  • The MSA includes the core jurisdiction plus adjacent counties that have strong social and economic ties to the core—common commuting patterns are a primary indicator.
  • MSAs represent contiguous areas with relatively high population density and shared economic activity.

MSAs versus other statistical areas

  • Micropolitan statistical area: centers on an urban cluster with a population between 10,000 and 50,000.
  • Combined Statistical Area (CSA): two or more adjacent MSAs or micropolitan areas that meet an employment interchange threshold. The employment interchange measure is the sum of:
  • the percentage of workers living in one area who work in the other, and
  • the percentage of employment in one area accounted for by workers who live in the other.
    A CSA is created when this interchange measure is at least 15.

Uses of MSA data

MSA delineations and associated data are used by:
* Federal and state agencies (for censuses, labor statistics, and program eligibility).
* The Bureau of Labor Statistics to analyze regional labor markets where workers can change jobs without relocating.
* Policymakers and planners to assess income, unemployment, and economic trends and to design regional economic policies.
* Businesses and investors to evaluate market size, workforce availability, and real estate and housing trends.
* Social-service programs that set eligibility thresholds based on local median incomes.

Examples and notable facts

  • Some MSAs include multiple large cities (e.g., Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington).
  • The New York–Newark–Jersey City MSA spans parts of multiple states.
  • There are 393 designated MSAs across the United States and Puerto Rico (387 in the U.S., six in Puerto Rico).
  • The largest metropolitan area in the world by population is Tokyo, with a metro population around 36.5 million.

Quick answers

  • What size is an MSA? — It must include an urbanized area with at least 50,000 people.
  • Why do MSAs matter? — They provide a consistent geographic framework for statistical analysis, policy decisions, business planning, and program eligibility.

Bottom line

MSAs provide a standardized way to define and study metropolitan regions—linking core cities with surrounding counties based on population size and economic and social integration. They are essential tools for government statistics, economic analysis, business planning, and public-program administration.