Glossary · Programs & credentials
Metro area (CBSA and MSA)
Also called: CBSA · MSA · core-based statistical area · metropolitan statistical area · micropolitan statistical area
The US government's metro area definition: counties tied by commuting to an urban core of at least 50,000 people (an MSA) or 10,000 (a micro area).
What it means
The Office of Management and Budget delineates core-based statistical areas (CBSAs) from Census Bureau data, using counties as building blocks. An outlying county joins when enough of its residents commute to or from the central counties, so a metro area spans many cities and suburbs. Population and housing statistics for a metro are often reported for the whole CBSA.
Why it matters in an audit
A metro-wide number can hide big local differences, so treat it as context rather than a description of your neighborhood.
Typical numbers
Reference values with their sources. Your auditor’s report gives the figure for your own house.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Definitions (Census Bureau) | Metropolitan statistical area: at least one urban area of 50,000 or more; micropolitan: 10,000 to under 50,000; CBSA covers both | census.gov ↗ |