How to Choose a Region of Study

When choosing a region of study for a given report, you may have the option to choose between city and MSA. In Emsi data, towns and cities are grouped together within “city,” though some smaller towns/cities may only be available by county or MSA. An MSA, which stands for Metropolitan Statistical Area, is a grouping of cities or largely populated areas.

For example, Seattle, WA is considered a city, whereas Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is an MSA. A report generated for an MSA will often include a much higher concentration of data than one generated for a specific city, as MSAs are usually more highly populated.