Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas vs Metropolitan Statistical Areas
The Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area is defined as a metropolitan area that is not a component of a more extensive defined metropolitan area.
There is an alternative way to measure the influence of any particular metropolitan area and that is to measure the Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area versus just the Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses a more comprehensive approach of defining the metropolitan area by including both Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Micro Statistical Areas. This combined approach slightly alters the list of the top 33 Metropolitan areas. This grander view may be more politically palatable in the political arena.
There are 574 Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PSA's) in the United States including Puerto Rico and the total is comprised of 169 Combined Statistical Areas (CSA's) currently defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the 405 of 929 Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA's) currently defined by the OMB that are not a component of a Combined Statistical Area.
On February 28, 2013, the United States Office of Management and Budget defined 1098 Statistical Areas for the United States and Puerto Rico, which is comprised of:
169 Combined Statistical Areas,
388 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and
541 Micropolitan Statistical Areas
A total of 574 of these 1098 Statistical Areas qualify as primary statistical areas, including all 169 Combined Statistical Areas, 122 of the 388 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and 283 of the 541 Micropolitan Statistical Areas. The OMB currently does not use the term "primary statistical area", but the term is commonly used to identify the most extensive OMB defined Statistical Area for a given county.
Rank
Primary Statistical Area
2014 Estimate
2010 Census
Percent Change
Constituent Core Based Statistical Areas ( Metro and Micro Statistical Areas )
1
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area
23,632,722
23,076,664
+2.41%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area
New Haven-Milford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Trenton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Torrington, CT Micropolitan Statistical Area
Kingston, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
East Stroudsburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
2
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA Combined Statistical Area
18,550,288
17,877,006
+3.77%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
3
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical Area
9,928,312
9,840,929
+0.89%
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Ottawa-Peru, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area
Kankakee, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Michigan City-La Porte, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
4
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area
9,546,579
9,051,961
+5.46%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
California-Lexington Park, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area
Easton, MD Micropolitan Statistical Area
Cambridge, MD Micropolitan Statistical Area
5
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area
8,607,423
8,153,696
+5.56%
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Stockton-Lodi, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Santa Rosa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Napa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
6
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area
8,099,575
7,893,376
+2.61%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Worcester, MA-CT Metropolitan Statistical Area
Manchester-Nashua, NH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Barnstable Town, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Concord, NH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Laconia, NH Micropolitan Statistical Area
7
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK Combined Statistical Area
7,352,613
6,817,483
+7.85%
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
Sherman-Denison, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
Athens, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
Corsicana, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
Durant, OK Micropolitan Statistical Area
Gainesville, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
Sulphur Springs, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
Mineral Wells, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
8
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area
7,164,790
7,067,807
+1.37%
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area
Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Dover, DE Metropolitan Statistical Area
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Ocean City, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
9
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL Combined Statistical Area
6,723,472
6,166,766
+9.03%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Okeechobee, FL Micropolitan Statistical Area
10
Houston-The Woodlands, TX Combined Statistical Area
6,686,318
6,114,562
+9.35%
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
Huntsville, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
El Campo, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
Bay City, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
Brenham, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
11
Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA Combined Statistical Area
6,258,875
5,910,296
+5.90%
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
LaGrange, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
Jefferson, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
Calhoun, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
Cedartown, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
Thomaston, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
12
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI Combined Statistical Area
5,315,251
5,318,744
−0.07%
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Flint, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Monroe, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Adrian, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area
13
Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area
4,526,991
4,274,767
+5.90%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Olympia-Tumwater, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Oak Harbor, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area
Centralia, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area
Shelton, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area
14
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area
4,489,109
4,192,887
+7.06%
15
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area
3,835,050
3,684,928
+4.07%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
St. Cloud, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
Faribault-Northfield, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area
Red Wing, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area
Hutchinson, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area
16
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area
3,497,851
3,515,646
−0.51%
Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Akron, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Ashtabula, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
New Philadelphia-Dover, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Sandusky, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Norwalk, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
17
Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area
3,345,261
3,090,874
+8.23%
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
18
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
3,263,431
3,095,313
+5.43%
19
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA Combined Statistical Area
3,160,488
2,921,408
+8.18%
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Salem, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area
Albany, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area
Longview, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Corvallis, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area
20
Orlando-Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL Combined Statistical Area
3,045,707
2,818,120
+8.08%
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Villages, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
21
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
2,915,582
2,783,243
+4.75%
22
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL Combined Statistical Area
2,910,738
2,892,497
+0.63%
St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Farmington, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area
Centralia, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area
23
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV Combined Statistical Area
2,653,781
2,660,727
−0.26%
Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
New Castle, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area
Indiana, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area
24
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC Combined Statistical Area
2,537,990
2,375,675
+6.83%
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Shelby, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area
Albemarle, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area
25
Sacramento-Roseville, CA Combined Statistical Area
2,513,103
2,414,783
+4.07%
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Yuba City, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Truckee-Grass Valley, CA Micropolitan Statistical Area
26
Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT Combined Statistical Area
2,423,912
2,271,696
+6.70%
Salt Lake City, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area
Ogden-Clearfield, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area
Provo-Orem, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area
Summit Park, UT Micropolitan Statistical Area
Heber, UT Micropolitan Statistical Area
27
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area
2,411,635
2,343,008
+2.93%
Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area
St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lawrence, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area
Warrensburg, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area
Ottawa, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area
Atchison, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area
28
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH Combined Statistical Area
2,398,297
2,308,509
+3.89%
Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Zanesville, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Chillicothe, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Marion, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Mount Vernon, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Bellefontaine, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Cambridge, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Washington Court House, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
29
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN Combined Statistical Area
2,353,935
2,266,569
+3.85%
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
Muncie, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
Columbus, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
New Castle, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area
Seymour, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area
Crawfordsville, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area
North Vernon, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area
Greensburg, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area
30
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
2,328,652
2,142,508
+8.69%
31
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ Combined Statistical Area
2,315,324
2,195,401
+5.46%
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Pahrump, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area
32
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN Combined Statistical Area
2,208,450
2,174,110
+1.58%
33
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Combined Statistical Area
2,075,126
1,912,729
+8.49%
Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Dunn, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area
Oxford, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area
Sanford, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area
Henderson, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area