MSA: Metropolitan Statistical Area

MSA's are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as one or more central counties containing the area's main population concentration: an urganized area with at least 50,000 inhabitants. An MSA may also include outlying counties that have close economic and social relationships with the central counties. The outlying counties must have a specified level of commuting to the central counties and must also meet certain standards regarding metropolitan character, such as population density, urban population and population growth. In New England, MSA's are composed of cities and towns rather than whole counties.

If you don't find the area you are looking for as an MSA, check under PMSA. For example, Boston does not appear as an MSA, but does appear as a PMSA.

A MSA is the smallest of the three areas, and will have the least prospects.

PMSA: Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area

A PMSA is the name for an MSA that is part of a CMSA. PMSA's are generally larger than MSA's and will have correspondingly more prospects.

CMSA: Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area

In some parts of the country, development has progressed to the point that adjoining MSA's are economically and socially interrelated. CMSA's are groups of MSA's that are considered to have such a relationship. MSA's that are part of a CMSA are referred to as Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSA's).

A CMSA is the largest of the three areas and has the most prospects