- Codes
- Description
- Comparability
- Universe
- Availability
- Flags
- Questionnaire Text
- UnHarmonized Variables
Codes and Frequencies
An 'X' indicates the category is available for that sample
Code | Label |
Dec
24 |
Nov
24 |
Oct
24 |
Sep
24 |
Aug
24 |
Jul
24 |
Jun
24 |
May
24 |
Apr
24 |
ASEC
24 |
Mar
24 |
Feb
24 |
Jan
24 |
Dec
23 |
Nov
23 |
Oct
23 |
Sep
23 |
Aug
23 |
Jul
23 |
Jun
23 |
May
23 |
Apr
23 |
ASEC
23 |
Mar
23 |
Feb
23 |
Jan
23 |
Dec
22 |
Nov
22 |
Oct
22 |
Sep
22 |
Aug
22 |
Jul
22 |
Jun
22 |
May
22 |
Apr
22 |
ASEC
22 |
Mar
22 |
Feb
22 |
Jan
22 |
Dec
21 |
Nov
21 |
Oct
21 |
Sep
21 |
Aug
21 |
Jul
21 |
Jun
21 |
May
21 |
Apr
21 |
ASEC
21 |
Mar
21 |
Code | Label |
Feb
21 |
Jan
21 |
ASEC
20 |
ASEC
19 |
ASEC
18 |
ASEC
17 |
ASEC
16 |
ASEC
15 |
ASEC
14 |
ASEC
13 |
ASEC
12 |
ASEC
11 |
ASEC
10 |
ASEC
09 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | Not identified | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 0 | Not identified | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
1 | Not in metropolitan area | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 1 | Not in metropolitan area | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
In metropolitan area: | In metropolitan area: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | In central/principal city | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 2 | In central/principal city | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
3 | Not in central/principal city | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | Not in central/principal city | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
4 | Central/principal city status not identified | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 4 | Central/principal city status not identified | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
9 | Missing/unknown | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 9 | Missing/unknown | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Can't find the category you are looking for? Try the Detailed codes
Description
METRO indicates whether a household resided in a metropolitan area. For households within metropolitan areas, METRO also indicates whether the housing unit was inside or outside of a central/principal city. The Census Bureau adds this information itself and does not collect it directly from respondents.
Comparability
Definitions of metropolitan areas and central/principal cities have changed from census to census. The term "central city" was retired by the OMB in 2003 and replaced with the term "principal city." The term was changed to alleviate confusion as "central city" can connote "inner city", but the OMB definitions do not capture that concept. The definition of "principal city" was also broadened to include census designated places as well as incorporated places.
For 1962 to 1976, households in metropolitan areas were classified dichotomously as "in the central city" and "not in the central city." For 1977 onward, IPUMS-CPS added an additional code, "in metropolitan area, central city status unknown." In addition, confidentiality requirements led to some households being classified as "not identifiable" in the METRO variable.
METRO is unavailable in the June, July, and August 1995 basic monthly sample data. In earlier basic monthly samples, METRO is unavailable in January, April, May, June, October, and November 1976 data, as well as July, August, and September 1985 samples.
Starting in 1986, ASEC samples switched from using Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) to using Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA). This directly affects the frequency for the code âCentral/principal city status not identifiedâ.
In January 2023, the Census Bureau made a significant change to the way confidentiality is protected for individuals in small geographic areas. Geography is now partially synthesized for areas with a population below the threshold of 100,000. This change will be phased in as new respondents enter the CPS, beginning with month-in-sample 1 in January 2023. These changes affect the following geographic variables: METFIPS, COUNTY, METRO, INDIVIDCC, and CBSASZ. For more information, see the Census Bureau's 2023 Current Population Survey User Note.
Comparability with IPUMS-USA
The METRO variable is largely comparable between IPUMS USA and IPUMS CPS. The codes correspond directly, but the precision may differ substantially (e.g., IPUMS USA may have larger shares of population with unidentified metro status) due to differences in geographic information available in the source microdata. There are also discrepancies in the timing of adoption of new metropolitan area definitions For example, IPUMS USA began using 2013 OMB metro area definitions with the 2012 ACS samples while the CPS began using the 2013 metro definitions in 2014.
Universe
- All households and group quarters.
Availability
Years | Jan | Feb | ASEC | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1962 – 1975 | - | - | X | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
1976 | - | X | X | X | - | - | - | X | X | X | - | - | X |
1977 – 1984 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
1985 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | - | - | - | X | X | X |
1986 – 1994 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
1995 | X | X | X | X | X | X | - | - | - | X | X | X | X |
1996 – 2024 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Flags
This variable has no flags.Questionnaire Text
Questionnaire text not available.