Comparing NYC & Washington DC – Area, Population, Density & Average Income

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While we are talking about Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas, the research springing forth from the arcane administrative allocation of funds and people took me away from New York as 51st State. Throughout my research, I couldn’t find comparative analysis of the different Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Specifically I was interested in how to compare and contrast the different Metropolitan Statistical Areas along a series of interrelated data axis:

  • Area
  • Population
  • Density
  • Economic Activity

The population data was easy to obtain through the Census Bureau,1 which if anything, has too much public facing data. The total MSA area (square miles) was much harder to find however, and I had to resort to breaking down the MSA into their constituent counties and add up the correct area myself. Note to the Census Bureau: you and I both know you have this data, why not make it easier to find? Economic data was relatively easy to find, the problem was finding the correct data which matches the corresponding MSA.2

With the congruent data sources found, I was able to begin comparing and contrasting Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The below figure is the first in a string of figures I hope to produce which compares the New York Metropolitan Area3 and the Washington Metropolitan Area,4 area, population, density & average income.

Comparing NYC & Washington Area, Population, Density & Average Income

I don’t know how helpful this relative comparison is but I think I know where at least to head to next. I am not wholly convinced that Average Income is a good indicator of economic status for a given area.

I think if I had a series of different Metropolitan Statistical Areas arrayed at the same time, then the relative comparisons would start to tell a story. As it is, comparing a hyper-urban area with a fairly urban area (taken as a whole MSA) won’t tell me much. I suspect it will take comparing cities such as Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Las Vegas, etc to yield interesting arrangements and set the stage for deep examination. Furthermore, I think finding and graphing historical data through time to see how the scatter plot moves would be the most evocative and interesting diagram.

  1. For the Census Data, please see: Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (CBSA-EST2007-01) &#8617
  2. I finally found the corresponding data on the May 2007 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey Estimates by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor which you can download the data here: Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates &#8617
  3. Specifically the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as the New York Metropolitan Area &#8617
  4. Specifically the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA, also known as the Washington Metropolitan Area. &#8617