Metro Area Fields in Core Dataset — March 2026

The Core Property Data dataset now includes six metropolitan area fields that provide U.S. Census Bureau geographic classifications for every property in the BatchData API. These fields help you understand which metro areas your properties belong to and enable more precise market analysis.

Available Metro Area Fields

BatchData provides three levels of metro area classification in API responses:

CBSA (Core Based Statistical Area)

address.cbsaCode (string) — US Census Bureau core based statistical area (CBSA) code
address.cbsaTitle (string) — CBSA title (e.g., "Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ")

CSA (Combined Statistical Area)

address.csaCode (string) — US Census Bureau combined statistical area (CSA) code
address.csaTitle (string) — CSA title (e.g., "Phoenix-Mesa, AZ")

Metro Division

address.metroDivisionCode (string) — US Census Bureau metro division code
address.metroDivisionTitle (string) — Metro division title (e.g., "Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA")

Understanding Metro Area Classifications

The U.S. Census Bureau defines these three geographic levels to group counties into economic regions:

Level	Coverage	Example
CBSA	Metropolitan and micropolitan areas — most common metro boundary	"Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ"
CSA	Larger regions combining adjacent CBSAs with significant economic ties	"Phoenix-Mesa, AZ" (includes Phoenix + Prescott metros)
Metro Division	Subdivisions within large CBSAs that have distinct employment centers	"Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA" (subdivision of Atlanta CBSA)

Geographic Relationship:

CSA (broadest — combined metros)
└── CBSA (individual metro area)
    └── Metro Division (sub-area within large metros)

How Metro Fields Appear in API Responses

When you request the Core dataset, metro area fields are included automatically:

Example: Single Property Response

{
  "_id": "507f1f77bcf86cd799439011",
  "address": {
    "city": "Phoenix",
    "state": "AZ",
    "zip": "85001",
    "cbsaCode": "38060",
    "cbsaTitle": "Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ",
    "csaCode": "484",
    "csaTitle": "Phoenix-Mesa, AZ",
    "metroDivisionCode": null,
    "metroDivisionTitle": null
  }
}

Example: Property in Large Metro with Divisions

{
  "_id": "507f1f77bcf86cd799439012",
  "address": {
    "city": "Atlanta",
    "state": "GA",
    "zip": "30309",
    "cbsaCode": "12060",
    "cbsaTitle": "Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA",
    "csaCode": "142",
    "csaTitle": "Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL",
    "metroDivisionCode": "12060",
    "metroDivisionTitle": "Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA"
  }
}

Important Notes

Metro Division Fields

Only populated for properties within large CBSAs that have defined subdivisions
Most metro areas (like Phoenix, Denver, Tampa) do not have metro divisions
Only the largest CBSAs (like Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Washington DC) are subdivided
If no metro division exists, these fields will be null

Data Availability

Metro area fields are available for all U.S. properties in BatchData
Fields may be null for properties in rural areas not part of any metropolitan area
All six fields are included in the Core Property Data dataset

Using Metro Fields for Market Analysis

Metro area fields enable precise geographic analysis and segmentation:

Portfolio Analysis by Metro Area

Group your properties by CBSA to analyze portfolio distribution across metro markets.

Market Comparison

Compare property performance between different metro areas using cbsaTitle groupings.

Sub-Market Analysis

For large metros with divisions (like Atlanta or New York), use metroDivisionTitle to analyze specific sub-markets within the broader metro area.

Regional Analysis

Use csaTitle to analyze broader economic regions that combine multiple metro areas.

Property Search Filtering

You can also filter properties by metro area when using the Property Search API. See our Metro Area Search Filters guide for complete search examples and filter options.

Quick Search Examples

Find all properties in Phoenix metro:

{
  "searchCriteria": {
    "location": {
      "cbsaTitle": {
        "contains": "Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler"
      }
    }
  }
}

Find properties in Atlanta metro division:

{
  "searchCriteria": {
    "location": {
      "metroDivisionTitle": {
        "contains": "Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell"
      }
    }
  }
}

Next Steps

Explore your data: Check existing property records to see metro area classifications
Update your analysis: Incorporate metro fields into market analysis workflows
Use search filters: Try metro area filtering in the Property Search API
Questions? Contact support for help with metro area field integration

The metro area fields provide a powerful new dimension for understanding your property data geography and enable more sophisticated market analysis across metropolitan boundaries.

Property Lookup API: unitNumber and unitType Now Supported as Separate Fields - March 2026

New Property Search Filters — Metro Area (CBSA, CSA, Metro Division)