Esri provides an Urbanicity Type classification system that designates United States population (at the Census block geography level) into one of 10 categories. Categorization is based on characteristics such as population density, distance from an urban center, and socioeconomic dependence on the urban core. Urbanicity Type classifications are sourced from Esri Updated Demographics, Census TIGER geography, Census 2020, and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) definitions of principal cities. Visit Where to find Esri Location Data to learn more about using advanced demographics.
Urbanicity Type is a land-based classification system. Urbanicity refers to the degree of urbanization in a specific area, ranging from highly urban environments (such as big cities) to rural settings. This classification system provides a more granular, current, and nuanced view of the degree to which land is urban or rural.
Urbanicity affects how people shop and behave based on where they live. For example, urban residents typically benefit from multiple shopping centers and a diverse array of choices and contemporary trends, whereas rural populations favor practical, locally sourced products and can select from a smaller range of storefront options.
Tip:
Urbanicity Type uses Census 2020 geography.
Urbanicity categories
Urbanicity Type can be applied to existing demographics in various ways to add depth of understanding, including health studies, public transportation planning, environmental assessments, and emergency preparedness.
Urbanicity Type classifies Esri's current year total population into 10 categories:
| Urbanicity Type | Description |
|---|---|
Urban Core | A dense metro city core. Defined in every principal city and city with a population of 75,000 or more within a Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) that meets a minimum density of at least 400 persons per square mile or 90% Census urban population. These areas exhibit very high housing or daytime population density relative to the parent city. |
Urban Vicinity | The dense periphery of a metro city core. Defined in a principal city and cities with a population of 75,000 or more within a CBSA that meets a minimum density of at least 400 persons per square mile or 90% Census urban population. These areas exhibit high (albeit lower than Urban Core) housing or daytime population density relative to the parent city. |
Peripheral Community | The exurban metro core. Defined for cities with a population between 2,000 and 75,000 on the outskirts of larger CBSAs that meet a minimum density of at least 400 persons per square mile or 90% Census urban population. Areas designated Peripheral Community are the densest relative to the parent city to form the core of the community. |
Suburb | Areas around a metro commuter belt. Defined only within a CBSA, these areas meet a minimum density requirement of 200 persons per square mile and exist in the periphery of either Urban Core, Urban Vicinity, or Peripheral Community—both inside and outside city boundaries. |
Metro Landscape | Metro low-density territories within a CBSA with density lower than 200 persons per square mile. These territories exist in the periphery of Urban Core, Urban Vicinity, Peripheral Community, or Suburb—both inside and outside city boundaries. |
Small Town | Nonmetro centers within cities outside of a CBSA but within a two-hour drive of an Urban Core, with a population of at least 1,000 people and a minimum density of at least 400 persons per square mile or 90% Census urban population. These areas are the densest relative to the parent city to form the core of the town. |
Remote Town | Distant nonmetro centers within cities outside of a CBSA that are more than a two-hour drive from an Urban Core, with a population of at least 1,000 people and a minimum density of at least 400 persons per square mile or 50% Census urban population. These areas are the densest relative to the parent city to form the core of the town. |
Rural Countryside | Nonmetro rural areas outside of a CBSA but within a two-hour drive of an Urban Core. These areas may exist within the periphery of a Small Town or outside city boundaries. |
Rural Remote | Distant nonmetro rural areas that are more than a two-hour drive from an Urban Core. These areas may be in the periphery of a Remote Town or outside city boundaries. |
Unpopulated | These are areas with no residential population that may exist inside or outside of both a CBSA or city boundaries. Daytime population may still be present within these territories. |
Release date
This classification system was initially released in November 2024; the vintage is 2024.
Related links
Refer to the following content:
- 2024 Esri U.S. Demographics Release Notes (PDF).
- 2024-2029 Esri U.S. Data Catalog (XLS).
- Esri Urbanicity Type Methodology Statement (ArcGIS StoryMaps); a PDF is also available.
- Use and interpret Esri Urbanicity Types (ArcGIS StoryMaps tutorial).
- 12 Things to know about Urbanicity Data (ArcGIS Blog article).
Note:
- For information about reports, see Esri Reports.
- For information about purchasing Esri datasets as stand-alone content, contact datasales@esri.com.
- For information about the number of credits needed to run reports, see the Credits by capability topic or the ArcGIS Location Platform Pricing topic (scroll to Business Search, Infographics, and Reports).