# COUNTY variable

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/county-variable/3718>\
**Category:** CPS\
**Created:** [August 31, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/county-variable/3718 "2020-08-31T16:40:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![You\_Zheng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@You\_Zheng](https://forum.ipums.org/u/You_Zheng)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/county-variable/3718/1 "2020-08-31T16:40:26Z")

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Hi, I’m new to the IPUMPS CPS. When I access CPS through Census, it stated that the lowest geography level available is state, yet I see COUNTY variable in IPUMPS CPS. Is it because IPUMPS CPS can access the micro data? I am doing analysis at NYC level, and wondering how safe it is to use the COUNTY level data here?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Grace\_Cooper](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/grace_cooper/32/376_2.png) [@Grace\_Cooper](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Grace_Cooper)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/county-variable/3718/2 "2020-09-04T20:13:49Z")

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The statement by the Census that “the lowest level of geography available is state” refers to the fact that the lowest geography level that is _complete_ and inclusive of all survey responses is the state level. [COUNTY](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/COUNTY#codes_section) provides the counties that CPS does identify, which are listed on the description tab. If the county you are researching is available in [COUNTY](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/COUNTY#codes_section), it is safe to use in your analysis. Additionally, some metro areas and cities can be identified using [METAREA](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/METAREA#codes_section) and [METRO](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/METRO#codes_section).