# Determining nonmetro counties in CPS

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/determining-nonmetro-counties-in-cps/4661>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [May 13, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/determining-nonmetro-counties-in-cps/4661 "2022-05-13T15:28:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ephraim\_Nkonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7feea3/32.png) [@Ephraim\_Nkonya](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Ephraim_Nkonya)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/determining-nonmetro-counties-in-cps/4661/1 "2022-05-13T15:28:54Z")

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I am trying to determine nonmetro areas in CPS data, but there is no variable that explicitly defines nonmetro areas. the variable that comes close to defining nonmetro area is METAREA, but it ends up combining nonmetro areas with NIU (not in the universe). I was hoping to use GTMETSTA, which explicitly identifies nonmetro counties, but i cant find this variable in the IPUMS data. Any help?  
Ephraim

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**Author:** ![MPC\_vanriper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@MPC\_vanriper](https://forum.ipums.org/u/MPC_vanriper)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/determining-nonmetro-counties-in-cps/4661/2 "2022-05-13T17:22:23Z")

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I recommend using the [METRO](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/METRO#codes_section) variable to differentiate between those living in metropolitan areas vs. non-metropolitan areas. This variable does essentially the same thing as GTMETSTA. The unharmonized IPUMS CPS variable that feeds into METRO is [UH\_METSTAT\_B1](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/UH_METSTAT_B1#codes_section).

CPS will never identify individual counties outside of metropolitan areas because of sample size and confidentiality reasons.

David Van Riper  
IPUMS

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**Author:** ![Ephraim\_Nkonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7feea3/32.png) [@Ephraim\_Nkonya](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Ephraim_Nkonya)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/determining-nonmetro-counties-in-cps/4661/3 "2022-05-13T17:39:51Z")

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Thanks a lot David for your quick answer.

Ephraim