Use and interpret Esri Urbanicity Types

Learn how to analyze the population footprint with Urbanicity Type data.

Esri's Data Development team produces demographic data known as Updated Demographics for the United States. A variety of sources are used to update small areas, beginning with the latest U.S. Census base along with a mixture of other private sources to capture demographic change. Alongside Updated Demographics, Esri provides U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey (ACS) demographics as a point of reference for understanding growth in an area and to provide additional community details.

Data tutorials educate both the novice and the expert analyst to learn more about a topic to properly incorporate Esri Demographics that are accessible within various products. In this tutorial, you will learn about the following:

  • What is Urbanicity
  • Urbanicity Type classification
  • Why study Urbanicity
  • How it works
  • Urbanicity Type definitions
  • Data analysis
  • Data review and considerations
  • Where to find additional resources

First, you'll learn how Esri defines Urbanicity and why using Urbanicity Type may be important in your work.


Urbanicity and Urbanicity Type

Urbanicity is often defined as the degree to which an area is considered urban or rural, ranging from highly urban environments (city centers) to rural settings. Urbanicity Type is a classification system built by Esri that designates population into one of 10 urbanicity categories based on characteristics such as density, infrastructure development, and socioeconomic dependence on urban cores.


Urbanicity Type classification

On the right are the ten categories that comprise the Urbanicity Type classification system.

The data is available at the block group level and above, where Urbanicity Types are weighted based on population.

This U.S. map, developed using ArcGIS Pro, illustrates the distinctions between urban and rural classifications. A significant portion of the country is prominently classified as Metro Landscape.

Urban Core and Urban Vicinity areas are surrounded by Suburb and Metro Landscape and are centered on metropolitan and micropolitan areas throughout the U.S.

Rural Countryside and Rural Remote areas are found in non-metropolitan regions. Additionally, areas shaded in gray represent Unpopulated regions.

Why study Urbanicity

The United States is a vast and varied country, with each state, city, and town having its own unique development timeline, resulting in different communities and landscapes. Studying urbanicity reveals how people's shopping habits and behaviors can vary based on where they live. For instance, urban areas often offer a more diverse array of choices and trends, while rural areas may favor locally sourced products.

The chart illustrates the various applications of urbanicity data, including health studies, public transportation planning, environmental assessments, and emergency preparedness.

Data users can access urban data from both the Census Bureau and Esri. The  Census Bureau's urban-rural classification  delineates geographic areas into two categories: urban and rural.

Esri's Urbanicity Type classification is built around a framework that features ten distinct types ranging from Urban Core to Rural Remote.

Next, let's examine the Urbanicity Type classification structure in more detail.


How it works

Esri’s classification of Urbanicity Types is built up from Census Blocks and leverages key identifiers of geographic location and identity. The model is hierarchical and leverages official definitions of Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) and places (i.e.: cities). CBSAs are identified as either metropolitan or micropolitan areas. Places capture defined entities such as cities, towns, villages, boroughs etc.

The chart summarizes the relationships in the system. The tiered approach first evaluates the location of a Census Block for presence inside or outside a CBSA, then for presence inside or outside city boundaries and lastly for the type and size of city. 

Once the key attributes of a location are established, the assignment to an Urbanicity Type utilizes a model that differentiates based on various factors, including population, housing, density, and proximity measures.

Next, let's look at Urbanicity Types located only within a CBSA boundary.

The image demonstrates that once a block has been designated within a CBSA boundary, these areas are then initially classified as either In Principal City, In Secondary City (Pop greater than 75k), Other Cities (Pop between 2,000 and 75,000), Other Cities (Pop less than 2,000), or Not in City.

Areas In Principal City, for example, are then evaluated in the model and classified as either Urban Core, Urban Vicinity, Suburb, Metro Landscape, or Unpopulated.

Note that Urban Core and Urban Vicinity assignments are only possible for areas identified as Principal City or Secondary City, given that all other criteria are met.

Now let's look at Urbanicity Types not in a CBSA boundary.

Once a block has been designated outside the boundaries of a CBSA, it is initially categorized as either In City, or Not in City.

In City areas are then classified in either of these 5 Urbanicity Types: Small Town, Remote Town, Rural Countryside, Rural Remote, or Unpopulated.

Not in City areas can only be assigned to a Rural Countryside, Rural Remote or Unpopulated Urbanicity Type.

Urbanicity Type definitions

Having familiarized ourselves with the data, let's examine the distinct definitions of each Urbanicity Type, differentiating between those within CBSAs and those outside of them.

This map utilizes the dominant Urbanicity Type variable for the Denver, Colorado CBSA. Now, let's explore each of the five Urbanicity Types in greater detail for this CBSA.

An Urban Core is found in the largest cities within a CBSA. Only the most dense census blocks or those with a large daytime population are classified as Urban Core such as Downtown Denver.

Urban Vicinity is defined using the same criteria as Urban Core but density requirements for Urban Vicinity are less stringent. These are typically areas that surround Urban Core areas such as greater Denver, Thornton, or Aurora.

Peripheral Communities are defined for cities on the outskirts of major metropolitan areas with significant residential or daytime population density such as The Pinery, south of Denver.

Suburb territories are communities adjacent to or within commuting distance to an Urban Core within CBSAs.

Metro Landscape areas have residential population but are not as dense as Suburb.

The neighborhoods outside Aurora's Urban Core are Suburbs. As you head east, these areas become less dense Metro Landscape communities.

Lastly, Unpopulated areas are not assigned to an Urbanicity Type and do not have any Esri current year residential population. These block areas can be found both inside or outside CBSAs, as well as inside or outside place boundaries. Daytime population (commercial activity) may be present in these blocks.

Next, let's examine a different collection of map images that categorize areas with Urbanicity Types located outside of metropolitan boundaries.

Small Towns are located in places less than a two-hour drive from an Urban Core such as Sugar City.

Remote Towns are located in places with more than a two-hour drive from an Urban Core such as Burlington.

Rural Countryside areas are located within a two-hour drive from an Urban Core. They are either not part of any defined city or do not meet the density requirements to be classified as Small Town. Think of places like Northrop or Placerville.

Rural Remote areas (like Kim or Seibert) are located more than a two-hour drive from an Urban Core. They are either not part of any defined city or do not meet the density requirements to be classified as Remote Town.

Data analysis

Up to this point maps and hierarchy charts have illustrated how the Urbanicity Type data is defined and classified. To gain further knowledge about the area's demographic landscape, you can also use Esri's demographic table (shown below) that provides a broad summary view of select demographic and socioeconomic characteristics by Urbanicity Type.

Urbanicity Type summary statistics compared to the U.S.

United States

Households   130,716,571 

Population Density   95.8 

Median HH Income  $79,100 

Median Net Worth  $225,500 

Median Home Value  $355,600  

Home Ownership (%)   64.4 

Vacancy (%)  10.0 

Urban Core

25,401,037

7437.8

65,000

65,600

350,400

38.4

10.1

Urban Vicinity

17,792,088

4,366.3

78,000

179,900

391,900

58.1

7.7

Peripheral Community

1,715,419

2462.0

80,500

256,000

372,000

68.5

10.3

Suburb

66,193,147

1,664.9

88,400

312,900

384,300

71.3

8.1

Metro Landscape

12,368,399

30.4

75,600

299,000

281,900

82.3

14.4

Small Town

1,961,594

1,760.5

53,100

119,000

159,800

64.5

14.7

Remote Town

46,359

1,041.3

63,600

155,900

267,100

63.8

16.8

Rural Countryside

4,963,975

20.1

58,700

214,800

198,400

80.0

22.2

Rural Remote

274,553

1.8

62,900

227,400

283,400

76.8

35.7

Unpopulated

-

-

-

-

-

-

100.0

Urbanicity Type Summary Statistics Table

Interpreting the summary table

In the United States, there are approximately 130 million households, with about 25 million of these located in Urban Core areas. The population density is significantly higher in Urban Core areas, with more than 7,400 people per square mile compared to just 96 people per square mile across the entire country. 

The median household income in the U.S. is $79,100, while in Urban Core areas, householders earn a lower median of $65,000. Similarly, the median net worth of U.S. households is $225,500, but in Urban Core areas, it is much lower at $65,600. The median home value in the U.S. is $355,600.

In Urban Core areas householders homes are valued close to the national median at $350,400. Homeownership rates differ, with 64% of households owning their homes in the U.S. versus just 38% in Urban Core areas, where renting is more common. The vacancy rate for homes is similar across the board, at 10% for the U.S. and 10.1% for Urban Core areas.

What you learn

Using additional information such as the demographic characteristics from the Urbanicity Type Summary Statistics table enables you to evaluate the contrast between the general U.S. population and those living in each Urbanicity Type, painting a picture of the sociodemographic and economic landscape, and highlights the differences in wealth, home ownership, and population density. For example, Urban Core areas tend to have higher density, lower home ownership, and lower incomes compared to the national average.


Next, let's explore a ZIP code within the Denver, CO metropolitan area, utilizing basic thematic and imagery maps to deepen our understanding of the area’s classification and footprint. Click on the left or right arrow to swipe between the following two map images.

According to Esri’s Urbanicity Type Classification system, ZIP code 80249 is primarily classified as Urban Vicinity, with a population of 24,145 residents, which accounts for 54.6% of the total. Additionally, 19,888 individuals, or 45%, fall into the Suburb category, while a smaller percentage is classified as part of the Metro Landscape.

Located on the far northeast outskirts of Denver, 80249 is bordered by both Urban Core and Suburb areas—a characteristic feature of Urban Vicinity classifications also found in nearby cities such as Aurora, Commerce City, Brighton, and Watkins.

Nearby green spaces, such as the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and Barr Lake State Park, adjacent to Suburb and Metro Landscape areas, help illustrate the connection between populated neighborhoods and natural environments; essential for evaluating equitable access to both urban amenities and green spaces that lead to balanced community developments.

 

 

Zooming in on the area reveals that the southern part of 80249 is predominantly developed.

As you move northward through the ZIP code, you will notice construction activity. Just east of 80249, Aurora ZIP code 80019 represents a densely populated Suburb area, showcasing residential developments.

Esri’s Urbanicity model evaluates areas based on the characteristics and locations of emerging populations to determine Urbanicity Types.

The northernmost section of the ZIP code encompasses Denver International Airport. For ease of access, airports are often located in Urban Vicinity areas that are close to densely populated Urban Cores in most large metropolitan areas.

In this example, understanding the area's urban-to-rural classification can lead to improved transportation infrastructure (such as enhanced road networks and public transit systems) to community development of various services (hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and educational institutions). We encourage data analysts to leverage these measures to enhance their knowledge of areas and identify opportunities for adding services and amenities that better serve local communities.

Data review and considerations

For any given geographic area or polygon, a distribution of population for the 10 Urbanicity Types are provided. Mapping the dominant Urbanicity Type is an easy way to gain perspective of any geographic landscape.

Like any classification, the model can not cover every situation. Esri's design process involves thorough quality checks and visual reviews to find any clear exceptions. While classifications are made at the census block level for detailed data, Urbanicity Type is shown at the census block group level to align with Esri's existing demographic products.

Not all Esri Data is available for all geographic levels. Use  Esri's Data Catalog  or  view Esri's Data Fact Sheet  to learn about data sources, vintage, and updates.


Next steps

In this tutorial, you learned about the basics of Urbanicity Type data and the impact it has on a community. Additional data tutorials in two series are available. Click on the links below for continued data exploration, learning, and ways to access the data.

You can access Esri Demographics using Esri software and through apps like ArcGIS  Business Analyst  ,  ArcGIS for Excel  , or ready to use maps from  ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World . For use outside of the Esri platform data files are available in CSV, dBase, Excel, shapefile, or file geodatabase formats.

Contact an Esri data sales specialist with data questions at 800-447-9778 or send an email with your request to: datasales@esri.com.


Learn more

Data methodologies

Urbanicity Type data is developed from incorporating existing statistical definitions of urban-rural relationships, annual updates of residential and daytime population from Esri Updated Demographics, along with drive times and relative proximity powered by ArcGIS. Represented as point-in-time estimates as of July 1, the data is available for Esri’s standard geographic areas and for any user-defined polygon such as a ring or drive time.   Read Esri Urbanicity Type Methodology Statement for more information 

Frequently asked questions

Use the  data reference page   to help answer additional questions about Esri Demographics.

Helpful links


Connect with us

If you have a topic you would like covered in a data tutorial to help you better understand U.S. data, send us an e-mail with your topic idea.

About this story

This story was created by Donna Fancher and Julia Holtzclaw in collaboration with the Esri Data Development team. To start working with the U.S. data collection, visit the  Esri Location Data Resources   page.

Led by chief demographer Kyle Cassal and economist Douglas Skuta, Esri's Data Development team uses sophisticated quantitative methods to produce small area demographic and socioeconomic data to support informed decision-making. The team builds on a rich history of market intelligence to produce trusted independent estimates and forecasts for the United States based on innovative methodologies that use public and private data sources with the power of ArcGIS. Esri's Data Development team provides more than 7,000 proprietary data items to better understand the characteristics of people and places across multiple statistical and administrative boundaries and custom trade areas.

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