Navigation:  Database Fields & Theory > Definitions of Geographic Areas > Explanation of the Geographic Grouping

Data in the valuation databases is grouped according to the regions and divisions defined by the United States Census Bureau and by three additional commonly accepted areas. We chose the Census Bureau regions and divisions as the basis for our geographic grouping because they are commonly known and used. The data can be readily matched to any data that uses the Census Bureau area definitions.

The three additional areas applied are East, Northwest, and Southwest. These areas are included to provide greater convenience and utility to our customers. For example, you may find that a business in Arizona has more in common with similar businesses in California than it does with businesses in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. In that case, instead of using the Census Bureau’s Mountain division, you can use the Southwest area. The same holds true for a business in Montana. If you would prefer to group a Montana business with ones in Oregon and Washington than with Arizona and New Mexico and other Southwest states included in the Mountain division, you can use the Northwest area.