A component area of a consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA). Any metropolitan area having more than one million persons may be divided in to subareas called primary metropolitan statistical areas (PSMAs) based on criteria established by the Office of Management and Budget. PMSAs consist of a large urbanized county or cluster of counties that demonstrates very strong internal economic and social links, in addition to close ties to other portions of the larger area. In New England, PMSAs are composed of cities and towns rather than whole counties. ( American Travel Survey )

(PMSA)–Geographic entity defined by the Federal OMB for use by Federal statistical agencies. If an area meets the requirements to qualify as a (MSA) and has a population of one million or more, two or more PMSAs may be defined within it if statistical criteria are met and local opinion is in favor. A PMSA consists of a large urbanized county, or a cluster of such counties (cities and towns in New England) that have substantial commuting interchange. When one or more PMSAs have been recognized, the balance of the original, larger area becomes an additional PMSA: the larger area of which they are components then is designated a consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA).

If a metropolitan area (MA) has more than 1 million inhabitants it may be defined as a Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA). PMSAs consist of a large urbanized county or cluster of counties that demonstrates very strong internal economic and social links, but are also linked to other portions of the larger area. This larger area is then called a PMSA.