When Analyzing Suburbs, Definitions Matter

The definitions of suburban chosen by researchers tend to fall into three categories—and each has a significant impact and the results of academic inquiry.

1 minute read

February 22, 2019, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Suburban Lawns

rSnapshotPhotos / Shutterstock

Whitney Airgood-Obrycki shares recent research from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University that describes the consequences of having so many different definitions for the suburban.

The problem originates with the U.S. Census’s 15-chapter long compendium of geographic terms and concepts, which does not include any definition of “suburb” or “suburban,” according to Airgood-Obrycki. "As a result, in recent years, researchers have created their own methodologies for defining suburban neighborhoods."

"In our new working paper (which will be featured in a lunchtime Research Seminar this Friday, February 22), Shannon Rieger and I explore varying approaches to defining suburbs and investigate whether (and how) different definitions might affect researchers’ findings about the characteristics of America’s suburbs."

There's the census-convenient definition, the suburbanisms definition, and typology definition—each of which produce different results in given metro areas, according to Airgood-Obrycki. The analysis presented later today analyzed 1) whether these different definitions produce substantial differences in key housing and demographic variables, 2) the extent of a given characteristic within suburbs, and 3) the geographic split of a characteristic between city and suburban neighborhoods.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019 in Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight