ZIP Codes & MSAs

Overview

Lightcast ZIP Code data is structured to support consistent geographic analysis and reporting. It differs from USPS ZIP Codes and Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) in both construction and intended use, and is designed to ensure alignment across Lightcast datasets.

These geographic definitions help reduce inconsistencies when integrating external standards and support accurate mapping of ZIP Codes to larger regions, including Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), improving overall reporting consistency and geographic alignment.

Lightcast Zip Codes

Lightcast ZIP Code data includes two types of geographic formats to make sure all ZIP Codes are covered. Some ZIP Codes are represented as areas on a map, while others are represented as single points.

• ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs): When a ZIP Code has a defined boundary, it is represented as a map area called a ZCTA (ZIP Code Tabulation Area). These areas are created by the U.S. Census Bureau and closely match standard USPS ZIP Codes.

• ZIP Code Points: Represent ZIP codes that do not have a corresponding ZCTA, stored as point data.

  Due to technical limitations of shapefiles (which can't mix geometry types), these are stored in two separate files:

  • One for ZCTA-based polygons
  • One for USPS point ZIPs

Together, these files represent all ZIPs in Lightcast's coverage.

Lightcast ZIP Codes vs. USPS ZIP Codes

Lightcast ZIP Codes cover a broader geographic scope and may include areas that are not part of USPS but only ZIP Code lists. Because of this difference, users may notice mismatches when comparing Lightcast data with data based strictly on USPS ZIP Codes.

This combined (hybrid) structure improves overall coverage and supports more complete analytics. However, when integrating external ZIP-based datasets, additional geographic alignment may be required to ensure consistency.

Limitations

A direct ZIP-to-MSA crosswalk is not currently available in standard Lightcast datasets. This means ZIP Codes cannot be automatically mapped to Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) using a built-in reference file.

The LIGHTCAST.TAXONOMY.US_AREA taxonomy file does not include ZIP Code data, which makes direct matching more complex. In addition, there is no ZIP-to-MSA normalizer tool available for client use at this time.

Recommendations

While a direct ZIP-to-MSA crosswalk is not available, customers can use alternative geographic methods to perform this mapping.

1. GIS Overlay

Customers with GIS capabilities can overlay ZIP Code polygons and point locations onto MSA boundary maps. By identifying where ZIP areas or points intersect with MSA boundaries, they can create their own custom crosswalk.

2. Latitude & Longitude Matching

If USPS ZIP Codes are associated with latitude and longitude coordinates, customers can use a GIS API to determine the nearest or intersecting MSA.

This method provides a scalable way to map ZIP Codes to MSAs, including ZIP Codes that are not included in Lightcast datasets.

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For questions or issues with ZIP-to-MSA mapping, contact our 24/7 support team at [email protected].