Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Metropolitan Statistical Area
MSA code 12580 is the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, a Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It encompasses 7 counties. This code is used by the BLS, Census Bureau, HUD, and BEA to publish labor market, demographic, and economic data at the metropolitan area level — distinct from the individual county FIPS codes used for county-level data.
MSA Code
12580
Type
Metro SA
Component Counties (7)
OMB designates each county in a Core Based Statistical Area as either central — containing the urban core that anchors the metro — or outlying, meaning it qualifies based on commuting ties to the central counties. Both types are included in MSA-level data published by federal agencies. Click any county to see its individual 5-digit FIPS code and data profile.
| County | FIPS Code |
|---|---|
| Baltimore County | 24005 |
| Anne Arundel County | 24003 |
| Baltimore city | 24510 |
| Howard County | 24027 |
| Harford County | 24025 |
| Carroll County | 24013 |
| Queen Anne's County | 24035 |
Federal Datasets Using MSA Code 12580
Several major federal datasets publish directly at the MSA level using this 5-digit code rather than individual county FIPS codes. Note that MSA codes and county FIPS codes are separate namespaces — never join an MSA code against a county FIPS column. To work with county-level data within this metro, use the individual county FIPS codes listed above.