A number on its own is hard to judge. Knowing that 40% of households in your city rent tells you little until you see that the state figure is 28%. Comparison areas give you that context: they appear side by side with your study area in every table, so you can see where your place is higher or lower than its county, state, the nation, or similar places. They are also used in What stands out.
Add comparisons
In step 2 of Create a profile, under Compare ... against...:
- Click a Suggested place: larger areas that contain your study area, such as its county, state, and the nation, or
- Click Add comparison and pick any place. See Choose a place.
Each comparison appears as a chip. Click it to Remove, Rename, Edit on map, or Save place. If you pick several places at once, choose Add as one area or Add N separately.
A profile can include up to 20 places: your study area and 19 comparisons.
Change places in an existing profile
At the top of the profile, each place is a chip. Your study area is marked TARGET, and each comparison area is marked benchmark, the place you measure against. Click Edit next to the chips to add, remove, or change them.