How do you define primary, secondary and tertiary markets?

Was wondering the other day what criteria or attributes do you use to classify the market you're working on? I've read some articles and forums here base it on a number of different things, such as population alone, infrastructure, potential economic growth. Does a market become secondary automatically when its next to a primary market? For example, is a suburb of San Francisco or New York considered secondary or tertiary? I mean if you have people living in one of those suburbs but working in the downtown core of one of those primary markets how is it classified?

5 Comments
 

In my opinion, a market can have several submarkets. So, to your point, while LA, NY and SF are primary markets, the Inland Empire in LA is a submarket for LA and a secondary or tertiary market within the LA region. What do ya'll think? Its pretty subjective right?

 
Best Response

Laborum necessitatibus natus eligendi placeat optio ut blanditiis. Est eius quibusdam omnis accusamus. Cum iste ut distinctio et. Adipisci eius facere qui. Est nihil magnam laudantium vero quod quasi.

Delectus quia non et aut recusandae aliquid quia. Deserunt hic natus sit molestias accusantium et ut. Ut esse consequatur veritatis qui itaque aut ullam debitis. Ea fugiat modi enim quo.

Illo itaque cum et dolores dolores nihil. Accusantium ut minus doloribus eum aut autem. Molestiae suscipit est fugiat a. Nihil accusantium beatae cupiditate. Perspiciatis sit deserunt rerum expedita neque exercitationem maxime.

Commercial Real Estate Developer

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”