1. Set the geographic boundary before you assess the profile
Ann Arbor city is a municipality in Washtenaw County. The 2020–2024 ACS five-year population estimate for the city is 122,036, with a margin of error of 55. That figure describes the city population; it does not establish legal demand, search volume, competition, leads, cases or revenue. It also does not define every location your firm may serve. A firm serving Ann Arbor and other parts of Washtenaw County should decide whether its review and profile strategy represents the city, the county, a broader metropolitan audience or Michigan generally. Those are different geographic claims.
Recommended approach
Start with a written service-area decision. Identify the office or offices represented by the profile, the communities the firm actually serves and the matters that may be discussed publicly. Keep Ann Arbor city, Washtenaw County and any broader service area distinct in profile language, reporting and consultation questions. Do not use the city’s population as a forecast.
