If you want to compare average sale prices by area, what might this be referred to?

The process of comparing average sale prices by area is indeed most accurately referred to as segmentation. Segmentation involves dividing the market into distinct groups or segments that share similar characteristics, allowing for a better analysis of pricing behaviors across different areas. This is particularly helpful in identifying trends, setting values, and understanding the dynamics of the real estate market in specific locations.

By segmenting the data based on geographic areas, one can obtain a clearer picture of how various regions perform in terms of property prices. This approach assists appraisers in making more informed and accurate assessments for properties based on localized market conditions.

While other terms may involve some aspects of data analysis, they do not specifically capture the essence of dividing data into segments for comparison in the way that segmentation does. For instance, distribution typically refers to how values are spread across a range, summation involves totaling up values, and breakdown might suggest a more general division of data without the specific intent of comparative analysis that segmentation denotes.