I think a better measure would be an average of averages of adjacent populations. Define a node as a population center (say NYC) and then edges as cities (Bost

I think a better measure would be an average of averages of adjacent populations. Define a node as a population center (say NYC) and then edges as cities (Boston, Philly, DC, Pittsburgh) with the weight being the population of the respective city. Average the populations for each mode and then average those averages. The idea of this number is it would represent the average population of points of interest.