Traffic to the online classifieds category has grown 47 percent in the past year to 37.4 million internet users, reaching about 22 percent of the total internet population, according to a comScore Media Metrix analysis of consumer activity at the top online classified sites.

Online classifieds category leader Craigslist.org attracted 13.8 million visitors in July 2006, up a whopping 99 percent from a year ago. Trader Publishing Company ranked second with 10.2 million visitors (up 15 percent), and AutoTrader ranked third with 6.4 million visitors (up 14 percent).

"With nearly 50 percent growth in the past year, Online Classifieds are growing at a rate that surpasses most other categories. As the category leader, Craigslist has clearly impacted the way in which new and traditional media companies approach the classifieds business," commented Andrew Lipsman, Senior Analyst of comScore Networks.

According to comScore's demographic analysis, higher than expected proportions of visitors to the online classifieds category were younger professionals and persons residing on the West Coast.

Those age 25-34 and those in households making at least $100,000 annually were each 23 percent more likely than average to visit the category. Users from the Pacific region were 29 percent more likely than average to visit.