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Tristate is used in things like radio where you are covering 3 states. "Here is the news/weather in the tristate area". They mean specifically the 3 states that the radio signal reaches, which is clear to everyone. Since they reach 3 states there is no other name that can be used for their coverage area. The people in question regularly cross state lines.

It isn't a useful concept to bring up when you are not physically in a tri-state area.

And if you're from a little-further-south it is (naturally) Washington DC's version of the same thing (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia)

I guess that’s true if you’re west of DC. Otherwise it’s Delmarva (DELaware, MARyland, VirginiA).

I’ve only heard that called “the DMV,” but I’m not from there.

Chicago: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin