FAQ

General inquiries

1. How to find a ZIP code
   There are several fun ways to find a ZIP code: 1. Start with our landing page ZIP IQ page and simply explore! 2. Search by state. For example, click on Neighborhoods in Colorado, and you will see the first 20 of the 460+ Colorado ZIP codes in our database. Type into the box next to the word “Search” — by ZIP code, neighborhood, village, town, or city. 3. Enjoy our popular thematic searches that are updated frequently and upon user requests. Here is a list of popular searches: Affordability, Wealth, Economy, Geography, Metropolitan, People, Climate, Trendy, and Infrastructure. 4. Enjoy the Weekly Features posted by us. New lists are created frequently. 5. Enjoy the additional neighborhood highlights at the bottom of every state ZIP code search page.
2. What are the data sources?
   We rely on government agency data for the overwhelming majority of the data we sourced —including but not limited to— the Department of Agriculture, the Census Bureau, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Education, National Science Foundation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Service, the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, the White House Office of Management and Budget, Regional Federal Reserve Banks, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Other sources include the MIT Election Lab, city, county, state, and other local government portals, and additionally supplemented by internet-based research.
3. Is Connecticut’s newest ZIP code-to-county affiliation accounted for?
   Yes, absolutely. The newest U.S. Census adopted Connecticut’s 9 planning regions which are considered county-equivalents. There were 8 conventional counties previously. We have meticulously “re-mapped” CT ZIP codes. Please refer to the individual pages of CT ZIP codes for their old and new county (equivalent) affiliations, respectively.  
4. How often are data updated?
   Neighborhood data are updated constantly. Government agency data are updated annually.

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Definitions — Key Cost Indexes

1. What are the ZIP IQ Key Cost Indexes?
   Key Cost Indexes are calculated based on our proprietary algorithm that factors in a wide array of cost considerations to dynamically reflect the cost scale, ranging from 1 to 100, for each unique ZIP code. They are designed to make your life easier and decision-making streamlined. Each cost index by ZIP code is listed next to the index values by county and state for convenient and relevant comparisons.
2. What do the key cost index values mean?
   Index value ranges from 1 to 100 with 100 being the highest. For example, a ZIP code with a cost-of-living index value of 100 means that the neighborhood is in the costliest top percentile, or costlier than 99% of all the ZIP codes, in the United States.
3. How are key cost indexes defined?
   Wealth Overall measures the relative level of income (all categories that are paid/received regularly) and the property value (of all owned homes) in a ZIP code.
   Cost of Living measures the level of household income needed to afford a home and all the associated expenses such as property insurance and taxation, utilities, and basic living. Please note that this COL measure excludes highly individualized expenditures such as health insurance and costs to operate a vehicle – i.e. fees for license, registration, normal repairs, maintenance, and gas at the pump.
   Earnings Power pits each ZIP code’s median full-time worker’s annual pre-tax pay against those of other ZIP codes in America and shows you the relative paycheck size the typical resident commands.
   Tax Friendliness measures what a typical earner in each ZIP code pays in federal and state income taxes, real estate taxes, and local sales taxes. Our proprietary calculation takes what a median earner receives and applies the relevant federal and state taxation buckets based on the pay level for a unique, more accurate measure of after-tax, take-home pay, and an effective tax rate that’s tailored to the typical resident. Note that lower-income ZIP codes in highly progressive tax regimes may score higher on tax-friendliness than middle-income ZIP codes in highly regressive tax regimes.
   Retail Power measures an average resident’s ability to spend and access shops relative to those in other ZIP codes. The index factored in total income (wages, alimony, public assistance, retirement, rental income all included) and size of population, as well as retail amenities.
   K-12 Resources measures aggregate property taxes collected, on the ZIP code level, per k-12 pupil population.
   Inequality Index factored in variances in the distribution of household income at different levels and only concerned distribution within the boundary of each ZIP code. For example, a highly affluent neighborhood may not be the most unequal if every household has similarly high incomes.

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Definitions — Economic Significance

1. What does the voter population include?
   Headcount of population age 18 and above with U.S. citizenship, whether native-born or naturalized foreign-born citizens. Note registration and turnout vary by location.
2. What types of homes are considered mortgage-free? 
   They are conventionally known as free-and-clear homes that are essentially paid off, without a primary nor second mortgage, home equity loan, line of credit, contract to purchase, lien, or any other claims of debt.
3. What does total real estate taxes include?
   Aggregate real estate taxes paid by residential homeowners. Revenues from property taxes are important public school educational resources to the local government. We apply a multi-year approach to smooth out fluctuations due to assessing, delays, and arrears arrangements.
4. What does total income include and why is it different from wages and salaries?
   In addition to wage and salary earnings, total income includes unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation, self-employment income (farm and non-farm), Social Security or U.S. Railroad Retirement, supplemental security income (SSI), public assistance, veterans’ payments, retirement income — pension, KEOGH, SEP, IRA, ROTH IRA, 401(k), 403(b), survivor benefits, disability payments, interest income, dividends, rents, royalties, estates and trusts, educational assistance, alimony, child support, financial assistance from outside of the household, and military family allotments and any other periodic income.
5. Who counts as a worker?
   We counted all resident population who worked with earnings, whether they worked full-time, part-time, self-employed, informally, or as a gig economy participant. A person holding more than one job is counted once.
6. What does the total vehicle count include?
   Cars, vans, and trucks with a payload of one ton or less.
7. What’s included in the retail indicator?
   Stores, shops, food, drinks, and other accommodation services.

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Definitions — Climate Risks

1. What do climate risk ratings mean?
   Ratings indicate the maximum, not average, risk level should each natural disaster or hazard strike the county that encompasses the ZIP code. These are county-based analytics created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Categories generally include avalanches, earthquakes, cold waves, drought, earthquake, flooding, hail, heat waves, hurricanes, ice storms, landslides, lightning, strong wind, tornados, tsunamis, volcanic activity, wildfires, and winter weather. Each ZIP code is assigned the risk statistics of the county within which it resides.
2. How is the annual loss per capita scale calculated?
   Annual loss per capita is a simplified measure of the monetary exposure, divided by total population, on a generalized county-wide basis. Each ZIP code is assigned the risk statistics of the county within which it resides. FEMA calculates the expected annual loss (EAL), by natural hazard category, based on historical data collected from state and local governments, research institutes, and academia. The EAL factors in a multitude of considerations, including the county’s exposure to each risk category, historical loss ratio, and frequency of occurrence on an annualized basis. Note risks may strike specific areas of a county and don’t impact each ZIP code or neighborhood equally.
   

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Popular ZIP Code Searches

1. Why do the ZIP codes highlighted in popular searches change?
   Our search results are dynamically generated and displayed as search algorithms improve and information is updated over time. Most lists of results display no more than ten outcomes per search and may not be in any particular order unless specified as a ranking. 
2. Can the user request a ZIP code search?
   Yes! You are more than welcome to CONTACT US.
3. How are searches created?
   We set numerous socioeconomic criteria that impact your residential, career, child-rearing, investment, and retirement decision-making processes and apply combinations of filters to help generate thematic ZIP code search results. 
4. How are Gen-Z, Millennials, Gen-X, Boomers, and Seniors defined?
   Demographic hot spots are often featured in searches. We define Gen-Z as the population born between 1997 and 2010, Millennials as the population born between 1981 and 1996, Gen-X as the population born between 1965 and 1980, Boomers as the population born between 1946 and 1964, and seniors as anyone age 65 and more.
5. How are urban, suburban, exurban, and rural status determined?
   Our proprietary scale calculation is based on the following considerations: population density, distance to the city center, principal city status, and whether or not the ZIP code’s associated county is part of a metropolitan or micropolitan area.
6. Why does metropolitan affiliation matter?
   Metropolitan and micropolitan areas are core-based statistics areas with significant implications for economic connectivity, commuting behavior, and urban and suburban policy planning. They are subject to change and are defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) — of the executive branch of the U.S. government.
7. What does it mean for a ZIP code to have “More New Homes” or “More New Rentals”?
   When there are 50% or more homes or rentals were built between the years 2000 and 2009 or later, a ZIP code is considered to have more new homes or rental units.

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