Methodology

Reference information for researchers using this dataset.

Data source

American Community Survey (ACS) tabulations distributed via the National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS), IPUMS, University of Minnesota.

Geographic unit

ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. ZCTAs are generalized areal representations of USPS ZIP code service areas; they do not correspond exactly to USPS ZIP codes.

Time period

2011–2015 · ACS 5-year estimates

Variable definitions

zip
5-digit ZIP Code Tabulation Area identifier. Leading zeros are preserved.
population
Total population of the ZCTA.
income_median
Median household income (USD) for households in the ZCTA over the past 12 months, in inflation-adjusted dollars for the survey period.
rent_median
Median gross rent (USD) for renter-occupied housing units in the ZCTA. Gross rent includes contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities and fuels.
rent_burden_30plus
Count of renter-occupied households spending 30 percent or more of household income on gross rent (the standard HUD threshold for cost-burdened renters).
uninsured_total
Count of civilian noninstitutionalized residents with no health insurance coverage.
uninsured_rate
Share of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with no health insurance coverage, expressed as a proportion (0–1) of that population.

Limitations

  • ACS estimates are sample-based and carry margins of error not displayed in this tool. Differences between geographies — particularly small ones — may not be statistically significant.
  • Some ZCTAs have missing values for one or more indicators (shown as blank). These rows are excluded from per-indicator averages, histograms, and min/max highlighting but retained in the table.
  • ZCTAs are not identical to USPS ZIP codes and may shift slightly between vintages. Boundaries used here correspond to the 2011–2015 ACS release.
  • This tool presents indicators as published. It does not rank, score, or interpret ZIP codes.