A zip code is a veiled socioeconomic signal, with which we infer much about a person who lives within its confines. Just five digits can reveal hints about income, education level, hobbies, political leanings, and more. Not that those clues can't be wrong.
But Esri, a market research and GIS data company, has built a website that examines broad swaths of a people within a postal area--like the Beverly Hills of the South, Buckhead's 30327, which happens to be Georgia's most expensive zip code, the nation's 235th priciest, and, according to the Gadberry Group, the second wealthiest zip code in the South behind Palm Beach's 33480. Forbes reports that the median price of homes in this suburb is $1,460,595, with an average of 170 long days on market and 196 homes in inventory.
So, what are the people who live in these homes like? Is there a type? Esri thinks so. And if you are neither one of those people, nor do you know anyone who does, then read on to get their broadly personal information.
The majority of folks, 55 percent to be exact, in the 30327 club are dubbed the Top Tier. With an average age of 45.7 (compared to an average of 35 for the county, 35.8 for the state, and 37.6 for the country), Esri describes these folks as elite married couples, who, after working in corporate America, often consult or own their own businesses. Children, if they are part of the family, are older.
And 22 percent of the population is reported to be Urban Chic, which are well educated, married couple and singles who work in professional and managerial positions. Two thirds of this crowd own their own homes, and they are the group to own Apple products and drink imported wine. Classy bunch.
The final group, comprising about 14 percent of the area, is the younger Emerald City, who are well employed and enjoying the rental life in low density, urban neighborhoods. Long working hours balance with visits to the gym. This group of social butterflies loves to network, date online, and blog. The politically liberal group listens to NPR and PBS, and organic food comes from Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. By hiring home cleaning services, this group has more time for listening to music, art galleries, and making art at home.
Since the website reports the area's median income is $140,000, these folks can buy many things that they want, and get away through luxury vacations or second homes in the U.S. or overseas. As art lovers, these folks are supporters of the opera and charities. Spending time with family and a small circle of close friends makes this group tick. That's one reason why Bravo's Real Housewives series has established their popular guilty pleasure of a show here...
So, there you have it: a round up of the approximately 1,341 people per square mile residing in the zip code. Though it may be a gross simplification, marketing and demographic studies are largely accurate. Look up your own ZIP and see if you agree with your portrayal.
· ZIP Lookup [Esri]
· Full List: America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes 2015 [Forbes]
· Buckhead [Wikipedia]
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