Insights · Research
Data journalism, grounded in the Census
Long-form analysis of the demographic, income, housing and migration shifts reshaping America — every figure traceable to a public ACS5 table.
Featured report · 8 min read
Which U.S. Cities Have the Strongest Economies? Here's How to Actually Tell
A 'strong economy' isn't one number — it's income growth, job diversity, and population trend read together. Here's a transparent way to compare city economies without a black-box ranking.
Latest research
Population Trends · 8 min
The Fastest-Growing Cities in America Right Now
City-level population growth tells a different story than state-level growth — some of the fastest-growing cities sit inside otherwise slow-growing states. Here's what the Census data shows.
Economics · 9 min
How to Analyze Local Economic Data (Without an Economics Degree)
Local economic health isn't one number — it's a handful of public indicators read together. Here's a practical framework for analyzing any city or county's economy using free data.
State Rankings · 8 min
Comparing Counties: Taxes, Population, and Growth
County government controls property tax rates, school funding, and a lot of local infrastructure — yet most comparisons skip straight from state to city. Here's how to compare counties directly.
Income & Jobs · 8 min
The Highest-Income ZIP Codes in America, and What Actually Drives Them
The wealthiest ZIP codes in the U.S. aren't randomly distributed — they cluster around a small set of economic drivers. Here's what the Census data shows and how to look up any ZIP's standing.
Population Trends · 10 min
The Fastest-Growing Cities in Texas (2026 Edition)
Texas added more residents than any other U.S. state in the most recent ACS5 vintage. Most of that growth is concentrated in a handful of metros — and within those metros, in a handful of suburbs. We map them.
Population Trends · 12 min
The 25 Fastest-Growing ZIP Codes in the United States (2026)
Based on Census ACS5 population estimates, we identify the 25 fastest-growing ZIP codes in the country — and the structural drivers (jobs, housing supply, climate) behind each one.
Income & Jobs · 10 min
Highest-Income ZIP Codes in Florida (2026 ACS5 Data)
Florida's wealthiest ZIPs are concentrated in three corridors: Palm Beach, the southwest Gulf Coast (Naples, Marco Island), and the Miami-area barrier islands. We rank the top ten and break down the demographics behind each.
Economics · 9 min
How City Zip Compare Builds Its Rankings
Every ranking on this site is reproducible from public Census data. Here's exactly how we compute them, what we include, and what we exclude.
Income & Jobs · 12 min
U.S. Median Household Income, Explained: What $78,538 Really Means
The Census Bureau's headline median household income figure hides enormous geographic spread. We break down how it's computed, why it differs from average income, and how it varies state-by-state.
State Rankings · 9 min
The Richest States in America, by Census Median Household Income
Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts top the U.S. by household income. The bottom of the list is dominated by the Deep South. Here's the full picture, and the surprises in the middle.
Economics · 9 min
Labor Force Participation: The Census Number That Predicts Local Economic Health
Unemployment gets the headlines, but labor force participation rate is the truer signal. Here's what it measures, and what high or low LFPR means for a city.
State Rankings · 9 min
U.S. States With the Cheapest Housing, According to the Census
West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas offer the lowest median home values in the country. But the affordability ranking changes once you control for local income.
Population Trends · 10 min
The Fastest-Growing U.S. States: Population Change in the ACS5 Era
Census population estimates show a clear story: the South and Mountain West gained, the Midwest and Northeast stagnated. Here's the data, and why it matters.
Income & Jobs · 8 min
The Highest-Income Counties in America
U.S. county-level median income runs from under $35,000 to over $185,000. The highest-income counties are remarkably concentrated.
Income & Jobs · 9 min
Bachelor's Degree Attainment by ZIP Code: Where College Concentrates
Educational attainment is one of the strongest predictors of local income, home values, and migration. Here's how to read Census table B15003 and what it shows.
Population Trends · 8 min
Median Age by U.S. State: The Demographic Map of America
Maine and Florida are the oldest states. Utah is by far the youngest. Median age is one of the cleanest single signals of a state's demographic future.
Economics · 9 min
How to Read the ACS5 Margin of Error (and When to Ignore the Number)
Every ACS estimate ships with a margin of error. For small ZIP codes that margin can be larger than the estimate itself. Here's how to tell when a number is solid and when it's noise.
Economics · 9 min
How Long Americans Commute, by ZIP Code
Average one-way commute time in the U.S. is 26.8 minutes. The variation by place is dramatic, and tells you a lot about local infrastructure and density.
Economics · 8 min
FIPS Codes, ZCTAs and the Plumbing of U.S. Geographic Data
If you've ever tried to join Census data to a map and gotten lost, the problem is almost always a FIPS or ZCTA mismatch. Here's the plain-English guide.