zipradar is a public-records-first US neighbourhood data reference. We compile structured demographic, geographic, and household data — by ZIP code, county, and US state — from federal and state primary sources (US Census, ACS, HUD, state DOEs, county GIS portals) and present it as plain, cited reference pages. The site is read-only, independent, and does not sell or expose personal records.

Where does zipradar get its data?

From four primary tiers: (1) US Census Bureau (decennial census + American Community Survey 1-year and 5-year estimates); (2) HUD income limits, fair-market-rent, and CHAS housing-needs data; (3) state Department of Education enrolment and per-pupil-spending data for school-level pages; (4) county-level GIS portals for parcel and boundary data where available. Every page links to the specific dataset and vintage it draws from.

What is the difference between a ZIP code and a ZCTA?

ZIP codes are USPS mail-delivery routes — they are operational, not geographic, and they change as USPS reorganises routes. ZCTAs (ZIP Code Tabulation Areas) are the Census Bureau's geographic approximation of ZIP codes used for tabulating ACS and decennial data. zipradar's demographic numbers are ZCTA-based (because Census data is ZCTA-based) and we say so explicitly on every ZIP page. Most of the time they match a USPS ZIP closely; occasionally they diverge (especially in mountain or rural areas with PO-Box-only ZIPs).

How current is the data?

ACS 5-year estimates refresh annually (each release covers a rolling 5-year window). HUD income limits refresh annually. Census decennial refreshes every 10 years. State school data is on state-specific cycles (most release new annual data 6-12 months after the school year closes). Each page shows a Last verified date and the vintage of the underlying dataset.

Why does zipradar show a population that differs from another site?

Population figures vary depending on which dataset is used (decennial vs ACS 5-year estimate vs ACS 1-year estimate) and the vintage. zipradar uses the most recent ACS 5-year estimate by default because it covers all ZCTAs (1-year ACS only covers ZCTAs above a size threshold). The page footer shows the exact dataset name and vintage so you can replicate the number from Census directly if you want to.

Can I look someone up on zipradar?

No. zipradar is a neighbourhood reference, not a people-search or data-broker product. We do not collect, cache, or surface personally identifying records (names, addresses tied to individuals, phone numbers, criminal records, etc.). Everything on the site is aggregated public-domain census-and-housing data at the ZIP, county, or state level.

Do you have data for every US ZIP code?

We cover every ZCTA that the Census Bureau publishes ACS data for — roughly 33,000 ZCTAs covering essentially every populated US ZIP. Very small or strictly PO-Box-only ZIPs may not have a corresponding ZCTA in Census data, in which case the ZIP detail page shows a coverage notice and links to the nearest covered ZCTA.

Why are some county or state pages much richer than others?

Federal data (Census, HUD) is consistent across all 50 states + DC + Puerto Rico, so demographic and housing fields are uniform everywhere. State-specific data (school enrolment, per-pupil spending, parcel detail) varies by what each state DOE and county GIS office publishes. We add new state-specific fields as primary-source data becomes available.

Is this site affiliated with the US Census Bureau, HUD, or any state agency?

No. zipradar is an independent reference project that compiles and presents public-domain data from these sources. We cite their datasets; they do not endorse, fund, or review the site. Where we transform raw data (e.g., compute density from population and land area) the transformation is documented on the methodology page.

Can I use zipradar data in my own research or article?

Yes. The underlying data is US public-domain. We ask that you cite the original source (Census ACS 5-year estimate, HUD income limits, etc.) — the same source we cite — rather than zipradar as the primary source, because the public-domain dataset is the authoritative record. If you want to reference our methodology or a specific transformation, linking to the page is welcomed.

How do I report an error or outdated number?

Email the address on the contact page with the page URL, the specific number you think is wrong, and the source-and-vintage you think is correct. We verify within 7 days. If the correction holds, the page updates and the Last verified date refreshes. Most corrections turn out to be vintage mismatches — we list the dataset vintage so you can confirm before reporting.

Does zipradar use ads or affiliate links?

The site is supported by non-intrusive display advertising. We do not run paid placements, sponsored content, or affiliate links inside the reference body where they could confuse the data presentation. Affiliate disclosures, where they exist, are on the affected page next to the link itself.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about data sources, coverage, and how to use the site. The methodology page has the full source-tier and verification detail.

What is zipradar?: zipradar is a public-records-first US neighbourhood data reference. We compile structured demographic, geographic, and household data — by ZIP code, county, and US state — from federal and state primary sources (US Census, ACS, HUD, state DOEs, county GIS portals) and present it as plain, cited reference pages. The site is read-only, independent, and does not sell or expose personal records.
Where does zipradar get its data?: From four primary tiers: (1) US Census Bureau (decennial census + American Community Survey 1-year and 5-year estimates); (2) HUD income limits, fair-market-rent, and CHAS housing-needs data; (3) state Department of Education enrolment and per-pupil-spending data for school-level pages; (4) county-level GIS portals for parcel and boundary data where available. Every page links to the specific dataset and vintage it draws from.
What is the difference between a ZIP code and a ZCTA?: ZIP codes are USPS mail-delivery routes — they are operational, not geographic, and they change as USPS reorganises routes. ZCTAs (ZIP Code Tabulation Areas) are the Census Bureau's geographic approximation of ZIP codes used for tabulating ACS and decennial data. zipradar's demographic numbers are ZCTA-based (because Census data is ZCTA-based) and we say so explicitly on every ZIP page. Most of the time they match a USPS ZIP closely; occasionally they diverge (especially in mountain or rural areas with PO-Box-only ZIPs).
How current is the data?: ACS 5-year estimates refresh annually (each release covers a rolling 5-year window). HUD income limits refresh annually. Census decennial refreshes every 10 years. State school data is on state-specific cycles (most release new annual data 6-12 months after the school year closes). Each page shows a Last verified date and the vintage of the underlying dataset.
Why does zipradar show a population that differs from another site?: Population figures vary depending on which dataset is used (decennial vs ACS 5-year estimate vs ACS 1-year estimate) and the vintage. zipradar uses the most recent ACS 5-year estimate by default because it covers all ZCTAs (1-year ACS only covers ZCTAs above a size threshold). The page footer shows the exact dataset name and vintage so you can replicate the number from Census directly if you want to.
Can I look someone up on zipradar?: No. zipradar is a neighbourhood reference, not a people-search or data-broker product. We do not collect, cache, or surface personally identifying records (names, addresses tied to individuals, phone numbers, criminal records, etc.). Everything on the site is aggregated public-domain census-and-housing data at the ZIP, county, or state level.
Do you have data for every US ZIP code?: We cover every ZCTA that the Census Bureau publishes ACS data for — roughly 33,000 ZCTAs covering essentially every populated US ZIP. Very small or strictly PO-Box-only ZIPs may not have a corresponding ZCTA in Census data, in which case the ZIP detail page shows a coverage notice and links to the nearest covered ZCTA.
Why are some county or state pages much richer than others?: Federal data (Census, HUD) is consistent across all 50 states + DC + Puerto Rico, so demographic and housing fields are uniform everywhere. State-specific data (school enrolment, per-pupil spending, parcel detail) varies by what each state DOE and county GIS office publishes. We add new state-specific fields as primary-source data becomes available.
Is this site affiliated with the US Census Bureau, HUD, or any state agency?: No. zipradar is an independent reference project that compiles and presents public-domain data from these sources. We cite their datasets; they do not endorse, fund, or review the site. Where we transform raw data (e.g., compute density from population and land area) the transformation is documented on the methodology page.
Can I use zipradar data in my own research or article?: Yes. The underlying data is US public-domain. We ask that you cite the original source (Census ACS 5-year estimate, HUD income limits, etc.) — the same source we cite — rather than zipradar as the primary source, because the public-domain dataset is the authoritative record. If you want to reference our methodology or a specific transformation, linking to the page is welcomed.
How do I report an error or outdated number?: Email the address on the contact page with the page URL, the specific number you think is wrong, and the source-and-vintage you think is correct. We verify within 7 days. If the correction holds, the page updates and the Last verified date refreshes. Most corrections turn out to be vintage mismatches — we list the dataset vintage so you can confirm before reporting.
Does zipradar use ads or affiliate links?: The site is supported by non-intrusive display advertising. We do not run paid placements, sponsored content, or affiliate links inside the reference body where they could confuse the data presentation. Affiliate disclosures, where they exist, are on the affected page next to the link itself.

Question not covered here? Email us and we will add it.