Have you all played around with Zipskinny? It’s a site that takes data from the 2000 census and lets you search by ZIP code to see demographic information in your area, and compare it to others: income levels, racial breakdown, unemployment, education level, marital status, etc. It’s pretty basic information, little more than a snapshot, but it’s a good snapshot and a really nice interface.
I would think it’s pretty easy to do a good mashup with crime statistics, using the data from sources like this excellent NYPD site — although ZIP codes and precinct boundaries aren’t the same. The NYPD precincts each generate a weekly crime report, like this one from my neighborhood.
(Hat tip: Matt Wecksell)
and 
. You can also watch it on 
An interesting diversion, but keep a few things in mind: ZIP codes are not geographic entities, just collections of delivery points for the efficiency of moving mail. ZIPS disregard political jurisdictions and can be noncontiguous, even overlapping. Also, some Census tabulations such as age, race and ethnicity, include non-household (college campus, nursing home, prison) population, while employment, household income and housing data do not. Just be aware of what you’re comparing.
An interesting diversion, but keep a few things in mind: ZIP codes are not geographic entities, just collections of delivery points for the efficiency of moving mail. ZIPS disregard political jurisdictions and can be noncontiguous, even overlapping. Also, some Census tabulations such as age, race and ethnicity, include non-household (college campus, nursing home, prison) population, while employment, household income and housing data do not. Just be aware of what you’re comparing.
You would think that the unemployment data would not be very accurate. Where I live the unemployment rate seems very very low.
You would think that the unemployment data would not be very accurate. Where I live the unemployment rate seems very very low.
Even younger students can play with the data.
…a fun learning resource.
Even younger students can play with the data.
…a fun learning resource.
The first thing I did when I found the site was plug in the zip for the World Trade Center. The census thinks it had 55 housing units. Go figure.
(Are there other zip codes in the nation that are either single buildings or all commercial or industrial space?)
—matt wecksell
The first thing I did when I found the site was plug in the zip for the World Trade Center. The census thinks it had 55 housing units. Go figure.
(Are there other zip codes in the nation that are either single buildings or all commercial or industrial space?)
—matt wecksell