Zip Codes with Rich People

[oldtoyota]

The Washington Post printed an article about "super zips" aka zip codes with high earners.

Did you read it? What do you think of it?

My overall take is that the researchers who came up with the term "super zips" focus partly on income and partly on spending. Their idea of a super zip is that it is home to highly educated professional workers making $180K+ and those people spend a lot of money maintaining their lifestyles. They knock down perfectly good homes to build million-dollar mansions. They have two cars. They live in a county with good schools yet send their kids to private school. They have landscapers. They pay for additions.

What is barely mentioned is the debt these people must be in or how little they are saving.

IMO, it's how much you save and not how much you earn.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/local/2013/11/09/washington-a-world-apart/

[Emilyngh]

I grew up in one of the zipcodes mentioned in the article.    And based on my experience, you hit the nail on the head.


I hate that area (general DC burbs).    Everything is expensive.   Salaries are high, but people are obsessed with working, and buying, and status, imo.    It's the opposite of a MMM world to me.


The one good thing?-It's a nice place to build your stache.    If you have a marketable degree and can put up living in a POS apartment or house for a few years and resisting the culture of eating out and buying crap, you can really sock it away.   This is exactly what we did, and how after 4 years of it we were able to buy our beautiful home in a great area, have dh quit his job, and me working only part-time hours at a job I love, while continuing to save/invest.

[HokieInPa]

I grew up outside Washington DC. The more disturbing part to me is how much of the area surrounding DC is in the top 1-5%. Politicians talk about income equality and redistributing wealth. How about we cut the government spending and distribute the wealth back to the taxpayers? It is appalling how much money flows out of the government in that region.

[gooki]

"The Millionaire Next Door" addresses this very succinctly. Such places are often high income, low net worth.

[chicagomeg]

I enjoyed the article. Although I don't share all of their ideas, I really relate to people's worries about raising kids in that environment. I grew up in a 40th percentile zip code, and it looks to be the richest in my county (interesting to learn!). Now I live in a 60th percentile zip code & I see a big difference. I can't even imagine what it would be like to try to raise down to earth kids in a 90th percentile area. Kids are just so susceptible to marketing and their peers.

[chasesfish]

I wouldn't read too much into "super zips" - They exist around all of the top 10 or 15 metro areas.  I live in north Atlanta and some of our super zips are private club, private school zip codes, others are nice suburban areas with good public schools and houses between $200,000 and $400,000 and 20-30 minute commutes, which is good by Atlanta standards.   

There are even a few pockets of these super zips even equal "millionaire next door" areas, I know of one near me that I've been looking for a new house in.

[footenote]

Btw, the infographic lets you look at median income and other stats for any zipcode in the country (not just the superzips).

I compared my current (soon to be former) HCOL zip with both LCOL zips into which we will most likely move next year. It may be useful to those considering moves.

[lauren_knows]

I grew up in a zip that had a score of "56" according to that map, and now live in one of the DC superzips.  I can totally relate to the article, and how people act and live in this area.  Being that we're in the MMM forums, we can be quick to judge an article and say "No one is talking about the spending! Spending matters more than income!", but I think you'd be missing the point of this article.  It's mostly talking about the societal implications of isolating the affluent from the poor.  The divide is becoming larger in this country, and it brings up some interesting implications of how people think. 

For instance, there's a kid from a DC super-zip in this article that travels to WV and says "Wow, I'm not used to seeing small houses".  Having such a narrow worldview can be dangerous, and I think that's the discussion that this article is meant to have.

[senecando]

"Volvos, Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs are scattered throughout the student parking lot."

When did Volvos become part of that category?

[senecando]

I also used to live in one of these, and work at the Starbucks there. Everyone else either went to school at Georgetown or had a long bus commute in. Very strange.

[OzzieandHarriet]

We live in a 90 percentile zip, but our immediate neighborhood is one of smaller older houses (built c. 1950) and no great displays of wealth. Most of our neighbors with kids send them to the highly rated public schools in our county; most of the cars I see are small Hondas and Toyotas. Our house (c. 1500 sf) is one of the few with a garage. Some people have been here since the neighborhood was built (though very few of those left now). On one side of us is a 99 percentile zip -- one of the wealthiest in the country! It's certainly not McMansion territory, though, for the most part, but rather lots of really nice older houses that cost a bunch. On the other side is a 45 percentile zip. Many more smaller and newer houses and apartment buildings, many more "blue collar" (do they still call it that?) workers. The biggest thing you notice around here is that the people in the wealthiest neighborhoods are almost entirely white and nonimmigrant. Other neighborhoods are far more diverse. Race/ethnicity seems follow the dividing lines, unfortunately.

My sense is that the people in the rich neighborhoods around here are NOT living on the edge with a lot of debt, whereas those in the less affluent neighborhoods are because the income disparities are so great. I'm talking about the difference between families making minimum wage vs. families with two wage earners making a few hundred thousand a year each or more (e.g., senior government employees, lawyers, doctors).

I grew up around here in a "22" zip, btw. A generally nice neighborhood (nice older houses, nice people), not too different from where we are now, but on the other side of town. The public schools there sucked big time. No services or amenities. Poorly served by public transportation. We had to go elsewhere to do almost everything. My parents were very frugal as well as principled (abhorring "white flight") and stayed in our nice house there, but I kind of wish they had moved, sorry to say. Our lives would probably have been better in a lot of ways.

[CommonCents]

I'm moving from a 92 to a 98.

[nawhite]

Currently living in a ~50 percentile zip and am OH SO HAPPY that I don't live in one of the superzips in my city. A number of my coworkers live in a 99 percentile zip and I couldn't stand it! The neighborhood even has a radio jingle to encourage people to move there "Outside in Stapleton, everything's alright..." Their marketing video is even scarier: (yes the zip code has a marketing video <shiver>)

I make more than that neighborhood's median income, but my house cost 40% of what those houses cost and I have better public transit options.

[jpo]

I just moved from a 91% to a 98%.

I make well less than the median for the new zip and have no concerns about making ends meet.

[chicagomeg]

Currently living in a ~50 percentile zip and am OH SO HAPPY that I don't live in one of the superzips in my city. A number of my coworkers live in a 99 percentile zip and I couldn't stand it! The neighborhood even has a radio jingle to encourage people to move there "Outside in Stapleton, everything's alright..." Their marketing video is even scarier: (yes the zip code has a marketing video <shiver>)

I make more than that neighborhood's median income, but my house cost 40% of what those houses cost and I have better public transit options.

That commercial is too weird.

[Nothlit]

They rank my zip code in the 99th percentile (outside Boston). I'm not surprised. It is a very expensive place to live. I've been renting for 5 years, and doubt I'll ever be able to afford to buy in this area, unless I'm willing to settle for a 100+ year old energy-inefficient fixer-upper. The good news is, my income is high, and my savings rate is also pretty good, so I've been able to accumulate a good stache in just these 5 years. But it is sometimes a challenge to avoid the lifestyle inflation that comes with this area -- friends wanting to eat out all the time, feeling the need to buy all the latest gadgets, etc. I keep costs down by using a prepaid cell phone plan, not having cable TV, shopping at the cheapest grocery store in the area (Market Basket) even though it has the reputation of being where all the poor people shop, riding my bike to work several days a week, etc.

[ArcticaMT6]

Currently in a 93 Percentile. Moved here from a 25 percentile, salary was basically the same for me.

[brand new stash]

I live in a super zip. 

I can't think of anyone I know in the neighborhood who doesn't send their kids to the public school (very highly ranked public schools), and a lot of people do spend lavishly, but there are definitely a sizable number who also have pretty good sized staches.  Incredibly high income area but I run into neighbors at consignment sales, mentioning that you bought something second hand is met with congratulations, I know several people who bike to work, I know two families that have achieved early retirement, etc.   

I'll say that the most defining characteristic of my neighborhood is two parent families. One of the other mothers in my daughter's class pointed out to me last year that it was odd that there wasn't a single kid with divorced parents in their class, and since then I've noticed that over and over again about our neighborhood.  I know easily a hundred of my neighbors and the only family with a single parent is one where the mother died last year.   We didn't know that when we moved here, and didn't notice it right away, but now that I've noticed it, it amazes me how consistently it is true.   It does make some sense however, because of how costly divorce can be.

The second most defining characteristic is government or government contractors (DC suburbs), but that is true of most of the metro area.

[Zaga]

We live in a 32 and work in a 92.  Which is probably why our incomes are so much higher than is typical in our little town.  This makes me feel a little bit better about our 25 mile commute each way.

Also, the next zip to where I work is one of the super zips.  The houses there are way expensive, and the traffic is terrible!  The roads are just full of SUV's, and they really weren't designed with urban sprawl in mind.  So glad I live the the opposite direction with little traffic to and from work.

[Carrie]

We don't live in a super zip, but it's the highest in our state at 94.  We live in a low COL area, so the income goes a lot further here than in a large metro area.  I don't mind being in a higher earning / higher education area; the houses are a little more expensive, but crime is low and the schools are good.  There's a lot of high living going on around us - big SUVs, McMansions, expensive toys, but we don't have to participate in that foolishness.

[jrhampt]

Cool map!!  I grew up in a 20.  Currently living in a 58 next to a 34 and an 11, all in the same town.  We picked a lower cost town on purpose, though. Surrounding towns go from high seventies to low nineties.  My parents live in the 15 where my dad grew up.  Interesting to see the ranges!

[Kimbl]

Interesting.  I grew up (and my parents still live) in a 26 and now live in a 98.   No wonder I've never felt like I fit in around here even after 20+ years.  Of course, folks back home think I'm a fancy pants east coaster! 

[oldtoyota]

I grew up in a 99 and live in a 58. Living in the 58 gets looked down upon, but it's a reason why I can sock away so much money.

For instance, there's a kid from a DC super-zip in this article that travels to WV and says "Wow, I'm not used to seeing small houses".  Having such a narrow worldview can be dangerous, and I think that's the discussion that this article is meant to have.

You raise a valid point. I was similar to some of those kids. Although I worked with the homeless and the poor (of my own volition and not due to my parents forcing or even ask me), I was surprised to meet someone in grad school whose mother grew a garden so they could eat. Not for fun. So they could eat.

In Texas, I saw--for the first time--homes without inside toilets. Quite the eye opener.

[MountainFlower]

Boulder County folks:  Did anyone notice that Ward scored higher than Boulder?  LOL! LOL!  Ward scored a 93 and Boulder a 91. 

Ward is a town with a lot of mining shacks and junk cars everywhere.  However, I remember from a previous census that it's inhabitants (all 160 of them) have the highest level of education per capita in Colorado. 

Here's a link with pictures of Ward for the curious.  Not a McMansion in site, that's for sure! 
http://www.westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/ward/

Too funny.

[MrsPete]

Interesting.  I see that I live in a 61 zipcode. 

However, comparing, I see that the zipcode to which we're moving (once our youngest finishes high school and we build our retirement house in the country) is a 41 zipcode.  That doesn't make sense to me because a couple years ago I read a big write-up about how that little country county is the #1 saving county in my state -- they made a big deal of how so many people live in a farmhouse that was built by grandpa, onto which dad added a family room and extra bathroom.  And as I look around, I see LOTS of those houses. 

I see that 28% of the people in my current city have college degrees, whereas only 12% of the people in my country county are college graduates . . . but the income in my country county is $15,000 higher. 

I can't reconcile these figures, so I'm going to say the discrepancy is caused by using two completely different sources for information (the newspaper article I read and this website), and one of them isn't completely correct.  I wouldn't be surprised if a third source had different info altogether. 

[randymarsh]

I'm at a 58 which I think makes sense being in a rural/suburban area. The zip code that includes most of the actual city is only a 9. My zip code has double the number of college graduates and household income of the other yet it's only 10 minutes away.

[2527]

I live in a 95.  People are well educated, have strong skill sets, and work hard.  People are spendy, of course.  Marriages are usually intact and raising kids well is a priority.  Schools are excellent.  I think they are pretty sensible people.  If they are obnoxious, it is the obnoxiousness of wealth, not the obnoxiousness of lacking.  I don't think debts are huge relative to income, and I don't think people are masking a lot of financial stress.  I think people are in pretty good shape according to their priorities, not according to this website's.    I'd rather live in a well-educated 80, like a university town, but I don't.

[LauraG]

The Post only used education (percent with college degree) and median household income to develop these rankings. One result will be that zips with smaller average household sizes will be "penalized", since they're likely to have lower incomes, on average. Comparing median family income is probably a better choice.

Anyway, I currently live in a "7" that is directly adjacent to my city's downtown. I save a lot of money this way, but if I had kids I might make a different choice. Just as monolithically well-off neighborhoods have some downsides, so do very low-education neighborhoods, especially for school quality.

I spent most of my childhood in an 81 (but we were on the "wrong" side of the city/county and east/west border within that zip) and have lived in a 40 and two different 53s as an adult before my current 7.

[JessieImproved]

Grew up in what is now a 63 (but I can guarantee you it was lower when I was a kid).  Now I live in a 90, and I'm right next door to a super zip.  There's some fantastic thrift store shopping around these parts, and people sell all kinds of awesome stuff on Craigslist.  We managed to snap up an older home in the area, and we're very centrally located.  All in all it's been a great place to live.

[Caoineag]

Grew up in a 19, went to college and lived in a ~50th and now live in a 50th neighborhood. Married DH who grew up in a high 80th who also went to same college as me.  When it comes to living in an affluence bubble, I would say these metrics definitely matched our perception of education in an area. Clearly the zip percentiles weigh education more highly than income which is interesting.

[SnackDog]

We have a marvelous house in a 99, which we lived in for one year of bliss. It has been profitably rented since 2008 to some great tenants.  We hope to stop gallivanting around the world and move back one day.  I need to plant a garden.  It's on nearly an acre in a heavily wooded steep-hilled area: no visible neighbors.  High school is among best in USA.  10 minute walk to BART, bank, restaurants, coffee shops, jazz bar; 5 minute drive or short bike ride to grocery, library, tennis courts, etc. 20 minutes to San Francisco if traffic is light.

[nawhite]

We have a marvelous house in a 99, which we lived in for one year of bliss. It has been profitably rented since 2008 to some great tenants.  We hope to stop gallivanting around the world and move back one day.  I need to plant a garden.  It's on nearly an acre in a heavily wooded steep-hilled area: no visible neighbors.  High school is among best in USA.  10 minute walk to BART, bank, restaurants, coffee shops, jazz bar; 5 minute drive or short bike ride to grocery, library, tennis courts, etc. 20 minutes to San Francisco if traffic is light.

I guess my question then is, how much is that house worth and how much more awesome could your vacations be if you sold it. My guess is that a neighborhood like that near SF you're looking at something like 2 million for the house. 4% of 2 million is 80k/year. Why do you keep the house vs investing the money and galivant with an extra 80k/year?

[hybrid]

I thoroughly enjoyed that article, lots of good demographic info there.  My diamond in the rough neighborhood is in area code 23234 in the Richmond Virginia area.  My zip code rates a 33 and as such you can get a lot more house for the money because it is not the most exclusive part of town.

What I found fascinating was how the poorest predominantly white areas swung so hard for Cuccinelli in the recent gubernatorial election.  That demographic map looks pretty close to the election results.  The poorest areas that went for McAuliffe were the minority-heavy zip codes (23224, 23231, for example).  The wealthy money went both ways but favored McAuliffe more in Northern Virginia (as it did for Obama in both 2008 and 2012). 

[clutchy]

I've lived in 2 "99" zips with high income and high education.  They were very nice, idyllic actually, but it was a product of my parents income. 

I currently reside in a "55" zip and it is nice as well.  I miss the education level though... It's somewhat difficult going from 80% college degress to 20%...

[avonlea]

This is one of those studies where college towns are really not represented well.  I've lived in four towns and they've all had universities.  I checked into their zip code ratings.  They were fairly low compared to larger towns near them, even though the prices for family homes were sometimes higher and education more valued in the college towns.  A large portion of the people in university towns don't have bachelors degrees, but they are in the process of obtaining them.  College students also don't make very much money so the median income is low. People with full time employment make quite a bit more than the median in these places.

[ritchie70]

Interesting.

I grew up in what is now a 79, although that seems like a fairly recent development. I've been struck by how high real estate prices have gotten there and how many big houses have been built. It's small town rural Illinois, but there are good schools and close proximity (by non-Mustachian commuting standards) to a couple small cities (Peoria, Bloomington-Normal.)

I now live in an 86, work in a 92 (Oak Brook, IL) and drive through a 99 (Hinsdale, IL) on the way there.

The nice parts of Oak Brook are way nicer than the average of Hinsdale - true mansions in gated communities or on huge open multi-acre lots. This being the Chicago suburbs, as a rough approximation, improved land is worth around a million an acre.

The difference is that the 92 has some "normal" housing as well, whereas the 99 is consistently high end, with some extremes, like a 14-acre in-town estate that's currently for sale. The public schools in Hinsdale have a much better reputation than the ones in Oak Brook, too. I suspect there's actually much more wealth in Oak Brook to the point that none of them use the public schools, whereas the Hinsdale folks are living at their limits.

(Funny story about that - we were on vacation in California a few years ago and did a Hollywood bus tour. The tour guide pointed out a fancy roof - crazy curves made out of wood shingles - as impressive and extremely expensive. Everyone else was all impressed by it. We looked at him and just said, "Oh, yeah, there's one of those where we're from." It's in Hinsdale.)

Honestly, I only ever talk to my neighbors and people at work, who are all living similar lifestyles. It's more common for me to see a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Bentley on my commute than a rusted out old Chevy, and there are definitely more German cars than Chevrolets. It's really easy to forget that this lifestyle isn't typical.

[clutchy]

Interesting.

I grew up in what is now a 79, although that seems like a fairly recent development. I've been struck by how high real estate prices have gotten there and how many big houses have been built. It's small town rural Illinois, but there are good schools and close proximity (by non-Mustachian commuting standards) to a couple small cities (Peoria, Bloomington-Normal.)

I now live in an 86, work in a 92 (Oak Brook, IL) and drive through a 99 (Hinsdale, IL) on the way there.

The nice parts of Oak Brook are way nicer than the average of Hinsdale - true mansions in gated communities or on huge open multi-acre lots. This being the Chicago suburbs, as a rough approximation, improved land is worth around a million an acre.

The difference is that the 92 has some "normal" housing as well, whereas the 99 is consistently high end, with some extremes, like a 14-acre in-town estate that's currently for sale. The public schools in Hinsdale have a much better reputation than the ones in Oak Brook, too. I suspect there's actually much more wealth in Oak Brook to the point that none of them use the public schools, whereas the Hinsdale folks are living at their limits.

(Funny story about that - we were on vacation in California a few years ago and did a Hollywood bus tour. The tour guide pointed out a fancy roof - crazy curves made out of wood shingles - as impressive and extremely expensive. Everyone else was all impressed by it. We looked at him and just said, "Oh, yeah, there's one of those where we're from." It's in Hinsdale.)

Honestly, I only ever talk to my neighbors and people at work, who are all living similar lifestyles. It's more common for me to see a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Bentley on my commute than a rusted out old Chevy, and there are definitely more German cars than Chevrolets. It's really easy to forget that this lifestyle isn't typical.

crazy!!  Hinsdale!!  60521.  I lived there for 14 years.

It's amazing how that place has changed.  It was nice back in the 80's and 90's but now it's just nuts.

[cdub]

Holy crap - I grew up in Clarksville, MD - mentioned in the article - .. although it was a sleepy town with lots of farm fields in the early eighties/late seventies when I was there.

When I drove by it again recently I barely recognized it. (I left probably in 1991) It's all built up now.

[seattlecyclone]

I had an upper-middle-class upbringing. I lived in a 55 (but just two blocks from an 81) throughout elementary school. Then our family moved to the suburbs (an 83) for better schools. When I was in college I lived in a zip code without a score posted (probably because the only residents live in dorms). The two non-university zip codes in the town had scores of 60 and 67. When I was earning my master's degree I lived in an 86 one year and a 50 the other. I had summer jobs in a 52 and a 79, and then moved to Seattle where I currently live in a 91. I'm somewhat intrigued about my current zip code's score. On the one hand, Seattle is a pretty prosperous city and so there's a pretty big sea of green and yellow zip codes on the map just because real estate prices have risen to the point where you need a high income to afford a house here. On the other hand, a large portion of the homes in my neighborhood are sub-1500 square foot Craftsman style dwellings. In general, the level of conspicuous consumption is refreshingly low. Most people have sensible cars, and bike usage is popular. People don't complain to the authorities if you fail to keep your lawn in immaculate condition. Looking at the "super zips" in our area, I think many of those things would not be true in those places. It's weird think of the difference in consumption habits even between the 91st percentile and the 96th percentile. I don't aspire to "move up" to one of those places.

[dodojojo]

Grew up in a 21 and currently live in one of the DC 99ers.  Yes, it's expensive but I rent an older 1 bedroom apartment and have lived car-free for 9 years.  It may be a 99 neighborhood but it also has two thrift shops and I take advantage.  Rent is a sizeable chunk but curtailing trips to the multitudes of shops and restaurants keeps expense expansion down.  I suppose if you're spendthrift, you can live anywhere and still blow your money.

It is a little depressing that I'm about 50% off the household median income though (granted I only have one income whereas some households likely have 2). 

[oldtoyota]

Grew up in a 21 and currently live in one of the DC 99ers.  Yes, it's expensive but I rent an older 1 bedroom apartment and have lived car-free for 9 years.  It may be a 99 neighborhood but it also has two thrift shops and I take advantage.  Rent is a sizeable chunk but curtailing trips to the multitudes of shops and restaurants keeps expense expansion down.  I suppose if you're spendthrift, you can live anywhere and still blow your money.

It is a little depressing that I'm about 50% off the household median income though (granted I only have one income whereas some households likely have 2).

You raise a point I've raised elsewhere, which is that it is possible to live in a high COLA and not spend much. If one is willing to live in a less fancy neighborhood or in a small space, then it's not that bad. The other good thing about a 99 or other high-number place is that the quality of the goods tossed by others is excellent. For free, I've gotten bikes, well-made baby clothing, placemats, sleds, exercise bike, etc from the more affluent neighborhoods. People give this stuff away on freecycle.

[aspiring mustachian]

I grew up in what is now a 61, but at the time it was probably higher as there's been an influx of people moving from Memphis and the annexation fever of the previous mayor of Memphis since I left for college. I went to high school in what is now a 78 (was probably higher at the time because it wasn't annexed yet by Memphis) and I was one of those kids who drove a luxury car. I had a '92 Range Rover, then a '93 BMW (this was back in '03, so those cars were over a decade old). Both of them were hand-me-down cars that were paid for. The Range Rover was a gift for getting a 30 on the ACT when I was 16.  I went to school with kids who drove Hummers and newer luxury cars. 

My dad made over $100k annually from his regular job plus he owned several dozen rental properties. My mother stayed at home and managed the business's finances. When I went to college, they moved into a 6000' McMansion with my 16 y/o sister. I'll definitely admit that I was spoiled, as was my sister. My parents insisted that I go to Vanderbilt rather than the University of TN. VU paid for the majority of my schooling and I feel I got a great education while I was there, so I have no complaints about that. For some of college I lived in the dorms, when I lived off campus I moved into a more affordable 41 ZIP code that was home to a lot of immigrants from various parts of the world (Ethiopia, Somalia, Egypt, Vietnam, Mexico, El Salvador, Bhutan, etc). That ZIP code was a lot more interesting and I could afford to do more on my part-time job's salary and financial aid.

I now live in a 58 ZIP code outside of Atlanta. I've decided that, based on past experience, I'm generally happier in ZIP codes with lower numbers. There are generally fewer pretentious assholes, better and more unique restaurant options on the rare occasion that I go out to eat, and it will allow me to live below my means while maintaining what I consider a high standard of living. I'm glad that despite my upbringing, I've maintained some strongly anti-consumerist ideas. I'm not looking forward to having to work in an 84 ZIP, especially as someone in a service position. But the money is good and no situation is ever perfect. Money aside, the only advantage is probably having more access to free stuff that I can sell via CL.

[Abe]

I lived in a 41 most of my life, then moved to a 88 for a short period during college and medical school. People there were very well-educated, friendly, frugal and interesting. It's one of the most sought-after places to live in the South. Two zips over is a 98 which is the opposite of Mustachian lifestyle...there is a shopping mall so large that it has its own exit off an interstate! Even though the houses are fairly close together on small lots, someone had the genius idea of having all the stores clustered in one place instead of spread out so people can walk/bike to them in a reasonable time. Driving there is always a nightmare, even with less than 100,000 people. It's a purgatory of traffic and asphalt. However, also one of the fastest-growing areas of the country. <shrug>

In my anecdotal experience, super-zips suck. Averageness forever!

[MoneyCat]

I grew up poor in one state in a zip code currently rated a 27.  I am now middle-class and I live in another state in a zip code rated an 80.  It's actually nice to see a map like this and the information it provides because it shows me exactly how far I've come since I decided to get my financial house in order starting five years ago.

[2527]

MoneyCat, Congrats on your success.  Your comment was very interesting and really got me thinking.  What are the zip code scores that correspond to various classes?  For example, a 50 should logically correspond to the middle of the middle class. I live on the boundary of 93-96, and one might say that should be upper class, but it is really well-off middle class.  Almost nobody went to the Ivy League, almost everybody is an employee, I think most people's greatest wealth is their house, I don't think anybody has a high level of access to a Congressman, etc. 

[ch12]

I grew up in a 94 (46032). I now live in a 84. Funnily, this isn't downward social mobility. I do make less than my parents, but with 4 fewer decades, I'm pretty ok with that. I'm extremely sure that my company is the reason why neighboring Verona (53593) hits 89. The incomes of people at the rapidly expanding software company far exceed Wisconsin state average.

Madison is exploding with growth and all sorts of things. Where I am now is 59% college graduates whereas home is 63% college grads. Income jumps 22k more when you get out of West Madison, where I live, and get into Verona, where the company is. Verona has a purer concentration of company employees.

[suzanneseale]

I grew up in one of the zipcodes mentioned in the article.    And based on my experience, you hit the nail on the head.


I hate that area (general DC burbs).    Everything is expensive.   Salaries are high, but people are obsessed with working, and buying, and status, imo.    It's the opposite of a MMM world to me.


The one good thing?-It's a nice place to build your stache.    If you have a marketable degree and can put up living in a POS apartment or house for a few years and resisting the culture of eating out and buying crap, you can really sock it away.   This is exactly what we did, and how after 4 years of it we were able to buy our beautiful home in a great area, have dh quit his job, and me working only part-time hours at a job I love, while continuing to save/invest.

You don't say how living in that nice house helped you sock away money. A house usually takes a lot of money to live in. If you had rented it out, I could see you might own it in a short amount of time if you, yourself were living mustachian.

[prosaic]

I live in a 68 surrounded by 89-99. "Cheap" working class suburb of Boston (meaning starter houses are only 300K).

Grew up in a 63.

Interesting.

Being surrounded by 89-99 means the thrift stores and Craigslist are AMAZING. We just got a beautiful, solid bedroom set for my younger kids -- bed, hutch desk, dresser, drawer bench, and matching lamp and curtain rod all for $200. Super nice people with enough money to put it up at a price that got it out of their house. We showed up with our minivan (also bought on Craigslist for cheap) and hauled it all out within hours.

Brand new it would have easily been $2500+.

So picking a lower-numbered zip code surrounded by higher-numbered can be very Mustachian! :)

[jrhampt]

We just got a beautiful, solid bedroom set for my younger kids -- bed, hutch desk, dresser, drawer bench, and matching lamp and curtain rod all for $200. Super nice people with enough money to put it up at a price that got it out of their house. We showed up with our minivan (also bought on Craigslist for cheap) and hauled it all out within hours.

Sounds like a steal!!

[Hadilly]

Word Prosaic! We have been given just about every single piece of furniture in our place, saving thousands and thousands of dollars.