Zip code is a vital characteristic when it comes to defining demographic specificities of people inhabiting different regions. It provides extensive quantitative information about all possible aspects of human life. Moreover, such indicators can be used while deciding to move to another town or city or comparing the benefits of living in a place. To prove the usefulness of the data provided through the consideration of people’s lives by their zip codes, I made a comparison of my place with another neighboring area.
The used website, ZipWho, is an easy instrument for the search of principal indicators characterizing the lives of inhabitants in a particular area. With its help, I managed to find a great deal of information on various aspects of human life. They primarily include financial indicators allowing to make conclusions on the social situation of local people (“60431: Joliet, IL,” n.d.). It also implies the ownership of specific material goods such as houses and cars. The financial information is complemented by the social structure of the area, including such characteristics as the nationality and age of inhabitants (“60431: Joliet, IL,” n.d.). It would allow making precise conclusions on the current situation in these places and, consequently, comparing them to reveal the one which is better for living.
The first and most crucial characteristic is the financial indicators of people living in areas with zip codes 60435 and 60431. As can be seen from the data published on the website, the median income in the area 60431 is much higher than the one in 60435 (“60431: Joliet, IL,” n.d.). However, it does not make any difference for a person as the cost of living in 60431 is higher (“60435: Joliet, IL,” n.d.). Nevertheless, the situation looks different once the median mortgage-to-income ratio in both areas is compared. This indicator is almost the same for both places, but with consideration of other financial indicators, the area 60431 seems to be better.
This conclusion allows one to see that the consideration of financial situations and correct outcomes are possible only in the case of comparison of several characteristics. It can be completed with the consideration of people’s dwellings as they are somehow connected to their financial status. Thus, the houses of inhabitants with the zip code 60435 are mostly rented, and they are generally smaller than the ones in 60431 (“60431: Joliet, IL,” n.d.). Hence, taking into account all of the considered indicators, living in the area 60431 is more economically beneficial.
The second component of the analysis is the social situation in both areas, and it includes multiple characteristics. It is also connected to the financial status of people and explains a higher number of married people in the area 60431, whereas the population is half the number of inhabitants in 60435 (“60431: Joliet, IL,” n.d.). Moreover, they have fewer divorces, and the people there are generally younger (“60431: Joliet, IL,” n.d.). The results of the analysis of the social situation prove the fact that the overall environment of the area 60431 is better than the one in 60435.
There are not many similarities between the two areas as they are different in all aspects. The conducted analysis makes me consider other neighboring regions to make a long-term home in the future. It suggests that life in the area 60431 is more beneficial in terms of financial and social situations, and it seems reliable to me. It is possible that everything can change in the future, but at the moment, there is not much to be changed as all the components of wellbeing are interconnected and, therefore, complicated. The health of populations seems to be better in area 60435 due to higher financial indicators and younger age.
References
60431: Joliet, IL. (n.d.). ZipWho. Web.
60435: Joliet, IL. (n.d.). ZipWho.