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Will Democrats’ big party in Charlotte, N.C., pay dividends?

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This was originally posted at http://smartblogs.com/leadership/2012/09/03/will-democrats-big-party-charlotte-pay-dividends/

This week, the focus of U.S. politics shifts to North Carolina, as President Barack Obama leads the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. The Democratic National Committee chose Charlotte as its location because North Carolina is a battleground state for the election. It is a key state that both parties think they need to win to gain the presidency. Will this decision pay off at election time?

The map and data below tell the story of the demographic and political makeup of the Charlotte area before the convention. Will an up-close view of the DNC, along with other factors that undoubtedly will surface throughout the remainder of the campaign, sway residents of the Charlotte area to vote for more liberal or more conservative candidates? We’ll be sure to check back after Nov. 6 to see what the election results reveal.

Charlotte is in the southern part of North Carolina, near the border with South Carolina. The Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 1.8 million people. Here are some key statistics about Charlotte.

 

Charlotte

US
Median Age

35.5

37.2
% Male / % Female

49.2%/50.8%

49.2%/50.8%
Median Income

$53,790

$50,227
% Hispanic Population

10.2%

16.6%
Median Home Value

$152,093

$157,913

The residents of Charlotte are overall considered slightly more conservative than the average American. Using a market-potential index by Esri, a company for geographic-information systems that also does data analysis, demonstrates:

Market Potential Variable

Index
Consider self very conservative

102
Consider self somewhat conservative

106
Consider self middle of the road

101
Consider self somewhat liberal

101
Consider self very liberal

90

Charlotte Politics Market Potential Index

A resident of Charlotte is 2% more likely than the average American to consider himself very conservative and 6% more likely to consider himself somewhat conservative. A resident of Charlotte is 1% more likely than the average American to consider himself somewhat liberal but 10% less likely than the average American to consider himself very liberal. Residents do not have die-hard political leanings in either direction, demonstrating the location as a potential battleground in the election.

Esri also developed the Tapestry Segmentation system that classifies U.S. residential neighborhoods into 65 unique market segments based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The top tapestry segments for the Charlotte metropolitan statistical area:

Tapestry Segment

% Adults
Up and Coming Families

15.4%
Midland Crowd

5.9%
Enterprising Professionals

5.6%
Boomburbs

5.4%
Aspiring Young Families

5.2%
Milk and Cookies

4.7%
Green Acres

4.3%
Young and Restless

4.1%
In Style

3.6%
Inner City Tenants

3.5%
Residents of the Up and Coming Families tapestry segment, for example, are young, affluent families with younger children. Eighty percent of the households are families. Most of the residents are white; however, diversity is increasing as the segment grows. The median household income is $69,522, and nearly two-thirds of residents age 25 years and older have attended college; more than 1 in 5 holds a bachelor’s degree.

Tapestry segments are formed out of two other segments: LifeMode and Urbanization. LifeMode summery groups are characterized by lifestyle and life stage and share an experience such as being born in the same time period or a trait such as affluence. Urbanization summary groups in Tapestry Segmentation provide a broader view of U.S. markets based on geographic and physical features and income. No single LifeMode or Urbanization summary group dominates the Charlotte market. Approximately 22% of adults in Charlotte are part of the Family Portrait LifeMode group. Youth, family life and the presence of children are common characteristics in this group. Twenty-seven percent of adults in Charlotte are part of the Suburban Periphery I Urbanization group.

Why does this matter?

Understanding the types of Americans who live in an area can help candidates target their campaigns and even messaging. Knowing local issues, the demographic makeup of an area, political leanings or what types of activities interest residents can help candidates find supporters — and help them be in a better position win an election.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at Esri.com/data. To learn more about Esri in general, go to Esri.com.

Will the GOP’s big party in Tampa, Fla., pay dividends?

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This blog was originally posted at: http://smartblogs.com/leadership/2012/08/27/will-the-gops-big-party-in-tampa-pay-dividends/

The focus of the U.S. political world shifts to Florida this week as Mitt Romney heads to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, where he is expected to become the Republican Party’s official nominee for president. The Republican Party chose Florida for the convention because it is a battleground state in the race for the White House. But will the decision to bring the Grand Old Party to Tampa pay dividends?

The map and data below tell the story of the political makeup of the Tampa area before the convention. Will an up-close view of the GOP, along with the other factors that undoubtedly will surface throughout the remainder of the campaign, sway residents of the Tampa area to vote for more liberal or more conservative candidates? We’ll be sure to check back after Nov. 6 to see what the election results reveal.

What type of people live in Tampa? What do we know about them?

Tampa is in west-central Florida. The Tampa Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 2.8 million people. Here are some key stats about Tampa.

 

Tampa

US
Median Age

41.4

37.2
% Male / % Female

48.4%/51.6%

49.2%/50.8%
Median Income

$42,583

$50,227
% Hispanic Population

16.8%

16.6%
Median Home Value

$112,762

$157,913
The residents of Tampa are overall considered slightly more conservative than the average American. Using a market-potential index by Esri, a company for geographic-information systems that also does data analysis, demonstrates:
Market Potential Variable

Index
Consider self very conservative

105
Consider self somewhat conservative

103
Consider self middle of the road

104
Consider self somewhat liberal

96
Consider self very liberal

93
A resident of Tampa is 5% more likely than the average American to consider himself very conservative and 3% more likely to consider himself somewhat conservative. A resident of Tampa is slightly less likely than the average American to consider himself either somewhat liberal or very liberal. The map below illustrates how those political views are dispersed throughout the Tampa area according to ZIP code.
Esri also developed the Tapestry Segmentation system that classifies U.S. residential neighborhoods into 65 unique market segments based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The top tapestry segments for the Tampa metropolitan statistical area:
Tapestry Segment

% Adults
Senior Sun Seekers

8.9%
Up and Coming Families

5.8%
Rustbelt Traditions

5.3%
The Elders

4.7%
Rustbelt Retirees

4.2%
Crossroads

3.3%
Aspiring Young Families

3.2%
Silver and Gold

3.1%
Midland Crowd

3.0%
Milk and Cookies

3.0%
Residents of the Senior Sun Seekers tapestry segment have a median age of 51.8 years and have a median household income of $35,560. Many are retired or are anticipating retirement. More than half of the households receive Social Security benefits. Because a large proportion of the population is older, the education attainment is far lower than the U.S. levels.

Tapestry segments are formed out of two other segments: LifeMode and Urbanization. LifeMode summery groups are characterized by lifestyle and life stage and share an experience such as being born in the same time period or a trait such as affluence. Urbanization summary groups in Tapestry Segmentation provide a broader view of U.S. markets based on geographic and physical features and income. While there are not any dominant Urbanization groups in Tampa, there is a dominant LifeMode group. Not surprisingly. Senior Styles comprises 31% of households in Tampa.

Why does this matter?

Understanding the types of Americans who live in an area can help candidates target their campaigns and even messaging. Knowing local issues, the demographic makeup of an area, political leanings or what types of activities interest residents can help candidates find supporters — and help them be in a better position win an election.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at Esri.com/data. To learn more about Esri in general, go to Esri.com.

Tennis – Where might the next American US Open Champion come from?

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The US Open is one of tennis’ biggest events of the year – and the biggest in the United States – is well into its first of two weeks of competition this year.  First started in 1881, the championships are ones that the best of the best strive for every year.  The last American to win a singles championship was Serena Williams in 2008.  The last American man to win was Andy Roddick in 2003.  Where might the next American champion come from?  Where are the fans?

Tennis participation

Tennis is played by people all around the country.  Its popularity ebbs and flows often based on the number of Americans who are at the top of the game.  Currently about 3.3% of Americans participate in tennis which equates to over 1 million people.  Where do they live?  Where might the next tennis phenom live?  Looking at where pockets of tennis players live, it’s not surprising to see that many live in California and Florida – especially near the major cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, but also around other major cities such as Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, New York, and Boston.  Many of these places have warm weather but also have large populations – making it easy for tennis players to find others to play with.

What type of person is typically most likely to play tennis?  What type is least likely?  We can use Tapestry Segmentation to classify consumers.  Esri, a geographic information systems company which also does data analysis, developed the Tapestry Segmentation system that classifies US residential neighborhoods into 65 unique market segments based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.  The tapestry segments with an index of 200 or higher – meaning they are 2 times more likely than the average American to play tennis – are Connoisseurs, Laptops and Lattes, Metro Renters, Military Proximity, and Suburban Splendor.   Metro Renters, for example, are young educated singles who live in some of the largest US cities.

LifeMode and Urbanization summary groups can also be used to classify consumers.  LifeMode Summary Groups are characterized by lifestyle and lifestage and share an experience such as being born in the same time period or a trait such as affluence.  Urbanization Summary Groups are characterized on their geographic and physical features, such as population density, city size, and location relative to a metropolitan area.  In the case of tennis players, 34% of those neighborhoods in the Solo Acts LifeMode group have an index of 200 or higher for playing tennis.  Members of this group are single and prefer life in the city.  Not surprisingly, this likely means they have the time and energy for tennis.

Not everyone loves to play tennis.  Members of Heartland Communities, Rooted Rural, and Southern Satellites are ½ as likely to play tennis as the average American.   Many of these residents live in the Rural II Urbanization neighborhoods.  Rural II residents live in rural farm areas; the rest live in the country or in small villages and work in mining or manufacturing

Watch Tennis on TV

Not everyone can play tennis – even if they want to – due to physical limitations, lack of facilities, etc. But they can watch it on television.  About 10.7% of Americans watch tennis on TV.  Much of this, likely, are events like Wimbledon and the US Open rather than small events where there are few marquee players (unless you are a die hard fan).  People who watch some tennis, though, show an  interest in the sport that marketers and broadcasters can use to promote other programming or local events.  Where do they live?

The biggest pockets of viewers of tennis are around cities, which isn’t surprising. These are areas with large populations and have many of the tennis players (who may then get their non-tennis playing friends and family to watch).   Tennis is viewed in many  more places than it is played.  There is an avid interest around the west and the south, which isn’t seen as much as tennis-playing areas.

Who are these consumers that watch tennis on TV?  The tapestry segments with the most avid viewers of tennis on TV are Connoisseurs, The Elders, Laptops and Lattes, and Top Rung.  Residents of these segments have an index of 150 for watching tennis on TV meaning they are 1.5 times more likely than the average American to watch.  While this is significant and something to take note of, it is important also to note that no neighborhood has an index higher than 195 meaning there are likely other factors to look at than just the tapestry segment to understand who watches tennis.

Who doesn’t watch tennis?  Residents of Las Casas and Prairie Living are ½ as likely as the average American to watch tennis on television.  About 84% of Las Casas residents are Hispanic, have a median age of 27.8 years and have a median income of $35,867.  Prairie Living residents live on small, family-owned farms in the Midwest.

Attend Tennis Events

Attending an event like the US Open can be very exciting.  Unfortunately, not everyone is able to do that due to the cost of attendance as well as the location of tennis events, which are primarily in large cities, such as New York and Los Angeles.  It isn’t surprising to see on the map below that the people who are likely to have attended tennis events live in large metropolitan areas just like those who watch tennis on TV (only many more watch on TV then attend).   Who are these consumers?

Residents of Inner City Tenants, Laptops and Lattes, and Military Proximity are most likely to attend a tennis match.  Their index is 150 meaning they are 1.5 times more likely than the average American to attend a tennis match.  Laptops and Lattes residents, for example, enjoy single life in the big city.  They are affluent with a median income of $84,612.  Inner City Tenants neighborhoods are multicultural with 30% being Hispanic.  Their median income is $30,873.

Not everyone can or wants to attend a tennis match.  Residents of Rooted Rural and Trendsetters are ½ as likely as the average American to attend a match.  Trendsetters residents are young, diverse, and mobile.  Seventy-five percent of these neighborhoods are on the west coast and the rest are on the east coast.

Why Does This Matter?

Understanding the activities of consumers can help businesses target potential customers.  Consumers who like tennis – or dislike tennis – may be interested in a certain product or service or movie.  This information especially at the local level and aid in advertising or determining where to open a new store that targets a particular type of customer.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at www.esri.com/data or to learn more about Esri in general, go to www.esri.com.

92101 – Who lives Here?

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Every year Esri, a geographic information systems company which also does data analysis, and its users congregate at the San Diego Convention Center for its annual user conference.  Its 12,000+ attendees take over the Gaslamp district and surrounding areas.  Since the company collects all this data, we know what type of people live in the neighborhood.  So who are they?  What type of people might we come across?  What are they interested in?

The zip code where the conference is location is 92101.  Here are some key stats about the area:

  • 2011 Population: 39,880
  • 2011 Households: 22,423
  • 2011 Median Age: 37.3
  • 2011 Median HH Income: $28,219

Esri developed the Tapestry Segmentation system that classifies US residential neighborhoods into 65 unique market segments based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.   The dominant tapestry segment in the 92101 zip code is Metro Renters.  They make up 72.5% of households in the zip code.  This segment is made up of young, educated singles just beginning their professional career in some of the largest US cities.  Most rent their apartments.  They are also, as a whole very active.

Some of the popular activities of people living in 92101 include the following:

  • 20.6% participated in weight lifting (176)
  • 12.1% participated in yoga (207)
  • 19.6% attended baseball game (133)
  • 14.9% played billiards/pool in last 12 months (155)

Not everyone in the 92101 zip code is the same.  One way to break down the zip code is to look at census block groups, which tell a more granular story about the residents.  This information can be used by retailers, product distributors, or advertisers to micro-target segments.

Median Age

As mentioned above, the median age of the 92101 zip code is 37.3.  This is just higher than the US median age of 37.1.  This is a bit surprisingly given the young Metro Renters segment that lives in the neighborhood, but this also shows that there is a range.

Zip Code 92101: Median Age by Block Group

It’s clear that there are some distinctly “older” and “younger” parts of the zip code like differentiated by cost of housing and type of housing.

Dining Out

The Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego is one of the top destinations for dining out in the area.  It has over 100 restaurant options from fast food to casual to high-end.  Households of the 92101 zip code spend $1,055 annually on dinner out.  While this may sound like a lot, it is actually about 25% less than the US average of $1,386.  In some ways, some might expect that since many of these residents live in apartments with small kitchens that they may eat out – especially with all of the dining options, but many residents are young with lower than average incomes, so that may not be an option.  There are areas of the zip code, though that do spend much more than the US average.

Zip Code 92101: Average Spent Dining Out per Household by Block Group

Exercise at Club

Not everyone loves to exercise, but people in the 92101 zip code seem to – as a whole – at least compared to other Americans.  The index for the likelihood for a resident of that neighborhood to exercise at least twice a week at a gym is 209.  This means that a resident of 92101 is 2.09 times more likely than the average American to go to the gym at least twice a week.  Approxmiately 9.5% of Americans go to a gym at least twice per week.  This, of course, doesn’t count people who exercise at home or do other activities, so it isn’t necessarily a measure of activeness.  The residents in 92101, though, do love the gym – comparatively.

Zip Code 92101: Likelihood of a Resident Going to Gym 2+ Times per Week by Block Group

Most block groups in the 92101 zip code have residents who love the gym.  Overall – it appears to be a love/hate thing in this area.  Block group either have a very high or low index – not a whole lot in between.

Baseball

The 92101 zip code is home to the San Diego Padres stadium – Petco Park.  One would think that residents who  live so close(some of who can walk) to the ball field would attend baseball games – and they do – at least more than the average American.  The index of the likelihood that a resident of 92101 attends baseball games is 133.  This means they are 1.33 times more likely than the average American to attend a baseball game. About 11.3% of Americans attend a baseball game each year.

Zip Code 92101: Likelihood of a Resident to Attend a Baseball Game by Block Group

Most block groups in the 92101 zip code have an above average likelihood of attending a baseball game – not surprisingly.   There is one small block group with a below average likelihood.  While I would expect all areas to be at least average in this neighborhood, one area that is below average isn’t unlikely.  I’m sure they are mostly Padres fans too.

Overall – what did we learn?  This is clearly a very active and young neighborhood – who apparently doesn’t mind all of the conference goers hanging out with them.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at www.esri.com/data or to learn more about Esri in general, go to www.esri.com.

Ice Cream – Who Buys It?

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Now that summer is here, people start to think more and more about ice cream. Though many people eat it year-round, there’s something about eating ice cream on a hot summer’s day.  Certainly there is the nostalgia of eating it as a kid while on summer vacation but it seems popular as ever now. How much do people spend on it?  Who eats it?

Ice Cream Spending

The average American household spends approximately $75.46 per year on ice cream.  Many zip codes with really hot weather have averages much higher than this but some have much lower.  The biggest spenders on ice cream are on the eastern seaboard and in California.  The zip code with the highest average spend per household is 07078 in Short Hills, NJ. They spend $213.40 per year, on average.

What do we know about the households that spend so much on ice cream?  One method to classify consumers is through tapestry segmentation.  Esri, a geographic information systems company which also does data analysis, developed a tapestry segmentation that classifies US residential neighborhoods into 65 unique market segments based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.

The tapestry segments that spend the most on ice cream are Top Rung, Connoisseurs, Suburban Splendor, and Wealthy Seaboard Suburbs.  More than 90% of the neighborhoods where these are dominant the average household spending on ice cream is $100 per year or more.  Top Rung households are actually the biggest spenders. 93% of the neighborhoods where that segment is dominant have an average of $150 or more spent on ice cream per year.  That’s a lot of ice cream!  Hopefully they will invite me over to have some sundaes!

There are some groups that spend very little on ice cream.  90% or more of the City Commons, Modest Income Homes, and Southwestern Families spend, on average, $50 or less per household per year on ice cream.  Each of these segments have very low median incomes ranging from $16,830 to $28,307.  Most likely they are spending their money on things much more needed items.

Convenience Stores

People buy ice cream at lots of different locations including grocery stores, ice shops, warehouse stores, and convenience stores. A little less than 8% of the population buys at least some of their ice cream convenience stores.  Who are they?  Where do they live?

Consumers that live in the southern part of the US, in general, are more likely to purchase ice cream at convenience stores.  This could be because they are simply more likely to purchase ice cream in general (since it’s warmer throughout out the year) or that it is cultural.

The tapestry segments that are most likely to purchase ice cream at convenience stores are City Commons, City Dimensions, Inner City Tenants, Industrious Urban Fringe, International Marketplace, and Rural Bypass.  Each of these neighborhoods have an index of 150 or higher.  This means that residents of these neighborhoods are 1.5 times more likely to purchase ice cream at a convenience store.  In City Commons neighborhoods, the index is 200 or higher.   City Commons neighborhoods are in large metropolitan areas, mainly in the South and Midwest and are comprised of single-parent families or singles who live alone.  They have a median age of 26.7 years and a median household income is $16,339.

One method of looking at populations is through LifeMode and Urbanization groups.  Each tapestry segment consists of one of these.  LifeMode summary groups are based on lifestyle and lifestage.  Urbanization summary groups are based on geographic and physical features along with income.  While there is no trend for ice cream and convenience stores among the Urbanization groups, there is one a LifeMode group.  62% of the Global Roots neighborhoods have an index of 150 or higher for purchasing ice cream at convenience stores.  Global Roots’ residents are very diverse and are young, earn modest incomes, and tend to rent in multiunit buildings.

Why Does this Matter?

Knowing how much people spend and where people purchase a particular item can help companies figure out their distribution and marketing strategies.    This information can show locations of opportunity.  There may be neighborhoods where consumers are likely to buy but don’t because the products simply isn’t available there.  Companies wanting to distribute complimentary items can use this information to find out where best to distribute – they can understand where their customers are already going.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at www.esri.com/data or to learn more about Esri in general, go to www.esri.com.

Junk Food – Who Eats It?

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Americans love junk food – perhaps too much.  Disney announced yesterday that it is going to limit junk food ads on its kids-targeted stations and only advertise products with minimum nutritional standards.  (link) This is important as nutrition has decreased and obesity has increased.  According to Esri, the average American household spends $101.45 annually on candy and gum.  That’s a lot of sugar!  Who is buying the most?  Is there certain candy that is more attractive to a certain type of person?  Are there areas or specific types or people that organizations can target advertising and healthcare to reduce this consumption?

The highest amount of spending on candy and gum per household is on the eastern seaboard and a few California coastal cities in California.  This shows that although many Californians are healthy, many like to eat junk food too.  In these areas, people spend at least $150 annually on candy and gum – and as much as $351.50.  One of the zip codes that has one of the highest average amounts per on junk food is 07078, which is in Short Hills, NJ.

One method to classify consumers is through tapestry segmentation.  Esri, a geographic information systems company which also does data analysis, developed a tapestry segmentation that classifies US residential neighborhoods into 65 unique market segments based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.

The tapestry segments that spend the most, on average, on junk food are Top Rung, Connoisseurs, and Suburban Splendor.   95% of neighborhoods where Top Rung is the dominant tapestry segment spend $200 or more annually on junk food.  Residents of Top Rung neighborhoods are mature, married, highly educated, and wealthy.  At least 95% of the neighborhoods where Connoisseurs and Suburban Splendor residents are dominant spend at least $150 or more per year, on average, on junk food.  Residents of both of these neighborhoods have median incomes of over $120,000.

The tapestry segments that spend the least on junk food, on average per year, are City Commons, Modest Income Homes, and Southwestern Families.  At least 97% of the neighborhoods where those are dominant spend an average $75 or less annually.

The type of candy people like varies across the board.  Although I don’t have data for specific brands, data is available for candy categories.

Hard Roll Candy

Hard roll candy is things like Lifesavers and Werther’s candy.  Basically candy that you suck on.  The areas where people are most likely to purchase it are in various parts of Arizona, South Dakota, and a few areas around the south.  One of the zip codes with the highest indexes for purchasing hard candy is 38631, which is in Friars Point, MS.  Its index is 188 meaning a household in this area is 1.88 times more likely than the average American to purchase hard roll candy.  The dominant tapestry group in this zip code is Modest Income Homes.

Certain tapestry segments seem to like hard candy more than others.  The tapestry segments Modest Income Homes, Metro City Edge, City Dimensions, Family Foundations, City Commons, and Urban Rows all have indexes of 150 or higher.  This means that residents of these segments are 1.5 times more likely than the average American to purchase hard roll candy.   City Dimensions residents, for example, are young with a median age of 29.5 years.  They are a diverse group with nearly half white, one-fourth black, and one-third Hispanic. Their median household income is $26,383.

Prepackaged Loose Candy

Many consumers like to purchase pre-packaged loose candy.  This enables them to choose from multiple varieties so they have choices when eating the candy.  There are very few places that have high index for prepackaged loose candy.   One of the places with the highest indexes in 19142 in Philadelphia, PA with an index of 138 meaning a resident of that zip code is 1.38 times more likely than the average American to buy prepackaged loose candy.

A few tapestry segments standout in having more residents interested in prepackaged loose candy than others.  They are Metro City Edge, Modest Income Homes, Urban Rows, City Commons, and Crossroads. The index for each of these segments is 125 or higher meaning they are 1.25 times more likely than the average American to purchase prepackaged loose candy.  The first four segments are also big consumers of hard roll candy.  Crossroads neighborhoods, the segment without big consumers of hard roll candy, are growing communities in small towns in the South, Midwest, and West. They have a median age of 33.6 years; nearly half are younger than 45. One in five is Hispanic, a higher proportion than the United States.

Several tapestry segments stand out as having few residents interested in purchasing prepackaged loose candy.  They all have an index of 75 or less meaning they are 25% less likely than the average American to purchase loose candy.  The segments are Dorms to Diplomas, Laptops and Lattes, Top Rung, Trendsetters, Urban Villages, Urban Chic, and City Lights.

Regular Sized Candy

Regular sized candy is purchased by all types of consumers.  In fact, there is little variation throughout the US in terms of likelihood to purchase.  Zip code 36115 in Montgomery, Alabama has one of the highest indexes of 123. This means a resident there is just 23% more likely to purchase regular-sized candy, which is pretty close to average.

Because the indexes for regular candy don’t vary much, tapestry segmentation doesn’t really work.  In fact, all zip codes have indexes between 82 and 124.  For candy manufacturers – it just means they need to better understand exactly which type they are buying since size doesn’t matter in this case.

King Size

Many consumers love to buy king-sized candy as it is, well, bigger.  And it is often a better “deal” than regular sized candy – at least for the pocketbook (not so much the belly though).  There are a handful of zip codes where king sized candy is more popular than others.  Interestingly, this includes some zip codes in Alaska (they need the warmth there?) as well as in Arizona, Louisiana, and South Dakota. One of the zip codes with the highest indexes is 92055, which is camp Pendleton, CA.  The index there is 205 meaning residents are 205 times more likely than the average American to purchase king sized candy.

The tapestry segments that are most likely interested in purchasing king sized candy are Metro City Edge, Urban Rows, City Commons, Inner City Tenants, Military Proximity, and Modest Income Homes.  This is very similar to the tapestry segments who like to buy hard roll candy and prepackaged candy. The exceptions are Inner City Tenants and Military Proximity.  These groups seem more interested in king sized candy.  Inner City Tenants residents are a microcosm of urban diversity; their population is represented primarily by white, black, and Hispanic cultures.  Their median household income is $30,873.  Military Proximity residents are young, married, and beginning parenthood.  More than three-fourths of the labor force are on active duty or have civilian jobs on military bases.

What does all this mean?  Well, it means that some groups eat or want candy or junk food more than others.  The tapestry groups are not necessarily segmented by weight or obesity but this analysis can help you identify who is likely buying junk food, which can aid in advertising (and where to offer) more healthy alternatives.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at www.esri.com/data or to learn more about Esri in general, go to www.esri.com.

Fast Food – What’s Most The Most Likely Visited Restaurant in a Zip Code?

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Updated 5/31/2012

As a follow-up to the blog Fast Food – Who Eat’s Where? many were curious as to the most popular fast food restaurant by zip code.  Although restaurants like McDonalds are very popular nationwide, they aren’t necessarily the most popular on a local level.  In fact, there are only a handful of zip codes in the United States where McDonalds is the most popular.  Rather, many local or regional chains are the more likely choice with consumers.

Taco Bell, Subway, Wendy’s, and KFC – though popular nationwide like McDonald’s are similarly less likely to be the restaurant of choice on a local level.  In fact, none of these chains are most likely to be visited at least once in the last six months in more than 10 zip codes, so they were not included in this map.  Rather, chains such as Hardees are more likely to be visited on a local level, as displayed above.  Captain D’s is very popular in the Midwest towards the east.  Panera is very popular on the eastern seaboard and Carl’s Jr is popular in California.

Part of what is interesting about this, is some chains are very popular in areas where they don’t have many restaurants – or maybe even any restaurants.  This can mean a couple of things.  First, people travel to other areas to frequent them – or always make sure they visit the restaurant when they are in nearby cities that have locations.  One example is Captain D’s in the Omaha, NE Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA).  There are no Captain D’s in the CBSA, but there are in nearby Kansas City, MO and other towns relatively close by.  It may also mean that people who live in one area and are part of the same tapestry segment as another area are more likely to visit a given restaurant, if available.  Therefore, although the restaurant isn’t in their area – they are likely to visit it if they are in an area where it does exist.

Captain D’s Index by Zip Code in Omaha CBSA

As shown in the map above, there are many zip codes on the outer part of the Omaha CBSA where consumers are big fans of Captain D’s.  These areas have a minimum index of 150 for Captain D’s.  This means are 1.5 times more likely (or greater) to have visited a Captain D’s in the last 6 months than the average American.  This information informs the owners of Captain D’s that this may be an area of opportunity to expand their restaurant chain.  Further analysis of locations is required to determine an optimal location, but this analysis can give a first pass to find new potential locations.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at www.esri.com/data or to learn more about Esri in general, go to www.esri.com.

Fast Food – Who Eats Where?

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Fast food is a core part of the US culture. It’s easy. It’s cheap. It’s everywhere. McDonalds is the main restaurant of choice with over 18,000 locations in the US alone. Over 42% of Americans visited McDonalds at least once in the last 6 months. There is little diversity in the types of people that go to McDonalds as it appeals to all types. Other fast food chains, however, are not quite as popular – and target different types of people and locations. How do these vary? What type of consumer visits each of these chains? Does geography matter?

While there are a significant amount of fast food chains, this article will focus on just a few of them – the ones that are most visited in the last 6 months (after McDonalds of course). They are: Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway, Wendy’s, and KFC.

Burger King

With over 12,500 stores worldwide, Burger King is one of the most popular hamburger franchises in the world. Over half of their franchises are located in the US. The majority of these are located in the eastern part of the United States – but franchises are all over. Over 27% of the US population has visited a Burger King in the last 6 months. No one area of the country seems to dominate the visits, though consumers living in the mid-west and east tend to frequent the restaurant as a whole more than those in the west.

One method to classify consumers is through tapestry segmentation. Esri, a geographic information systems company which also does data analysis, developed a tapestry segmentation that classifies US residential neighborhoods into 65 unique market segments based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.

The tapestry segmentation groups that frequent Burger King the most are Metro City Edge and Dorms to Diplomas. 100% of the census block groups where these segments are dominant have an index of 125 or higher for likely visiting Burger King at least once in the last 6 months. This means that a consumer in these groups is at least 1.25 times more likely than the average American to have visited Burger King at least once in the last 6 months. These are the avid Burger King consumers. Who are they?

Metro City Edge residents live in older suburban neighborhoods of large metropolitan cities, primarily in the Midwest and South. Their median income is $29,269. About 72% of the residents are black. Dorms to Diplomas residents are college students. 90% of these consumers rent. Most of these communities are in urban locations or part of a major campus in a n urban cluster.

Taco Bell

Mexican food is a very popular fast food choice – and Taco Bell is the most popular Mexican fast food chain in the US. The company has over 5,800 restaurants throughout the country which almost 25% of the US population visited in the last 6 months.

The zip code with the highest index for visiting Taco Bell in the last 6 months is 06269, which is Storrs Mansfield, CT.  This is the zip code for the University of Connecticut.  In fact the top 5 zip codes all have colleges located there.  The top 5 zip codes are:

  • 06269 – Storrs Mansfield, CT (University of Connecticut)
  • 13244 – Syracuse, NY (Syracuse University)
  • 27411 – Greensboro, NC (Bennett College)
  • 27710 – Durham, NC (Duke University)
  • 29424 – Charleston, SC (College of Charleston)

Not surprisingly, the most avid visitors of Taco Bell are residents of the tapestry group Dorms to Diplomas.  As mentioned above, these are college students.  All of the census blocks where this segment is dominant have an index for visiting Taco Bell at least once in the last six months is 150 or higher meaning they are 1.5 times more likely than the average American to go to Taco Bell.

Other tapestry segments with residents that are frequent Taco Bell customers are Up and Coming Families and Aspiring Young Families.  Census block groups where these segments are dominant have an index of 125 or higher for visiting Taco Bell at least once in the last 6 months.

Subway

Known for submarine sandwiches, Subway is the largest sandwich restaurant in the United States.  It has approximately 20,000 locations in the US and over 35,000 worldwide.  This is even more than McDonald’s 33,000 worldwide locations.

With Subway being everywhere, this means their customers are everywhere too.  There are 36 zip codes that are tied for the highest index for visiting Subway at least once in the past 6 months.  They have an index of 158.  This means that someone in those zip codes is 1.58 times more likely than the average American to have visited Subway in the past 6 months.  To put this in perspective, about 24.1% of Americans have visited Subway in the past 6 months.

Like Taco Bell, the tapestry segment that visits Subway the most is Dorms to Diplomas.  Made up of primarily college students, this group is looking for quick, inexpensive food on the go.  All of the census block groups where Dorms to Diplomas is the dominant tapestry segment have an index of 125 or higher for having visited Subway at least once in the past 6 months.

Wendy’s

Known for its old-fashioned hamburgers, Wendy’s is the third largest hamburger chain the world with over 6,650 locations.  Its popularity is increasing.  With fewer locations than Burger King, it surpassed Burger King’s sales in 2011.  About 23.6% of Americans visited a Wendy’s in the last six months.

Wendy’s seems to be most popular in the south and east but also in some parts of the west.  The chain is less popular in the Midwest – at least people don’t frequent the restaurant too often there.

Residents from two tapestry groups frequent Wendy’s the most: Family Foundations and Great Expectations.  100% of the census block groups where these two segments are dominant have an index of 125 or higher for visiting Wendy’s at least once in the last 6 months.  This means that residents in these groups are 1.25 times more likely to have visited Wendy’s.

Family Foundations neighborhoods are small urban communities are located in large metro­politan areas, primarily in the South and Midwest. They have a median household income is $38,460.  Young singles who live alone and married-couple families dominate the Great Expectations neighborhoods.  Their median household income is $35,406.

Kentucky Fried Chicken

Founded by Colonel Sanders in 1952, KFC is the most popular fast food chicken restaurant in the United States.  The company has over 15,000 stores in 105 countries worldwide.  In the US, almost 21% of the population visited KFC in the last 6 months.  The restaurant is particularly popular in the south.

Several tapestry segments are composed of residents who frequent KFC.  They are Family Foundations, Heartland Communities, Southern Satellites, City Strivers, Urban Rows, Rural Bypasses, and Rooted Rural.  100% of the census block groups where each of these are dominant have an index of 125 or higher for visiting KFC at least once in the last 6 months.  The majority of these tapestry segments are part of the Urbanization segment Rural II.  Urbanization summary groups share a locale, from the urban canyons of the largest cities to the rural lanes of villages or farms.

Over 80% of the Rural II neighborhoods have an index of 125 or higher for KFC.  Most of this population lives in rural farm areas; the rest live in the country or in small villages.

Each of these restaurants is popular to a different type of segment of the population.  Consumers have preferences based on food selection, taste, price, convenience, and many other factors.  It is important to understand which types of consumers frequent a restaurant to best target new customers and to understand the best opportunity for expansion.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at www.esri.com/data or to learn more about Esri in general, go to www.esri.com.

Atlanta – How Does it Compare to “Typical” America?

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Home to companies like The Coca-Cola company, Turner Broadcasting, The Home Depot, IPS, and Delta Airlines, the city is a major business city for both the US and the world.   But what are people like in Atlanta?  How do they compare to the “average” American?  How does each neighborhood differ throughout the area?

According to the 2010 Census, there are 5,611,180 people living in the Atlanta, GA Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA). What do we know about the people living there?  How do they vary?

As a whole, the Atlanta CBSA population is 49.4% male and 50.6% female.  57.3% of the population identifies themselves as White only.  31.4% of the population identifies themselves as Black (compared with 12.4% of the US population).  10.6% of the population identifies themselves as Hispanic. The median income in 2010 was  $68,106, which is over 25% higher than the US median income of $54,442.

People in Atlanta are “average” Americans in some ways, but also index high or low in many parts of the city depending on the demographics.  A high index means they spend more than the average America  on a product and service or a higher percentage of households participate in an activity the average US household. Here are some key statistics for selected variables for the overall Atlanta CBSA:

Activity Index Average Spend per HH per Year
Watch baseball on TV

103

N/A
Watch American Idol

105

N/A
Own a DVR

118

N/A
Coffee at Home

104

$67.30
Health Insurance

102

$1,916.56

All neighborhoods in Atlanta are not the same.  Just like the rest of the US, there is diversity in the area.  Retailers, marketers, distributors, and others who do business with direct consumers need to know where their customers live – or where the opportunity may lie.  Understanding what activities consumers are engaging in or what they are purchasing is critical to knowing where customers and opportunities lie.

Baseball is one of the key all-American sports.  Home to the Atlanta Braves, baseball is as popular in Atlanta as anywhere.   Much of Atlanta is relatively average when it comes to watching baseball on TV.  There are a few areas on the outskirts of the CBSA and right in the middle of the CBSA that are below average.

Baseball TV Viewing Index by Zip Code

The zip code that indexes the highest when it comes to watching baseball is 30290, which is Tyrone, GA. Its index is 127 meaning that someone in a household in this zip code is 1.27 times more likely than the average American household to watch baseball.  The dominant tapestry segment of this zip code is Green Acres.  Seventy-one percent of the households in Green Acres neighborhoods are married couples with and without children. Many families are blue-collar Baby Boomers, many with children aged 6–17 years.  This segment is not ethnically diverse; 92 percent of the residents are white. More about tapestry segments and segmentation can be found at www.esri.com/tapestry.

American Idol is one of the most popular television shows today with a wide range in its viewing audience from age to demographics.  While it isn’t as popular as it once was, millions are still tuning in to watch and vote every week.  On May 3, 2012, 15.05 million households tuned in to view the show, according to Nielsen (prior seasons have had 20-30 million viewers per show).  That’s more than 13% of all households in the US.  Residents of Atlanta are typically American when it comes to American Idol with an index of 105.

American Idol Viewing Index by Zip Code

There is little variation for American Idol viewing among neighborhoods in Atlanta – most fall within the “average” index range of 75-125.  The zip codes with the highest indices are 30336 and 30332 – both with an index of 131.  These zip codes have different dominant tapestry groups.  They are Sophisticated Squires and Family Foundations, respectively.  It isn’t surprising that this varies as the American Idol viewer is very diverse.  The zip code with the lowest index for watching American Idol in the Atlanta CBSA was 30326 with an index of 59.  This means that a household in that zip code is 40% less likely to watch American Idol as the average American household.  The dominant tapestry segment in that neighborhood is Metro Renters.  Residents of this segment are young, educated singles, who are just beginning their professional careers in some of the largest US cities.

DVRs have changed the way many consumers watch television.  Enabling consumers to shift their television viewing from appointment viewing to on-demand has greatly affected how media companies market and distribute their content.  Many think that everyone has a DVR since it’s so prevalent it places like Los Angeles and New York where many in the media market live.  It’s not quite true – it’s somewhere around 50% of US households.  While this isn’t something to ignore, knowing that half the country still watches much of their TV live is important and can affect what type of content is developed and how it is distributed.  How does Atlanta compare to the rest of the nation?

Overall, Atlanta has a higher adoption of DVRs than the average American.  Its index is 118.   Not all areas of Atlanta are the same though.

DVR Ownership Index by Zip Code

While overall the city falls in the average range for DVR ownership, it is on the higher end of the average scale as it has an index of 118 meaning residents of the Atlanta CBSA are 1.18 times more likely to have a DVR than the average American household.  The city, itself, though, is quite diverse in DVR ownership.  There are several zip codes with indices of above 150 for DVR ownership meaning they are 1.5 times more likely to have a DVR than the average American household.  The zip code with the highest index of 196 is 30097.  The three zip codes with the next highest zip codes are 30024, 30022, and 30005.  All 4 of these zip codes have Boomburbs as their dominant tapestry segment.  Residents of this segment busy, affluent young families with the highest concentrations of young families with children. There is little ethnic diversity in the population; most of the residents are white.

With an index of 47, the zip code 30734 has the lowest index in the Atlanta CBSA.  Households in this zip code are less than half as likely to have a DVR than the average American household.  The dominant tapestry segment is Southern Satellites.

Knowing what consumers spend their money on and how much is key to understanding their preferences and what they may or may not buy in the future.  This information can help retailers, marketers, and distributors decide on what products to offer and where to offer them.

Coffee is a key part of many people’s day – especially in the morning.  While many go to a coffeehouse to consume their favorite caffeinated beverage – or they get it at work, many also brew it at home and consume it there or on their way to work.  The average American household spends about $64.20 on coffee each year.  The average household in the Atlanta CBSA spends just a bit more than that – $67.30. Atlanta, overall, is just average in terms of spending on coffee – but neighborhoods differ.

Average HH Annual Coffee Spend for Home Consumption by Zip Code

There are a few zip codes in the Atlanta CBSA where the average household spends over $100 per year on coffee.  Interestingly, there are multiple tapestry groups that are dominant for each of these zip codes: Top Rung, Social Security Set, Boomburbs, Suburban Splendor, and Metro Renters.  The average household in zip code 30313 spends just $30.96 per year on coffee, which is the lowest in the Atlanta CBSA.

Health insurance is a concern of most Americans and has been on the agenda of politicians for many years.  It is one of the foremost topics for the 2012 presidential election.  The average American household pays about $1,865 annually for it.  Many factors go into how much an individual or family pays including family size, age, health condition, and much more.  It can also vary based on where you live – from the state, city, and even neighborhood.  The average household in Atlanta pays $1,916.56 which is just above the amount of the average American household.

Average HH Health Insurance Spend by Zip Code

There are many reasons that are hard to pinpoint as to why one area has higher health insurance costs than other.  The formulas are very complex.  While much of the city falls within the “average” of the American household, there are a few areas that are either above or below average.  There are three zip codes where the average household spends over $3,000 per month.  Each of these has median incomes over $120,000.  Households in zip code 30327 on average spend the most – $3,163.01.  The dominant tapestry group for this zip code is Top Rung.  Information about health insurance costs can help health industry professionals determine what services or clinics may be needed in an area.

What does this all mean in terms of Atlanta? 

In the criteria analyzed here, its indices are just slightly higher than the typical American household – but it’s really pretty much average as a whole.  There are some differences throughout the city.  This is due to the varying demographics in the city showing that there is a spectrum of consumers throughout.  Companies wanting to target the Atlanta area should fully understand who their market is then use segmentation to find the neighborhoods that match their consumers.

This blog is part of a series about various local markets around the country.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at www.esri.com/data  or to learn more about Esri in general, go to www.esri.com.

Boston – How Does it Compare to “Typical” America?

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Settled in 1630 and incorporated in 1822, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US. It is home to many major league sports teams including the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins and the New England Patriots. It is also home to more than 100 colleges and universities, which bring in more than 250,000 students from around the world.

What are people like in Boston? How do they compare to the “average” American? How does each neighborhood differ?

According to the 2010 Census, there are 4,391,344 people living in the Boston, MA Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA). What do we know about them? How do they vary?

As a whole, the Boston CBSA population is 48.5% male and 51.5% female. 79% of the population identifies themselves as White only. 8.9% of the population identifies themselves as Hispanic. The median income in 2010 was $74,931, which is over 35% higher than the US median income of $54,442.

People in Boston are “average” Americans in some ways, but also index high in many parts of the city. This means they spend more than average on many products and services and a higher percentage of consumers participate in an activity the average US household.

Here are some key statistics for selected variables for the overall Boston CBSA:

Activity Index Average Spend per HH per Year
Watch baseball

114

N/A
Watch American Idol

100

N/A
Own a DVR

117

N/A
Coffee at Home

133

$85.58
Health Insurance

124

$2,315.78

All neighborhoods in Boston are not the same. Just like the rest of the US, there is diversity in the area. Retailers, marketers, distributors, and others who do business with direct consumers need to know where their customers live – or where the opportunity may lie. Understanding what activities consumers are engaging in or what they are purchasing is critical to knowing where customers and opportunities lie.

Baseball is one of the key all-American sports. As noted above, Boston is home to the Boston Red Sox, which plays out of America’s oldest ballpark – Fenway Park. The question is – with this rich history in baseball – does that then translate to people watching baseball on TV?

Baseball TV Viewing Index by Zip Code

 

Much of Boston is relatively average when it comes to watching baseball on TV, though there are many areas that are above average.  The zip code that indexes the highest when it comes to watching baseball is 01731.  This zip code belongs to Hanscom AFB.  Its index is 138 meaning that someone in a household in this zip code is 1.38 times more likely than the average American household to watch baseball.  The dominant tapestry segment of this zip code is Military Proximity.  Residents of Military Proximity are young, married, and beginning parenthood.  More than three-fourths of the labor force in this segment are on active duty or have civilian jobs on military bases.  More about tapestry segments and segmentation can be found at www.esri.com/tapestry.

American Idol is one of the most popular television shows with a wide range in its viewing audience from age to demographics.  While it isn’t as popular as it once was, millions are still tuning in to watch and vote every week.  On April 25, 2012, 15.66 million households tuned in to view the show, according to Nielsen (prior seasons have had 20-30 million viewers per show).  That’s more than 13% of all households in the US.  Residents of Boston are typically American when it comes to American Idol with an index of 100.

American Idol Viewing Index by Zip Code

 

Interestingly, there is little variation for American Idol viewing among neighborhoods in Boston. Most neighborhoods fall within the “average” index range of 75-125. The zip code with the highest index is 01731 just like in baseball viewing. The zip code with the lowest index for watching American Idol was 02110 with an index of 53. This means that a resident in that zip code is ½ as likely to watch American Idol as the average American. The dominant tapestry segment in that neighborhood is Laptops and Lattes. This segment is very affluent and young. They enjoy life in the big city.

DVRs have changed the way many consumers watch television. Enabling consumers to shift their television viewing from appointment viewing to on-demand has greatly affected how media companies market and distribute their product. I live in Los Angeles where media is one of the main industries and almost everyone is connected to the “industry,” so there is a skew in the adoption of DVRs – many think that everyone has one. It’s not quite true – it’s somewhere around 50% of US households. While this isn’t something to ignore, knowing that half the country still watches much of their TV live is important and can affect what type of content is developed and how it is distributed. How does Boston stack up?

Overall, Boston has a higher adoption of DVRs than the average American. Its index is 117. Not all areas of Boston are the same though.

DVR Ownership Index by Zip Code

While overall the city is average in terms of DVR ownership, there are distinct differences in areas around the city. The zip codes with an index of 150 (considered well above average as they are 1.5 times more likely than the average American household to have a DVR) or above all have high median incomes – over $80,000. All of these zip codes are located in or very close to the actual city of Boston versus areas around the outskirts of the CBSA. The zip codes with the highest index in the CBSA are 02030 and 01741. Their indices are 195. Both zip codes have a dominant tapestry group of Top Rung. With an index of 56, the zip code 01841 has the lowest index in the Boston CBSA. Households in this zip code are approximately half as likely to have aDVR than the average American household. The dominant tapestry segment is International Marketplace, which is a very diverse segment.

Knowing what consumers spend their money on and how much is key to understanding their preferences and what they may or may not buy in the future. This information can help retailers, marketers, and distributors decide on what products to offer and where to offer them.

Coffee is a key part of many people’s day. While many go to their favorite coffeehouse to consume their favorite caffeinated beverage – or they get it at work, many also brew it at home and consume it there. The average American household spends about $64.20 on coffee each year. The average household in the Boston CBSA spends over 25 % more – $85.58. This higher than average spending on coffee could be due to factors such as higher cost of living as well as the cold Boston winters.

Average HH Annual Coffee Spend for Home Consumption by Zip Code

 

The zip codes around the center of Boston spend much more than the average American on coffee.    All of the zip codes that spend $100 per year on coffee to drink at home have median incomes of $80,000 or more.  The 5 zip codes with the highest average household spending on coffee were 02493, 02030, 02481, 01770, and 02468.  Each of these zip codes had an average of $158.10 spent per household on coffee.  The dominant tapestry segment for all of these zip codes is Top Rung.  Residents of Top Rung neighborhoods are mature, married, highly educated, and wealthy.

Health insurance is a concern of most Americans and has been on the agenda of politicians for many years.  It is one of the foremost topics for the 2012 presidential election.  The average American household pays about $1,865 annually for it.  Many factors go into how much one pays including family size, age, health condition, and much more.  It can also vary based on where you live – from the state, city, and even neighborhood.  The average household in Boston pays $2,272.75 which is about 20% more than the average American household.

Average HH Health Insurance Spend by Zip Code

While it’s difficult to say why one area has higher health insurance than another as there is so many complex factors, we can determine that overall in Boston, the range that a household pays is “typical”. That said, there are areas that pay significantly more than average. The top five are all have a dominant tapestry segment of Top Rung. They are 02493, 02030, 02481, 01770, and 02468. Their indices are 233 or higher meaning they pay, on average, 2.33 times more than the average American household. Each of these zip codes have median incomes of $169,297 or higher. These higher incomes may result in the households purchasing more comprehensive health insurance. Information about health insurance can help health industry professionals determine what services or clinics may be needed in an area.

What does this all mean in terms of Boston?

Well, in these criteria, its indices are slightly higher than the typical American. The higher spending on coffee and health insurance may be due to the higher incomes as well as the higher cost of living. I am sure there are other criteria where it is much different due to interests and available of products. It’s important for companies to understand each individual market – and even neighborhood – as there are distinct differences among them.

This is the part of a series about various local markets around the country.

More information about Esri’s data can be found at www.esri.com/data or to learn more about Esri in general, go to www.esri.com.