Definitions of key terms used across our zip code data, demographics, and real estate pages.
Walk Score
Walk Score is a measure of how walkable a neighborhood is on a scale of 0–100. A score of 90–100 means daily errands do not require a car (Walker's Paradise). 70–89 is Very Walkable, 50–69 is Somewhat Walkable, 25–49 is Car-Dependent, and 0–24 is Almost All Errands Require a Car.
Atlanta Context
In metro Atlanta, Walk Scores range from 15 (suburban areas like 30115 Canton) to 92 (30308 Midtown). The metro average is around 42, reflecting Atlanta's car-centric layout. Neighborhoods along the BeltLine and near MARTA stations tend to score highest.
Transit Score measures how well a location is served by public transportation on a scale of 0–100. It factors in the distance to the nearest transit stop, frequency of service, and type of transit (bus, rail, ferry). A score of 70+ indicates Excellent Transit.
Atlanta Context
Atlanta's MARTA system serves the core city with heavy rail and bus routes. Zip codes near MARTA stations (30308, 30309, 30303) score 60–78, while outer suburbs score under 25. The metro average Transit Score is approximately 28.
Median household income is the income level at which half of all households in an area earn more and half earn less. Unlike average income, the median is not skewed by extremely high or low earners, making it a more accurate representation of typical household earnings.
Atlanta Context
Metro Atlanta's median household income varies dramatically — from $38,000 in Downtown (30303) to $189,250 in Tuxedo Park (30327). The metro-wide median is approximately $99,000. The U.S. national median is roughly $75,000, placing Atlanta above average.
Median home value is the price at which half of owner-occupied homes in an area are worth more and half are worth less. It reflects the middle point of the housing market and is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Atlanta Context
In metro Atlanta, median home values range from $249,500 (30058 Lithonia) to $1,136,500 (30327 Tuxedo Park). The metro average is approximately $460,000. Home values have appreciated 15–40% across most zip codes between 2019 and 2024.
Median rent is the monthly rental price at which half of rental units in an area cost more and half cost less. It includes all rental housing types (apartments, houses, townhomes) and is reported by the Census Bureau's ACS estimates.
Atlanta Context
Atlanta's median rents range from roughly $900/month in some South Metro areas to over $2,100/month in Buckhead and Midtown. The metro average is approximately $1,450/month.
The homeownership rate is the percentage of occupied housing units that are owner-occupied rather than rented. A higher rate often indicates neighborhood stability, while a lower rate may reflect a younger, more transient population or high housing costs.
Atlanta Context
Atlanta's homeownership rates vary from under 20% in dense urban areas like Midtown (30308) to over 80% in suburban communities like Milton (30004). The national average is approximately 66%.
Crime Index
A Crime Index is a comparative measure of crime rates in an area relative to the national or regional average. Ratings like 'Low,' 'Below Average,' 'Average,' and 'Above Average' indicate how a neighborhood's crime compares to peer areas. It typically combines property crime and violent crime statistics.
Atlanta Context
In our data, Crime Index ratings are editorial assessments based on local police department reports and community surveys. North Metro suburbs generally rate 'Low' or 'Below Average,' while some urban core zip codes rate 'Average' or 'Above Average.'
Population Density
Population density measures the number of people living per square mile in a given area. Higher density typically correlates with more urban environments, better walkability, and more amenities but also more congestion and noise.
Atlanta Context
Atlanta's population density ranges from under 1,000/sq mi in outer suburbs to over 8,000/sq mi in Midtown and Downtown. For comparison, Manhattan averages 72,000/sq mi and typical U.S. suburbs average 1,000–3,000/sq mi.
ACS 5-Year Estimates
The American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates are demographic data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau over a 60-month period. They provide the most reliable small-area statistics for items like income, education, housing, and commute patterns. The 5-year pooling provides larger sample sizes and greater statistical reliability than 1-year estimates.
Atlanta Context
All demographic data on Atlanta Zip Codes is sourced from ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates (covering 2020–2024). This is the gold standard for zip-code-level Census data.
College Degree Rate
The college degree rate (also called educational attainment) is the percentage of adults aged 25+ who hold a bachelor's degree or higher. It's a key indicator of a community's educational profile and often correlates with income levels and property values.
Atlanta Context
Metro Atlanta's college degree rates range from about 15% in some South Metro areas to over 80% in Buckhead (30305) and Decatur (30030). The national average is approximately 33%.
Commute Time
Average commute time is the mean travel time in minutes for workers aged 16+ traveling from home to work. It includes all modes of transportation — driving, public transit, walking, biking, and working from home (counted as 0 minutes).
Atlanta Context
Atlanta is known for long commutes. The metro average is about 31 minutes, with outer suburbs like Canton (30115) averaging 38+ minutes and in-town areas like Midtown (30308) averaging 22 minutes. MARTA access can reduce commute times by 7+ minutes.
The price-to-income ratio divides the median home value by the median household income. A ratio under 3.0 is considered very affordable, 3.0–5.0 is moderate, and above 5.0 indicates expensive housing relative to local incomes. It's a key measure of housing affordability.
Atlanta Context
In metro Atlanta, price-to-income ratios range from about 3.0 in affordable areas to over 6.0 in premium neighborhoods like Buckhead and Virginia-Highland. The national average is approximately 4.5.
Household Size
Average household size is the mean number of people living in each occupied housing unit. It reflects family composition — areas with more families tend to have larger household sizes (2.5–3.5), while urban areas with more singles and couples trend lower (1.5–2.2).
Atlanta Context
Metro Atlanta's household sizes range from 1.6 in dense urban areas to 3.3 in family-oriented suburbs. The national average is 2.5 persons per household.
MARTA
MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) is Atlanta's public transit system, operating heavy rail (Red, Gold, Blue, Green lines) and bus routes across Fulton and DeKalb counties. It connects the airport to Midtown, Buckhead, and Decatur via rail.
Atlanta Context
Living near a MARTA station significantly impacts commute times and Walk/Transit Scores. Zip codes within a half-mile of a station (30303, 30308, 30309, 30324, 30326) command premium rents but offer car-optional lifestyles.
The Atlanta BeltLine is a 22-mile multi-use trail and transit corridor being built along a historic rail corridor that circles the urban core. When complete, it will connect 45 neighborhoods via walking trails, bike paths, parks, public art, and eventually streetcar transit.
Atlanta Context
Zip codes along the BeltLine (30306, 30307, 30312, 30316, 30318) have seen significant property value appreciation — often 20–40% above metro averages. The Eastside Trail is complete; the Westside and Southside segments are under construction.
A Walk Score of 70–89 is Very Walkable, meaning most errands can be accomplished on foot. A score of 90–100 is Walker's Paradise. In metro Atlanta, the average Walk Score is about 42, so anything above 60 is above average.
What does median household income mean?
Median household income is the income level where half of households earn more and half earn less. It's a better measure than average income because it isn't skewed by extremely high or low earners.
What is a good price-to-income ratio for housing?
A price-to-income ratio under 3.0 is very affordable, 3.0–5.0 is moderate, and above 5.0 indicates expensive housing. The national average is approximately 4.5.