What is this tool?
This tool lets you preview which demographic data and zone boundaries will appear on a listing's detail page on the IPS website. When you enter a ZIP code or coordinates, it shows you the exact same Census data that gets generated in Airtable and displayed on the live site.
How the Airtable Automation Works
In the "Active Listings on Website" table in Airtable, there are three key columns at the end of each record:
- Census Zoom Level — The geographic boundary level assigned to this listing (e.g., Place, County, Neighborhood). This determines what area the demographic data covers.
- Area Insights — A long block of JSON code. This will look busy and ugly, but it's the data that generates the demographics graphic on the website. Don't edit it manually.
- Area Insights Validity — A checkbox that auto-checks when the JSON in "Area Insights" is valid. This checkbox is what allows the listing to display demographics on the live site.
When does the automation run? It triggers automatically when a listing has coordinates or a ZIP code set AND the "Area Insights" column is empty. You don't need to run anything manually — just make sure the listing has location data.
Census Zoom Levels
Each listing gets assigned a "zoom level" that determines how big or small the geographic area is for its demographic data. Smaller areas give more specific data; larger areas cover more ground but are less precise to the practice location.
| Level |
Census Type |
Typical Size |
Example |
| Neighborhood |
Census Tract |
~1,200–8,000 people |
A few blocks or a small neighborhood |
| Place |
City / CDP |
City-level |
City of Santa Barbara (pop ~90k) |
| Sub-County |
CCD |
Sub-county region |
Santa Barbara Division |
| County |
County |
Full county |
Santa Barbara County (pop ~450k) |
| Wide |
Metro / CBSA |
Multi-county metro |
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA |
Use this tool to enter the listing's ZIP code or coordinates, then click through each zone level to compare the boundaries and data. Pick the level that best represents the practice's local market, then set that level in Airtable's "Census Zoom Level" column.
Using This Tool to Preview
- Enter the listing's ZIP code and click "Load ZIP" (or enter coordinates and click "Load Coords").
- Wait a few seconds — the tool discovers all available census boundaries. The Boundary Discovery panel shows the status of each level.
- Click a zone button to see:
- The boundary shape on the map — showing exactly what area is covered
- The demographics panel — showing the same data that appears on the website
- Compare the zone levels to decide which best fits the listing. Then set that level in Airtable.
What Data Appears on the Site
For every listing with valid Area Insights data, the website shows:
- Total Population with 5-year trend (up/down %)
- Median Household Income with 5-year trend
- Total Households
- Age Demographics — Pediatric (0-17), Working Age (18-64), Seniors (65+)
- Key Indicators — Pediatric %, College Educated %, Homeowners %, High Income %
- Economic Indicators — Home Ownership Rate, High Income (>$200k), Bachelor's Degree+, Family Households
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022). The 5-year trend compares 2022 to 2017 data.
Troubleshooting
- Checkbox not checking? The JSON in "Area Insights" may be malformed. Clear it and let the automation re-run.
- No data showing for a level? Some areas (especially rural) don't have all boundary types. Use this tool to find which levels are available, then pick the best one in Airtable.
- "Circle" button doesn't show demographics — This is expected. Circles are a visual radius, not a census boundary, so there's no census data for them.
- A boundary shows "Not found"? That geographic level doesn't cover the practice location. This is normal — not every location has all six levels.