Your ‘Desire Path’ to 2024 Population Projections

While jogging around Town Lake in Austin, Texas, I noticed the city constructing a formal path right next to a worn dirt trail that everyone naturally walks down. Since Anthony vetoed my plan to buy a drone for the perfect aerial shot, here’s a less-than-perfect phone photo instead so you can see what I’m talking about.

These two paths reminded me of a park design concept called “desire path planning.” Planners build the park, wait a year to see where people naturally walk, and then lay down the official paths right over those worn areas. Instead of guessing, they employ patience and a bit of humility in observing where people instinctively go and follow their lead. Brilliant, right?

Inspired Action: Bringing Desire Path Planning to Population Data

Inspired by this, I’ve decided to take a similar approach with population data.

For years, I’ve told you that Census data takes time to collect and process, which means it’s a year or two behind. But I’ve noticed that the demand (Google searches) is for 2024 population data.

And I get it. In a world where:

  • You can get groceries delivered to your door in an hour
  • You can summon a stranger to drive you across town in minutes

Why shouldn’t you have 2024 demographics in 2024?

Introducing 2024 Population Projections

So I’ve used the latest (2022 or 2023) Census data along with simple projection methods to estimate the 2024 population for zips, cities, and counties.

You can now find these 2024 population projections on our state-demographics.com websites.

How to Use:

  • Check out the data for your hometown.
  • Look up your county.
  • Search for your zip code.

Just select your state and then search for your geography of interest. Let me know what you think!

A Note on Refinement

The projections aren’t perfect yet—especially for zips with major boundary shifts—but like those patient park planners, I’m releasing this concept to the world and will refine it based on feedback and observations (in the least creepy way possible, of course!).

Final Thoughts

I love the concept of desire path planning and wanted to share it with you in case it sparks a solution for your own business.

Thanks for reading!

And as always, I’m here to answer any demographic questions you have—whether it’s about the 2024 projections or the official 2023 Census data release coming in December.

From Freaking Out to 29 Solutions: Access Your Beginner’s Mind with AI

As a long-time soccer fan, I got a big kick (ha!) out of cheering on the US women’s soccer team to gold in the Olympics earlier this month. Surprisingly, rugby was my favorite Olympic event to watch, partly because I didn’t know any of the rules or strategy. Watching rugby reminded me of how fun it is to be a beginner – something I don’t do enough as an adult.


Rugby and Beginner’s Mind

In Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Shunryu Suzuki says:

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”

He emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open and receptive mindset, even as one gains expertise.

🙋‍♀️ This is me! Having run a small business for the past 15 years, I tend to dismiss ideas too quickly, especially if I tried them in the past and they didn’t work then.

When I’m working through a problem and want to access my beginner’s mind, I’ve been using ChatGPT. Here’s a real prompt from this past month.


Prompt Example with ChatGPT


Prompt:

I’m a small business owner, and one of my websites has had a 28% decline in users since March 2024.


Instruction: You are my SEO assistant, and your job is asking questions to help me figure out a prioritized list of things to check and changes to make to recover this traffic. What’s the first question you’d ask?


ChatGPT’s Response:

“Have you reviewed your website’s Google Search Console data to identify any significant changes in search impressions, clicks, or errors starting from March 2024?”

In less than a minute, I’ve gone from freaking out—“OMG! This website has had a 28% decline in traffic. I have to fix this NOW!”—to concretely defining the problem and digging into a tool with data that can diagnose the issue accurately.


Insights from Data Analysis

And digging into the data – always more helpful than freaking out – showed me that this website’s impressions hadn’t changed. So that means that Google is still serving our website, and we weren’t impacted by a recent Google algorithm update, which was my first assumption. Instead, the data showed that the number of people clicking on my website is down. And with a bit more digging, this decline is likely due to Google’s new AI summary display. With this darn good guess that’s backed up by data about what’s causing the problem, I can go back to my beginner’s mind to come up with 29 different ideas to address this problem, some of which are admittedly terrible, but one of which is likely to work.


Question for you: Do you have any problems in your business that you could approach with a beginner’s mind?


Quick Update from Cubit


TL;DR: Radius Reports will now be emailed to you only, rather than being both emailed and available for download on a webpage.


Why? We use Shopify to deliver radius reports, but Shopify has removed the functionality that allowed us to link to your custom radius reports on a webpage. My partner, Anthony, is working on an alternative method to link to your reports post-purchase. If you need help locating your radius reports, please reach out to Diana or me.

Thank you for reading, and here’s to tackling challenges with a fresh perspective!

Richest Zip Code In Your State

Introduction: Find the Richest Zip Codes in Your State!

Curious about the wealthiest neighborhoods near you? Cubit Planning’s IncomeByZipCode.com now provides updated lists of the wealthiest zip codes in each U.S. state, drawing on the latest Census data. This free, annually updated resource allows you to explore income trends across the nation and see how your area compares.

Our updated data is the perfect tool to stay informed about economic demographics in your state. Check out the wealthiest zip codes for your state below—there may be a few surprises!

Explore the Richest Zip Codes Across the U.S.

Whether you’re interested in learning more about wealth distribution in California, New York, Texas, or any other state, IncomeByZipCode.com has you covered. Here’s a quick look at the richest zip codes across all states:

Each state’s data is carefully updated to reflect the most current Census information available. Find out how your community ranks and explore how zip code income levels shape the economic landscape.

If you have any suggestions to make this resource even better, we’d love to hear from you! Simply reach out to us with your ideas.

Self-Improvement Tip: Should You Have a Personal Board of Directors?

Taking a page from thought leader Shane Parrish’s Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results, which he stole from Jim Collins, let’s explore a unique concept: developing a “personal board of directors.” Just like a corporate board advises a business, a personal board of directors can provide you with mental models and behavioral guidance to help you navigate complex decisions.

These advisors don’t have to be alive or directly accessible; they can be historical figures, modern innovators, or thought leaders whose philosophies resonate with you. Building your personal board can be a powerful tool for growth. Here’s how:

1. Choose Inspiring Exemplars
Select people whose values, actions, and habits align with the person you aspire to be. For instance, do they show resilience, creativity, or wisdom? The goal is to choose people who “raise the bar” and challenge you to become a better version of yourself.

2. Emulate Their Mindsets and Actions
Practice adopting their approach to problem-solving by asking, “What would _____ do?” This step helps cultivate the attitudes and skills you admire in them.

Your board doesn’t have to be flawless in all areas. Instead, seek individuals who embody skills or dispositions that you want to nurture. For example, Jason Cohen, known for his thoughtful approach to business and startups, and Steven Dubner, celebrated for his curiosity and boldness in asking tough questions, could serve as inspirations.

Do you have a personal board of directors? Let us know who’s on your list; we’d love to hear and learn from your perspectives!

Richest Cities and Counties in Your State

Explore New Lists Updated with the Latest Census Data

Are you curious about the wealthiest places in your state? We’ve got an exciting new free resource for you! At State-Demographics.com, we’ve compiled lists of the richest cities and counties in every state, using up-to-date data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Now, you can easily discover where wealth is concentrated in your state.

Richest Cities and Counties by State

Check out your state’s demographics using the links below:

We’d love to hear your thoughts on these lists—did any places surprise you? Let us know how we can make this resource even better by replying to this post.

Confidently Choose Your Next Best Location with Our Site Selection Analysis

Planning to open a new branch or office? Our Site Selection Analysis is here to help you make data-driven decisions that will maximize profitability and minimize risk. For just $999, you’ll gain insights into the best locations based on demographic and market data, ensuring your new location is set up for success.

Learn more about how we can assist with your next move: Site Selection Analysis.

Summer Reads We Recommend

Summer is the perfect time to dive into new ideas. Here are three books that we’ve been reading, and we think you’ll enjoy them too:

  1. Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos
    This book offers a fascinating look at Jeff Bezos’ thought process and business philosophy. It’s a collection of his annual shareholder letters, featuring recurring themes like Day 1 mentality, customer-centricity, and bold decision-making. Fun fact: Bezos got his initial start-up capital – $100,000 at first, then more – from his parents.
  2. Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport
    In this latest book, Newport explores how to get more done without the constant pressure of burnout. His previous book, Deep Work, transformed many readers’ work habits, but will his message of doing less resonate during the AI revolution?
  3. A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains by Max Bennett
    If you’re fascinated by the intersection of neuroscience and AI, this book by entrepreneur Max Bennett is for you. It’s a great summer read, highly recommended by Grit author Angela Duckworth on her podcast, No Stupid Questions.

Got any summer reading suggestions? Drop them in the comments below—we’d love to hear your recommendations!

Cubit’s Point Of Interest Maps

Welcome back! I’ve got some exciting updates to share with you today that can help boost your business decisions with data-driven insights. Here’s a quick rundown:

TL;DR Summary:

  • Point of Interest Maps: Now available as an add-on for your radius reports for just $50.
  • ZipTarget Analysis: Learn how I improved my Google Ad campaign by 900% by targeting the right zip codes. You can do it too.
  • 2023 Population Data: The U.S. Census Bureau has released new population estimates for cities and counties. Get them now on our state demographic sites.

Point of Interest Maps: A Data-Driven Decision

I’ve been diving into Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos lately, and one quote really stuck with me:

“Many important decisions we make at Amazon.com can be made with data… math tells us which is which. These are our favorite kinds of decisions.”

I couldn’t agree more! Data-driven decisions make life so much easier for small business owners like me. And guess what? Offering Point of Interest (POI) maps to our reports was one such decision.

After sending out post-purchase emails asking, “What else do you need?” the overwhelming response was a request for POI maps. So, we’ve listened!

Now Available: Point of Interest Maps for $50

For just $50, you can now add Point of Interest Maps to your radius reports. Get a custom map of key locations sent directly to your inbox within one business day. Need more details? Just reply to this post, and I’ll be happy to help!

ZipTarget Analysis: Boost Your Ad Performance Like I Did

Another powerful quote from Jeff Bezos speaks to the art of decision-making:

“Not all of our important decisions can be made in this enviable, math-based way. Sometimes… judgment is the prime ingredient.”

In the world of targeted marketing, I’ve had to rely on both data and judgment. Earlier this year, my Google PPC campaign took a major hit, losing $289 in just one month. That’s when I realized that relying on Google’s data wasn’t enough. I needed to look at my own sales data.

My Turnaround Story: From Loss to Profit

By analyzing zip codes from my Shopify sales data and matching it with detailed business demographics, I found the sweet spot for my ads. The result? A failing campaign turned into a $2,341 profit within just 30 days, all while cutting my ad spend by $200!

Now, I’m offering to help you achieve similar results with our new ZipTarget Analysis service. Learn more here, or feel free to reach out with any questions!

2023 Population Data for Cities & Counties

The U.S. Census Bureau has just released the 2023 population estimates for most cities and counties. If you want to skip learning how to use the Census’ website, you can get the 2023 estimates for free on our state demographic sites as well as in your Demographics By Cities and Counties Reports and Custom Data Requests. The 2023 data for counties are currently live, and we’re working on adding the same data for cities. 

What’s Available Now?

  • 2023 population data for counties is live on our site.
  • Data for cities is being added as we speak.

If you’ve ordered a 2022 Demographics By Cities report, don’t worry—we’ll be sending you an updated version with the 2023 data soon.

When Will the Rest of the 2023 Data Be Released?

By December 2024, we’ll have the full 2023 detailed demographics for all geographic areas, including zip codes. Stay tuned!