Columnist Susan Snyder: Log on and get to know the neighbors

Tuesday, April 25, 2000 | 9:01 a.m.

Susan Snyder's column appears Tuesdays and Sundays. Reach her at snyder@ lasvegassun.com or 259-4082.

Don't like rap music or own window blinds that cost more than $250 apiece.

Don't shop online, play racquetball or read the Sporting News.

Would probably consider moving to a new part of town if I didn't like traveling by train.

It seems that's about all I have in common with my neighbors in the 89117 ZIP code, according to a market research tool that shows what we like according to where we live.

Claritas Inc. of Virginia has an Internet site where people punch in a ZIP code to find out what residents of that area like to read, buy and watch.

It classifies areas with PRIZM, a system that divides the nation into 62 types of neighborhoods called "clusters."

The 89117 ZIP code encompassing the Lakes and Peccole Ranch has clusters with names like "Executive Suites," "Boomers & Babies" and "Suburban Sprawl." (There's a big news flash.)

It's fun to mess around with. And it's not like we'll know if any of it's true, what with gates to keep everyone out and deed restrictions to make sure we look exactly alike. Gridlock curbs us from leaving home anyway. Might as well tour the valley in cyberspace.

North Las Vegas' 89030 code has "Blue-Chip Blues" upscale, blue-collar, families who drink Coke, belong to religious clubs and watch "Days of Our Lives."

They live among "Gray Collars," a 65-plus population that owns vans, reads Jet and has home equity loans. And 89030 also is home to "Southside City" people who like pro wrestling, own Mazdas and buy gospel music.

If you live in Pahrump's 89041 ZIP code you might be an "Eco-topia" person. This means you have a Keogh account, read Prevention and watch "Jeopardy!"

You're probably bored because you like to cross-country ski. And you might be lonely because your neighbors fall into clusters named "Hard Scrabble," "Rustic Elders" and "Shotguns & Pickups."

This last group (because you're dying to know) likes to go freshwater fishing, drink RC Cola, watch ESPN2 and read Motor Trend.

Your "Hard Scrabbles" most likely live in isolated areas (until Del Webb discovers them), use tobacco coupons, enter sweepstakes and add bathrooms to their homes. Indoors, this time.

The Rustic Elders hunt and drink Diet 7-Up, but they also read Prevention. So they at least can strike up a conversation with their "Eco-Topia" neighbors.

Henderson's "Second City Elite" upscale executives fawn over laptop computers, Acuras and "Bon Appetit" aperitifs.

But before they get too full of themselves they might like to know they live among the "Big Fish, Small Pond" types just like the ones living up there in Elko -- that hotbed of reason and wisdom. Elko residents read Road & Track and Soap Opera Digest, watch QVC and country-music TV and drink Diet 7-Up.

And don't forget, Elko is led by county officials who collected 10,000 shovels to hand-dig an illegal road this summer. Perhaps they're the ones living in the "God's Country" cluster.

Proves even a deity can have a sense of humor.