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Understanding Housing Data

This section shows both the physical characteristics of housing stock in your area and its affordability for residents. Like our other detailed statistics, this data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS).

What You'll Find Here
  • Housing Age & Development
    • When local housing was built
    • Different construction eras
    • Development pattern implications
  • Types of Housing
    • Single vs. multi-family housing
    • Apartment building sizes
    • Mobile homes and other types
  • Rent Distribution
    • Range of monthly rents
    • Market rate patterns
    • Rental housing costs
  • Rent Burden
    • Income spent on housing
    • Affordability challenges
    • Cost-burdened households
  • Home Values
    • Property value ranges
    • Housing market segments
    • Ownership opportunities
Why This Matters

Understanding housing patterns helps with:

  • Identifying housing affordability challenges
  • Planning for community development
  • Assessing infrastructure needs
  • Developing housing policies
Housing Age & Development Patterns

The age of housing stock reveals development patterns and potential housing characteristics in an area. This data comes from the American Community Survey (2019-2023), which asks residents when their homes were built.

Housing Age Categories

We organize housing into five distinct eras, each with unique characteristics:

  • New Growth (2000 or later)
    • Built to modern building codes and energy standards
    • Often includes smart home technology and modern amenities
    • Typically more energy efficient
    • Usually found in newer developments or as infill in established areas
  • Late Century (1980-1999)
    • Contemporary layouts with larger floor plans
    • Often part of planned developments
    • May need some updating but generally modern amenities
    • Typically found in established suburban areas
  • Baby Boom Era (1960-1979)
    • Ranch-style homes and early apartment complexes common
    • Often well-built but may need significant updates
    • May have dated electrical or plumbing systems
    • Usually in mature neighborhoods with established trees
  • Post-War (1940-1959)
    • First wave of suburban development
    • Often smaller, more modest homes
    • May need substantial modernization
    • Typically close to urban centers
  • Pre-War (Before 1940)
    • Often historic or architectural significance
    • Generally well-built but may need major updates
    • May have unique challenges with renovation
    • Usually in central locations or historic districts
Policy Implications

The age distribution of housing stock can influence various policy decisions:

  • Housing Programs
    • Areas with older homes may need rehabilitation programs
    • Historic preservation policies for pre-war structures
    • Energy efficiency upgrade initiatives
  • Infrastructure Planning
    • Older areas may need utility system upgrades
    • Street and sidewalk maintenance priorities
    • Planning for neighborhood rejuvenation
  • Development Strategies
    • Identifying areas for infill development
    • Balancing preservation with renewal
    • Understanding neighborhood lifecycle stages
Data Note: The median year built statistic provides a single number to quickly assess the overall age of housing stock in an area. A higher median year indicates newer overall development, while a lower median year suggests more historic housing stock.
Types of Housing Units

The mix of housing types in an area shapes its character, density, and affordability. This data comes from the American Community Survey (2019-2023), which categorizes residential structures based on the number of units they contain.

Housing Categories Explained
  • Single Family
    • Detached: Stand-alone houses with space on all sides
    • Attached: Townhouses and row houses sharing walls
    • Typically owner-occupied
    • Often represents the largest share of housing in suburban areas
  • Small Multi-Family (2-4 units)
    • Duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes
    • Often family-owned rental properties
    • Common in older neighborhoods and near urban centers
    • Can provide naturally occurring affordable housing
  • Medium Multi-Family (5-19 units)
    • Low-rise apartment buildings
    • Garden-style apartment complexes
    • Usually professionally managed
    • Often provide workforce housing options
  • Large Multi-Family (20+ units)
    • Larger apartment buildings and complexes
    • High-density housing option
    • Common in urban areas and near transit
    • Can include both market-rate and affordable housing
  • Mobile Homes
    • Factory-built housing units
    • Important source of affordable housing
    • More common in rural and suburban areas
    • May be owner-occupied or rented
Why Housing Mix Matters
  • Affordability
    • Different housing types serve different income levels
    • Multi-family units often provide more affordable options
    • Diverse housing mix helps maintain economic diversity
  • Development Patterns
    • Housing mix influences population density
    • Affects infrastructure and service needs
    • Impacts transportation planning
  • Policy Considerations
    • Zoning and land use decisions
    • Housing preservation strategies
    • Affordable housing initiatives
Planning Context: A balanced mix of housing types can support diverse community needs and provide options across different life stages and income levels. Areas dominated by a single housing type may face challenges in accommodating changing demographics or economic conditions.
Understanding Rent Distribution

This data shows how monthly rents are distributed across different price ranges in an area. The information comes from the American Community Survey (2019-2023), which asks renters about their monthly rental payments, including utilities if paid by the renter.

What's Included in Monthly Rent
  • Base rent paid to landlord
  • Utilities if included in rent or paid separately by tenant
  • Both subsidized and market-rate units
  • All rental housing types (apartments, houses, mobile homes)
Rent Categories

We organize rents into broad categories that show the range of housing costs:

  • Under $1,000
    • Often includes subsidized housing
    • Older units or smaller apartments
    • More common in rural areas
  • $1,000 - $1,999
    • Typically workforce housing
    • Often older or mid-sized units
    • Common in suburban areas
  • $2,000 - $2,999
    • Usually newer or larger units
    • Often in desirable locations
    • May include single-family rentals
  • $3,000 or more
    • Luxury apartments or houses
    • Premium locations
    • Larger units or special amenities
Important Context
  • Data Timing
    • Represents average rents over 5 years (2019-2023)
    • May lag behind current market conditions
    • Includes both new leases and existing tenants
  • Market Dynamics
    • Long-term tenants often pay below-market rents
    • New leases typically reflect current market rates
    • Rent control or stabilization may affect distributions
Policy Implications: Rent distribution data helps identify affordability challenges and inform housing policies. Areas with high concentrations in upper ranges may need more affordable options, while those with mainly lower rents might focus on maintaining affordable stock while encouraging strategic development.
Understanding Rent Burden

Rent burden measures how much of a household's income goes toward rent and utilities. This data comes from the American Community Survey (2019-2023) and helps identify areas where residents may be struggling with housing costs.

Rent Burden Categories
  • Affordable (Less than 20%)
    • Housing costs well within household means
    • Typically leaves adequate income for other necessities
    • Often indicates higher-income renters or below-market rents
  • Moderate (20-30%)
    • Generally considered sustainable
    • Traditional target range for housing costs
    • Allows for other basic needs and some savings
  • Cost Burdened (30-50%)
    • May struggle to afford other necessities
    • Limited ability to save or handle emergencies
    • Often face difficult trade-offs in monthly budgeting
  • Severely Burdened (Over 50%)
    • High risk of housing instability
    • May sacrifice food, healthcare, or other essentials
    • Extremely vulnerable to financial emergencies
Key Considerations
  • Income Variations
    • Same rent can create different burden levels based on income
    • Lower-income households more likely to experience severe burden
    • Fixed-income residents particularly vulnerable
  • Market Factors
    • Housing supply and demand dynamics
    • Local wage levels relative to housing costs
    • Availability of affordable housing options
Policy Implications
  • Housing Programs
    • Rental assistance needs
    • Affordable housing development
    • Emergency rental support
  • Economic Development
    • Workforce housing strategies
    • Living wage considerations
    • Job training and income growth programs
Data Note: Rent burden calculations include both rent and utilities if paid by the renter. While 30% of income is a common affordability threshold, local conditions and household size can affect what's truly affordable for different families.
Understanding Home Values

This data shows how home values are distributed across different price ranges. The information comes from the American Community Survey (2019-2023), where homeowners estimate their property's current market value.

About the Data
  • Value Estimates
    • Based on homeowner self-reporting
    • Includes all owner-occupied housing units
    • Reflects estimated market value, not purchase price or tax assessment
    • May differ from current listing prices or recent sales
  • What's Included
    • Single-family houses
    • Condominiums
    • Mobile homes
    • Both mortgaged and owned-free-and-clear properties
Value Categories
  • Under $200,000
    • Entry-level housing in many markets
    • More common in rural areas or older neighborhoods
    • May include mobile homes or smaller units
  • $200,000 - $499,999
    • Mid-range housing in many markets
    • Often includes typical suburban homes
    • May represent starter homes in expensive markets
  • $500,000 - $999,999
    • Upper-middle range in most markets
    • Mid-range in expensive urban areas
    • Often larger or newer homes
  • $1,000,000 or more
    • Luxury housing in most markets
    • More common in high-cost metropolitan areas
    • May include unique or premium properties
Policy Implications
  • Housing Affordability
    • Availability of entry-level homeownership opportunities
    • Property tax impacts on residents
    • Need for first-time homebuyer programs
  • Community Development
    • Economic diversity and integration
    • Housing stock preservation needs
    • Development incentives and requirements
  • Market Dynamics
    • Housing market segmentation
    • Investment patterns
    • Neighborhood change indicators
Context Note: Home values reflect both housing characteristics and location factors like school quality, amenities, and job access. Values can vary significantly within small areas, and the distribution helps identify both market strengths and affordability challenges.