"— "•- —- 1 , ofHousingand Urban oiQomTneri^| Developlne^t:; EconomicsandStatistics,-; Administration;: OFFICEOFPOLICY; DEVELOPMENTAND BUREAUOFTHE;, CENSUS RESEARCH i; . The American Housing Survey Housing Data Between Censuses This booklet is your blueprint for success in using the American Housing Survey (AHS). ^irESo* U.S. Department ofCommerce U.S. Department ofHousing Barbara Hackman Franklin, Secretary and Urban Development RockwellA. Schnabel, Deputy Secretary JackKemp, Secretary OFFICE OFPOLICYDEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH John C.Weicher, Assistant Secretary Vacant,DeputyAssistantSecretaryforEconomicAffairs DuaneT. McGough, Director, Housingand Demographic Analysis Division Economics and StatisticsAdministration MarkW. Plant,Acting UnderSecretary for EconomicAffairs and Administrator BUREAU OFTHE CENSUS Barbara Everitt Bryant, Director C. Louis Kincannon, Deputy Director William P. Butz, Associate Directorfor Demographic Programs JohnJ. Connolly, ActingAssistant Directorfor Communications HOUSINGAND HOUSEHOLD ECONOMIC STATISTICS DD/ISION Daniel H.Weinberg, Chief DATA USER SERVICES DIVISION Marshall L.Turner,Jr., Chief MarieG.Argana, Assistant Chief Thisbookletwaspreparedwithin the Data UserServices Division by MollyAbramowitz, underthe direction of NeilTillman. Deborah Barrett, Chief, DataAccess and Use Staffprovided overall guidance. Contributionswere made by Paul Harple, Chief, Processing and Publication Section,William Hartnett, Coordination and Operations Branch, and Edward D. Montfort, Chief, Coordination and Operations Branch ofthe Housingand Household Economic Statistics Division. The staffofthe Administrative and Publications Services Division,WalterC. Odom, Chief, provided publication planning, editorial review, design, composition, and printingplanning and procurement. C '-3 a ^ C 3.p.-.ff <?/ Home Home Sweet The place you live is One way the Federal The survey is conducted more than a place to Government keeps track by the Bureau ofthe hang your hat. It is is through housing ques- Census, part ofthe also more than four tions in the decennial U.S. Department of walls and a roof. It's census. But the census Commerce, for the an investment, an ex- comes only once in a Department of Housing pense, a retreat, a decade and includes and Urban Development responsibility, an ex- relatively few housing (HUD). The survey pression ofyourself, questions. began in 1973. PENNSYLVANIA STATE and then some. UNIVERSITY For the years in Ifyou need housing For these and other between censuses, data, you can't afford DEC22 1992 reasons, analysts in the Government uses to overlook the AHS. — government and busi- other measures most This booklet tells DOCUMENTS COLLECTION ness study the Nation's notably the American you where to find U.S Depository Copy housing very closely. Housing Survey (AHS). these data. Housingisofte—n our biggestexpense andan importantreflection of how weseeourselves. U.S. Bureauofthe Census —— •i Households Live in Housing Units Let's start with you. In both the decennial In general, a housing workers or members of You belong to a population and housing unit is a house, apart- the Armed Forces, and "household." You may censuses and the AHS, ment, flat, mobile home, institutional-type even be a "household- the Census Bureau col- or group ofrooms quarters (dormitories, er," and you live in a lects and publishes data even a single room wards, large rooming- "housing unit." about households and occupied or intended for houses, etc.). householders. occupancy as separate Aofhalolutsheehopledrsiosnmsawdheoup What Is a plmiaevnaitnnsgsqdutoahranttoetrtshg.eenoTechrciausl-ly usIcnniiettnshteisfuAicrHavlSel,yyesdtehlheeachvtoeeudbsteionegn occupy a housing unit. This may be a family Housing Unit? eat their mealswith represent a cross section other persons in the of all housing in the Na- or a nonfamily such as Don't confuse house- building and that there tion, updated each year uangmraorurpieodfpfarritennedrss.or Aholds with housing units. is direct access to the to include new construc- household is one or unit from the outside tion. In addition to A more people. housing or from a common hall. questioning the house- The householder is unit is where they live. holds in the survey, designated as the first (A housing unit may also Those living quarters Census Bureau workers household memberwho be vacant.) The focus of that are not included in obtain information on is 18 years old and over the housing census and the housing inventory unoccupied units from and is an owner or rent- the AHS is on the hous- include transient accom- landlords, rental agents, er ofthe housing unit. ing unit. modations, barracks for or neighbors. m HOT (1M3. wii itSb i Housingunitscome in differentshapes andsizes. U.S. Bureauofthe Census More Housing Data Than the Census The AHS actually has housing costs including make sure it meets cur- provides age, sex, house- more data than the cen- utilities), the ratio of rent needs. New items in hold relationships, edu- sus, though in less geo- housing to income, and the redesigned AHS are cation, wages, and the graphic detail. The payment plans ofpri- household income, type date they moved into AHS focuses on the mary and secondary ofprimary mortgage, lot their home. size and composition mortgages. size, and square footage. ofthe housing inventory. For example, it focuses Questions on neigh- The survey asks home- on stories in structure, borhood quality, such owners about repairs water leakage, and exter- as presence or lack of and mortgages, renters nal building conditions. crime, litter, or housing about rent control and It also collects data on deterioration, give valu- rent subsidies, recent heating and cooling de- able qualitative data to movers about the home gree days and fuels. social scientists, health they left and why they officials, and other moved, and workers It looks at financial analysts. about their commute. characteristics such as monthly housing costs The survey is redesigned For all persons, whether (that is, the sum ofall from time to time to adult or child, the AHS Newconstruction, repairs, andneighborhoodquality areall partoftheAHS. U.S. Bureauofthe Census Figure 1 shows data you can get on highrise units, Fieure 1. Subjects Included in the Published Reports houses, mobile homes, ofthe American Housing Survey vacant homes, wage and non-wage income hous- Housing Units andHouseholders Choiceofpresentneighborhood and ing, neighborhood quali- neighborhoodsearch Housingunits Choice ofpresent home andhomesearch ty, etc. Year-round housingunits Recentmovercomparisontoprevioushome New Questions SPoepausloantailounniitnshousingunits Recneenitghmboovrehorocdomparisontoprevious Occupied housingunits The AHS adapts itself Race Utilization Characteristics to deal with new policy Hispanicorigin and research issues that Tenure Persons Cooperativesandcondominiums Rooms arise from time to time. Yearhouseholdermoved intounit Personsperroom Homelessness is one Ownerormanageronproperty Bedrooms such issue. We added Vacant housingunits Square footage ofunit questions to the 1991 Vacancystatus Squarefeetperperson AHS Durationofvacancy Lotsize national to deter- Previousoccupancy mine whether any ofthe Lastusedasapermanent residence Structural Characteristics recent movers in our Rentalvacancyrate Suitabilityforyear-round use Newconstruction sample were homeless Yearstructurebuilt at any time in the 12 HouseholdCharacteristics Unitsinstructure months prior to moving Foundation into their present unit. Householdcompositionbyage of Siteplacement householder Stories instructure Familyorprimaryindividual Storiesbetween main and This enables us to learn Subfamily apartmententrances something about the per- Ageofhouseholder Elevatoronfloor sons and households Elderly (age 65 andover) Commonstairways who were able to over- Ownnever-marriedchildren Lightfixtures in publichalls under 18yearsold Waterleakage duringlast 12 months come their homeless sit- Otherrelativeofhouseholder Externalbuildingconditions uation. We do not inter- Nonrelative view persons with no Yearsofschoolcompletedby householder PlumbingCharacteristics Single children under 18yearsold fixed address, only per- Adultsandsingle children under 18yearsold Plumbingfacilities sons in housing units. Personsotherthan spouseorchildren Completebathrooms Household movesandformation Source ofwaterandwatersupply stoppage Sewage disposal and sewage GeographicAreas Housing Units Occupied disposalbreakdowns Reported on in AHS byRecentMovers Flushtoilet andflushtoiletbreakdowns National Data Products Recent movers United States Presentandpreviousunits Equipmentand Fuels Regions Locationofpreviousunit Metropolitan statistical areas Tenureofpreviousunit Heatingequipment and heating Central cities Structure type ofpreviousresidence equipmentbreakdowns Suburbs Person'spreviousresidence Heatingdegree days Urbanized areas Previoushomeownedorrented Coolingdegreedays Rural areas bysomeonewhomoved here Fuels Placesgroupedbysize Change in housingcosts Electricfusesandcircuitbreakers Reasonsforleavingpreviousunit Kitchen appliances U.S. Bureau ofthe Census Housingand Povertystatus Propertyinsurance Neighborhood Quality Yearunit acquired Costand ownershipsharing First-time owners Monthlypaymentforprincipal Selectedamenities Purchaseprice and interest Selected deficiencies Majorsource ofdownpayment Realestate taxes Carsand trucksavailable Mortgagescurrentlyonproperty Annual taxespaidper$1,000value Severephysicalproblems Primarymortgage Routine maintenance lastyear Moderatephysicalproblems Type ofprimarymortgage Condominiumandcooperative fee Overallopinionofstructure LowercostState andlocalmortgages Otherhousingcostsper month Overallopinionofneighborhood Mortgageorigination Rentreductions Neighborhoodconditions Paymentplansofprimaryand Otheractivitiesonproperty Descriptionofareawithin300feet secondarymortgages Repairs, improvements, alterations in Age ofotherresidentialbuildings Lendersofprimaryand secondary last 2years within 300feet mortgages Mobile homesingroup Items includedinprimarymortgage Nearbybuildingsvandalizedor payment Repairs with interiorexposed Yearprimarymortgageoriginated Roofs Barsonwindowsofbuildings Termofprimarymortgageat Additions Conditionofstreets originationorassumption Kitchens Trash, litter, orjunkonstreetsor Remainingyears mortgaged Bathrooms onanyproperties Current interestrate Siding Totaloutstandingprincipal amount Storm doors/windows Financial Characteristics Currenttotal loanaspercentofvalue Majorequipment Monthlyhousingcosts Insulation Value Monthlyhousingcosts aspercent Othermajorwork Income ofincome Governmentsubsidyforrepairs Value-incomeratio Median monthlyhousingcosts Amountofsavingsand investments for owners Foodstamps Rentpaidbylodgers TheAHSasksabout householdimprovements U.S. Bureauofthe Census How the American Housing Survey Is Conducted The AHS Is a 4-month period by were updated by a sam- Housing Survey family, Household Survey Census Bureau inter- ple ofaddresses obtained consists of44 metropoli- viewers every 2 years from building permits tan areas, included in the The AHS is a household in odd-numbered years. (for new construction) survey every 4 years. survey that asks ques- Before 1982, the national to include housing units Each yearwe gather tions about the quality survey took place every added since 1980. data for 11 metro areas, ofhousing in the United year. Through 1983, then a different 11 areas States. In gathering the the surveywas called The survey goes back to the next year, and so on information, Census Bu- the Annual Housing Sur- the same housing units until the cycle begins reau interviewers visit or vey. In 1985 the name on a continuing basis, re- again, 4 years later. telephone the household changed to the American cording changes in char- Figure 2 shows all occupying each housing Housing Survey. acteristics, and adding metropolitan areas that unit in the sample. For units when applicable. have ever been surveyed unoccupied units, they The latest data available in the AHS. obtain information from from the national survey This cross-sectioning landlords, rental agents, are for 1989. The desig- ofthe housing inventory Since 1984, each area is or neighbors. nated sample consisted gives a picture ofhouses represented by a sample ofapproximately 49,400 and households as they ofat least 3,300 desig- The Survey Is housing units located change over long periods nated housing units. Actually IWo throughout the United oftime. The units are divided be- Surveys States. tween the central city or The metropolitan cities and the rest ofthe The survey i—s made up Where are the homes area survey, the other metropolitan area. oftwo parts a national in the survey located? survey in the American survey and a survey of They come from each metropolitan areas. ofthe 50 States and the District ofColumbia. The national survey, which gathers informa- A sample ofhousing tion on housing through- units in the survey areas out the country, is con- was selected from the ducted over a 3- to 1980 census. These A CensusBureaufieldrepresentative checks themapbeforedrivingto anotherinterview. U.S. Bureauofthe Census ————————————— ——————————— ———— Figure 2. MetropolitanAreas in American Housing Survey and SurveyYears Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY— 1974, 1977, 198C Memphis, TN-AR-MS— 1974, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ- 1976, 198C Miami, FL 1 Anaheim-SantaAna, CA--1974, 1977, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1994 (See alsonextentry) 1975, 1979, 1983 GA— Atlanta, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1987, 1991 Miami- Baltimore, MD 1976, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 1986, 1990 Birmingham,AL 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 Milwaukee, WI 1975, 1979, 1984, 1988, 1994 MA-NH— Boston, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1992 Minneapolis- Buffalo, NY- 1976, 1979, 1984, 1988, 1994 St. Paul, MI-WI— 1974, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993 Chicago, IL 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991 NewOrleans, LA 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN— 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986, 199C NewYork (Including OH— NY- Cleveland, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1988, 1992 Nassau-Suffolk), 1976, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1991 Colorado Springs, CO 1975, 197£ Newark, NJ (See alsoNorthern NJ)— 1974, 1977, 1981 Columbus, OH 1975, 1978, 1982, 1987, 1991 NewportNews-Hampton, VA TX— Dallas, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1994 (See alsonextentry) 1975, 1978 Denver, GO 1976, 1979, 1983, 1986, 199C Norfolk-VirginiaBeach- Detroit, MI— 1974, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993 NewportNews, VA 1984, 1988, 1992 FortWorth- Northern NJ (Includes theNewark and Paterson-Clifton- — Arlington, TX 1974, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1994 Passaic areas and sixcontiguouscounties) 1987, 1991 Grand Rapids, MI 1976, 198C OklahomaCity, OK— 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 Hartford, CT— 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991 Omaha, NE-IA— 1976, 1979 Honolulu, HI— 1976, 1979, 1983 Orlando, FL 1974, 1977, 1981 Houston,TX 1976, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991 Paterson-Clifton-Passaic, NJ Indianapolis, IN 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 (See alsoNorthernNJ)— 1975, 1978, 1982 Kansas City, MO-KS— 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986, 199C Philadelphia, PA-NJ— 1975, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1994 LasVegas, NV 1976, 1979 Phoenix,AZ 1974, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1994 LosAngeles- Pittsburgh, PA— 1974, 1977, 1981, 1986, 1990 Long Beach, CA 1974, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1989, 1994 Portland, OR-WA— 1975, 1979, 1983, 1986, 1990 Louisville, KY-IN— 1976, 1980, 1983 Providence-Pawtucket- Madison, WI 1975, 1977, 1981 Warwick, RI-MA— 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 NC— Raleigh, 1976, 1979 Riverside-San Bernardino- CA Ontario, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 >*?—m Rochester, NY 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990 ^ r.Y> /iM-^-l <} B Ifc SSaagcirnaamwe,ntMoI, CA 11997764,, 11997870,, 11998830 1 St. Louis, MO-IL— 1976, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1991 UT— Salt Lake City, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 j?*?*-V-••'-:"• \ 1 ^L—». SanAntonio,TX 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990 San Diego, CA 1975, 1978, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1994 /;<''•*• ^4 K•lfl San Francisco- CA— Oakland, 1975, 1978,1982, 1985, 1989, 1993 CA— L a~- "" SSeaanttJloes-eE,verett,WA(See alsonextentry)— 11998746,, 11998798,, 11998933 WA— M^»-/-ri^ Seattle-Tacoma, 1987, 1991 Springfield-Chicopee-Holyoke, MA-CT- 1975, 1978 ^^^^B* WA mm g'\ \ Spokane, 1974, 1977, 1981 X* i1f Tacoma,WA (SeealsoSeattle-Tacoma)— 1974, 1977, 1981 *i jr.4 -zz*m Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL- 1985, 1989, 1993 ^7? o^ $§*/BHJ^Jf •" ^ ./A WasMhDin-gtVoAn,—DC- *** mA if f Wichita, KS— 1974, 1977, 1981, 11997845,, 11997879,, 11998913 i 1^ ' i U.S. Bureauofthe Census AHS Printed Products- and How and Where Order Availability to AHS data are available United States and more available in the national there were six national in many formats. Many limited data for the four core report. There is reports (parts A through ofthe statistics are census regions. even detail about groups F). After the redesign, issued in printed reports within groups, since the all the partswere consol- and are also available on Shown too are total report repeats the whole idated into one general microfiche. You can also statistics for inside and set oftables for owners, report and one supple- get them in electronic outside metropolitan renters, Blacks, Hispan- ment report. form. See pages 11-12 statistical areas (MSAs) ics, elderly, central cities, for availability and and urban and rural suburbs, and nonmetro- To purchase a copy of ordering information for areas. politan areas. There are the report,American computer tape, flexible special tables on vacant diskette, CD-ROM, and The Supplement to the units, size ofhomes, in- HousingSurveyforthe American HousingSur- United States in 1989, other non-print products. comes, housing costs, veyforthe United States and heating degree days. Current Housing Re- 1. The National in 1987presents statistics ports, Series H-150-89, on housing and house- (SN 003-024-07279-3) Reports hold characteristics by In 1985 the American send $31 (check payable American HousingSur- family type, neighbor- Housing Surveywas to Superintendent of veyforthe United States hood quality, and the completely redesigned to Documents) to the Gov- in 1989 (AHS-N) pre- characteristics of addi- improve the quality of ernment Printing Office sents statistics on hous- tional residential units. the data. Any compari- (GPO), Washington, DC ing and household char- sons between years after 20402-9371, or charge acteristics from the latest The tables excerpted on 1985 and earlier years your order by phone us- AHS national sample. page 9 give a glimpse of should take this into ing VISA or MasterCard It has statistics for the the variety and detail account. Originally (202-783-3238). U.S. Bureauofthe Census