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Housing Conditions

The information below includes preliminary data findings that will be updated throughout the Where We Live NYC process and do not represent the City of New York’s final findings or position on the information.

New York City is by far the most populous city in the United States and also has a very high share of renters. According to the 2017 NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), New York City’s population is approximately 8.4 million people living in 3.1 million households. A little over two-thirds of New York City households rent their units, while just under a third of households own their units. New Yorkers’ experiences with housing conditions differ based on various demographic characteristics.

Differences by Race, Ethnicity, and National Origin

Black and Hispanic New Yorkers are overrepresented in rental units with maintenance issues1. The Renter-Occupied Homes with 3+ Maintenance Deficiencies by Race and Ethnicity chart below illustrates that 25% of Black New Yorkers and 23% of Hispanic New Yorkers who live in rental units experience 3 or more maintenance deficiencies, as compared to 18% of renters citywide2. Only 9% of White and Asian/PI renters in New York City live in units with 3 or more maintenance deficiencies.

Renter-Occupied Homes with 3+ Maintenance Deficiencies by Race and Ethnicity, 20173

Asian/Pacific Islander (PI) renters have the highest rate of rent burden. The Rent Burden by Race and Ethnicity chart below shows that 42% of renters in New York City are rent burdened, which means they are paying more than 30% of their pre-tax income on rent4. Moreover, 23% of renters are severely rent burdened, which means they spend more than 50% of their pre-tax income on rent. Asian/PI renters are rent burdened at the highest rate (50%), as compared to Hispanic (44%), White (41%), and Black (37%) renters.

Rent Burden by Race and Ethnicity5

Asian/PI New Yorkers have the largest average household size of 2.96 residents. The Average Household Size by Race and Ethnicity chart below shows that the average household size in New York City is 2.42 residents. Households with White householders are on average smaller (2.11) than the city average, while households with Hispanic (2.69) or Asian/PI (2.96) householders are on average larger.

Average Household Size by Race and Ethnicity, 20176

Hispanic New Yorkers have the lowest rates of homeownership (17%). Shares of homeowner households in New York City by race and ethnicity are presented in the Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity chart below. Asian/PI (39%) and White (41%) New Yorkers have higher rates of homeownership than the city average of 32%, while Hispanic (17%) and Black (28%) New Yorkers have lower homeownership rates than the city average.

Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity, 20177

Households with householders born outside the U.S. have a higher rate of rent burden, particularly severe rent-burden, and a larger average size compared to those with U.S.-born householders. The Immigrant Householders: Rent Burden and Mean Household Size charts below show household size and rent burden shares by place of birth. Households with immigrant householders tend to have larger household size (2.84 as compared to 2.11) and are more likely to be rent burdened than households with U.S.-born householders (50% as compared to 41%).

Immigrant Householders: Rent Burden, 20178

Immigrant Householders: Mean Household Size, 20179

Differences by Household Composition

Adult families, comprising two or more adults with no children, account for a plurality (40%) of households in New York City. According to the Households by Household Type and Age chart below, single householders account for 32% of New York City households, while 27% of households have children. In addition, 34% of households in New York City include at least one senior 62 years old or older; this category overlaps with the previous three categories.

Households by Household Type and Age, 201710

Renter households with children are most likely to live in units with maintenance issues out of all household types. The Renter Occupied Homes with 3+ Maintenance Deficiencies by Family Status and Age chart below shows that while 15% of New York City renter households live in units with 3 or more maintenance deficiencies, this number is higher for families with children (20%) and lower for single-adult households (11%). Adult families and households with seniors live in units with 3 or more maintenance deficiencies at rates comparable to the city average.

Renter Occupied Homes with 3+ Maintenance Deficiencies by Family Status and Age, 201711

Compared to other renter household types, single-adult households are most likely to be rent burdened. Rent burden shares by household composition are shown on the Rent Burden by Family Status and Age chart below. Forty four percent of renter households in New York City are rent burdened, and 25% of renter households are severely rent burdened. Rent burdened rates are particularly high among single-adult households and households with at least one 62+ senior (both 34%), and are low among adult families (18%). Families with children are rent burdened at rates comparable to the city average.

Rent Burden by Family Status and Age, 201712

Populations in Publicly Supported Housing and Shelter

Black and Hispanic households make up the majority of households in publicly supported housing. The Households in Publicly Supported Housing by Race and Ethnicity chart below shows that Black and Hispanic households account for over 60% of households in all four categories of publicly supported housing in HUD-provided data; the share ranges from 61% in other HUD multifamily programs to 89% in public housing. Asian/PI households account for less than 10% of households in 3 of the 4 categories of HUD programs: public housing, project-based Section 8, and housing choice vouchers (HCV).

Households in Publicly Supported Housing by Race and Ethnicity, 201613

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)  program has the highest rate of households having a member with a disability out of all types of publicly supported housing. The Households with People with Disabilities in Publicly Supported Housing chart below shows the rates of households with a disabled household member in four types of publicly supported housing. The HCV program and public housing have noticeably higher rates of households having a member with a disability than the project-based Section 8 program and buildings in other HUD multifamily programs.

Households with People with Disabilities in Publicly Supported Housing14

Black and Hispanic families make up a large portion of families with children in shelter. The Families with Children in Shelter by Race and Ethnicity chart below shows the distribution of race and ethnicity for householders of families in a Department of Homeless Service (DHS) shelter in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2016. A majority of families with children in shelter had a Black householder, and 37% of families with children in shelter had a Hispanic householder. All other racial and ethnic groups, including White and Asian/PI, accounted for less than 6% of householders of families with children.

Families with Children in Shelter by Race and Ethnicity15

  1. Unless otherwise specified, Asian/PI, Black, and White populations are considered non-Hispanic. Because the U.S. Census Bureau uses the term “Hispanic” in its population figures, the City will also use the term with regard to its population analyses. The City will use the term “Latinx” when relevant. Each of these categories also encompasses significant diversity and a range of national origins, which vary across the city’s neighborhoods. This diversity will be explored in the final report.
  2. The HVS asks the householder about the presence of seven specific maintenance deficiencies: 1) additional heating required in winter; 2) heating breakdown; 3) cracks or holes in interior walls, ceilings, or floors; 4) presence of rodents in the building; 5) presence of broken plaster or peeling paint; 6) toilet breakdowns; 7) water leakage into unit.
  3. Persons renting in homes with three or more maintenance deficiencies, which could include inadequate heating in the winter, heating breakdown, cracks or holes in interior walls, presence of rodents, peeling paint, toilet breakdowns, and/or water leaks. Sources: 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), US Census Bureau/HPD. Note: The HVS asks the householder about the presence of seven specific maintenance deficiencies. If the householder reports three or more of these, all persons in that household are classified as living in a unit with 3 or more problems. Any household that does not provide an answer to all seven items is excluded from this estimate.
  4. Rent burden is not calculated for households in public housing or with a housing voucher.
  5. Persons living in households that are paying more than 30% of income on housing. Not calculated for those living in public housing and/or receiving a housing choice voucher. Sources: 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), US Census Bureau/HPD. Note: Percentages based on number of persons living in renter-occupied housing where more than 30% of pre-tax income is spent towards gross monthly rent including utilities. Rent burden is not calculated for those in means tested housing (public housing and/or receiving a housing choice voucher).
  6. Classified by the race or ethnicity of the householder. Sources: 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), U.S. Census Bureau/HPD. Note: Mean household size is computed as the sum of all persons reported in the household using household weights created by the Census Bureau. These estimates do not account for any adjustments for undercoverage or sampling variability within the household that are incorporated into the person weight. Household sizes are classified by the race or ethnicity of the householder.
  7. Percentage of owner-occupied households by race and ethnicity of the householder. Sources: 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), US Census Bureau/HPD.
  8. Rent Burden: Renter households paying more than 30% of income on housing. Not calculated for those living in public housing and/or receiving a housing choice voucher. Sources: 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), U.S. Census Bureau/HPD. Note: Householders born in Puerto Rico are included in born in the U.S. Rent burden is not calculated for those in means tested housing (public housing and/or receiving a housing choice voucher). Moderately rent burdened indicates households paying more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent (including utilities), while severely rent burdened indicates paying more than 50% of pre-tax income on rent (including utilities).
  9. Source: 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), U.S. Census Bureau/HPD.
  10. Sources: 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), US Census Bureau/HPD. Single adult families (one adult living alone), families with children (one or more adult and at least one person under the age of eighteen in the household), and adult families (two or more adults in a household with no children, regardless of relations) are mutually exclusive and total all renter households. Senior in household (at least one household member aged 62+) is not mutually exclusive and overlaps with the other three categories.
  11. Households renting in homes with three or more maintenance deficiencies, which could include inadequate heating in the winter, heating breakdown, cracks or holes in interior walls, presence of rodents, peeling paint, toilet breakdowns, and/or water leaks. Sources: 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), US Census Bureau/HPD. Note: The HVS asks the householder about the presence of seven specific maintenance deficiencies. If the householder reports three or more of these, all persons in that household are classified as living in a unit with 3 or more problems. Any household that does not provide an answer to all seven items is excluded from this estimate.
  12. Renter-occupied households paying 30% or more of income on housing costs. Sources: 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), US Census Bureau/HPD. Note: Severe rent burden indicates paying more than 50% of income on rent. Moderate rent burden indicates paying 30-50% of income on rent. Rent burden is not calculated for those in means tested housing (public housing and/or receiving a Sec 8 voucher).
  13. Source: HUD AFFH Tool. Data sources: Decennial Census; HUD-50058 (PIC); HUD-50059 (TRACS). Note: percentages above represent households, not individuals. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is excluded, as it may overlap with other HUD programs. Refer to HUD Exchange Data Documentation for more details.
  14. Source: HUD AFFH Tool – HUD-50058 (PIC); HUD-50059 (TRACS). Refer to AFFH data documentation for details.
  15. Source: DHS Data Dashboard – FY 2016 Q2. Not shown: single adults and adult families (without children) in shelter.