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Housing Affordability Among Rural and Urban Female-Headed Householders in the United States

Journal of Family and Economic Issues (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

This study examines housing affordability among female-headed households, focusing on the differences between those living in rural areas versus those in urban areas. Existing literature on female householders lacks a contemporary understanding of the demographic, housing, and financial characteristics and the differences among rural and urban householders. Using multinomial logistic regression and 2013 American Housing Survey data for the analyses, this study identified statistically significant differences regarding housing affordability among rural and urban householders. The results of this research provide insight concerning the attributes of female householders, particularly those that live in rural areas, and their relationship to housing affordability. Our findings reveal housing cost burden as one of the prevailing struggles for female householders in the rural and urban areas of the US. Rural female householders spent a smaller percentage of their income on housing on average compared to urban householders, yet about half of all rural female householders were cost burdened. Female householders with children experienced more housing hardship and worse economic conditions than those without children. Our research points to the need for policy interventions that mitigate female-headed households’ economic and housing challenges, particularly those in rural areas who may have difficulty accessing government programs and assistance.

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Data Availability

This research uses American Housing Survey data, which is available to the public.

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Funding

The research project was conducted without a designated internal or external funding source.

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  1. Ebunoluwa Odeyemi

    Present address: Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics, The University of Georgia, 205 Dawson Hall, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

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  1. Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics, The University of Georgia, 205 Dawson Hall, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Kim Skobba

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  1. Ebunoluwa Odeyemi
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Correspondence to Kim Skobba.

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Odeyemi, E., Skobba, K. Housing Affordability Among Rural and Urban Female-Headed Householders in the United States. J Fam Econ Iss (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-021-09802-3

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Keywords

  • Female-headed households
  • Housing affordability
  • Rural housing
  • Urban housing