Where do metro Atlanta’s renters live? How old are they? What is their racial make-up, and what is their experience of life in the A-T-L?
An in-depth blog post from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s data experts provides answers to all these questions—important in a time when the availability of affordable rental properties is slim in many places in the region—putting at risk metro Atlanta’s overall affordability.
Here are a few takeaways from the report:
A Greater Percentage of Black Residents Rent, Rather than Own
Nearly three-quarters of the region’s white residents own a home, compared to less than half of the region’s black residents.
Homeowners Earn More …
Nearly $39,000 more, according to the data. The 33n report illustrates the factors likely to be influencing this, like age and race.
Renters and Homeowners Experience Life Here Differently
According to the Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey:
- Nearly 80% of renters said improved public transit is very important to metro Atlanta’s future, versus just 68% of homeowners…
- …And 54% of renters say they would be willing to pay more in taxes to fund expanded regional public transit, versus about 42% of homeowners (2019 survey).
- 75% of renters say metro Atlanta is not an affordable place to live, versus 60% of owners (2019 survey).
Metro Atlanta Housing Strategy
Housing affordability has become a big issue in the region as housing costs continue to rise much faster than wages and the supply of affordable units dwindles.
In response, ARC has developed the Metro Atlanta Housing Strategy, an information resource and solutions toolkit to help communities address their housing challenges.
Check out the story at 33n.
What’s Next ATL, produced by the Atlanta Regional Commission, is a community resource that explores how metro Atlanta is growing and changing, and how the region is addressing its most pressing challenges.
