Age of Housing

The Age of Housing indicator measures the proportion of neighborhood housing built before 1980. Tenured housing, before 1980, is more likely to be less energy efficient, and have environmental toxins such as asbestos and lead-based paint. Except in areas that have gentrified or are undergoing revitalization with significant housing rehabilitation, homes built before 1980 also tend to be a significant predictor of housing inadequacy (i.e., housing with moderate or severe housing hazards), which includes problems such as water leaks, roof problems, holes in walls, etc. This can increase exposure to mold, mites, and other allergens. The age of a structure is also a significant predictor of higher household lead dust levels and cockroach allergens, which play an important role in the development and exacerbation of respiratory conditions. Studies show that while more institutional factors, such as segregation and income inequalities are difficult to combat, housing interventions can be a more effective and efficient method to address health and economic outcomes. Listed in the Housing domain, the Age of Housing indicator also impacts the Economic Health, Health Systems and Public Safety, and Educational Opportunities domains. It is considered an “inverse” measure in that, the higher the proportion of older housing in a neighborhood, the higher the negative impact on community health. Data on when housing was built is available from the U.S. Census.

Neighborhoodsort ascending Indicator Value Rank
Zion City 71.9% 21
Wylam 87.6% 62
Woodlawn 77.1% 31
Woodland Park 89.5% 72
West Goldwire 85.7% 53
West End Manor 87.6% 62
West Brownville 79.1% 35
Wahouma 89.3% 71
Tuxedo 44.1% 4
Thomas 79.1% 35
Tarpley City 87.8% 65
Sun Valley 77.7% 33
Spring Lake 74.0% 26
Southside 77.6% 32
South Woodlawn 69.3% 16
South Titusville 86.3% 58
South Pratt 86.4% 59
South East Lake 81.3% 40
Smithfield Estates 60.5% 11
Smithfield 90.2% 76
Sherman Heights 82.3% 43
Sandusky 54.4% 7
Roosevelt 89.5% 72
Roebuck Springs 93.1% 90
Roebuck 90.5% 78
Rising - West Princeton 82.3% 43
Riley 88.7% 68
Redmont Park 83.0% 46
Powderly 90.9% 83
Pine Knoll Vista 74.6% 27
Penfield Park 64.6% 12
Oxmoor 11.9% 1
Overton 12.7% 2
Oakwood Place 88.1% 67
Oak Ridge Park 83.2% 48
Oak Ridge 85.6% 52
Norwood 90.5% 78
North Titusville 82.8% 45
North Pratt 51.5% 6
North East Lake 86.8% 60
North Birmingham 72.4% 25
North Avondale 87.8% 65
Mason City 70.5% 18
Maple Grove 64.9% 13
Liberty Highlands 60.2% 10
Kingston 95.8% 97
Killough Springs 72.0% 22
Jones Valley 92.9% 89
Inglenook 94.3% 95
Industrial Center 94.1% 93
Huffman 81.3% 40
Hooper City 90.7% 81
Hillman Park 70.6% 20
Hillman 85.9% 56
Highland Park 81.2% 39
Harriman Park 94.2% 94
Green Acres 89.0% 70
Graymont 94.3% 95
Grasselli Heights 91.9% 85
Glen Iris 65.1% 14
Germania Park 87.0% 61
Gate City 90.7% 81
Garden Highlands 83.8% 49
Fountain Heights 70.5% 18
Forest Park 78.1% 34
Five Points South 69.4% 17
Fairview 91.6% 84
Fairmont 92.6% 87
Evergreen 84.3% 50
Ensley Highlands 92.3% 86
Ensley 79.1% 35
Enon Ridge 89.6% 74
Echo Highlands 44.5% 5
Eastwood 72.0% 22
East Thomas 89.7% 75
East Lake 74.6% 27
East Brownville 72.2% 24
East Birmingham 86.0% 57
East Avondale 83.0% 46
Druid Hills 85.7% 53
Dolomite 66.7% 15
Crestwood South 84.8% 51
Crestwood North 90.5% 78
Crestline 79.9% 38
Collegeville 96.4% 98
College Hills 97.0% 99
Central Pratt 87.7% 64
Central Park 85.7% 53
Central City 42.1% 3
Bush Hills 92.7% 88
Brummitt Heights 74.6% 27
Brownsville Heights 93.3% 91
Brown Springs 90.2% 76
Bridlewood 55.4% 9
Belview Heights 88.7% 68
Arlington - West End 81.3% 40
Apple Valley 54.8% 8
Airport Highlands 93.7% 92
Acipco-Finley 74.7% 30

Key Citations:
1. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Social Determinants of Health. Published 2011. Accessed December 27, 2013. Available at: http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/issue_briefs/2011/rwjf70451.
2. Elliott L, Arbes S, Harvey ES, Lee RC, Salo PM, Cohn RD, London SJ, Zeldin DC. Dust Weight and Asthma Prevalence in the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing (NSLAH). Environ Health Perspect. 2007; 115(2): 215–220. Published online 2006 November 7. doi: 10.1289/ehp.9412 PMCID: PMC1817708.
3. Cohn RD, Arbes SJ, Jaramillo R, Reid, LH, Zeldin, DC. 2006. National Prevalence and Exposure Risk for Cockroach Allergen in U.S. Households. Environ Health Perspect. 2006; 114(4): 522–526. Published online 2005 November 15. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8561.
4. Lefebvre S, Montgomery P, Michel I, Warren C, Larose T, Kauppi C. The role of public health inspectors in maintaining housing in northern and rural communities: recommendations to support public health practice. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 2012 Mar-Apr;103(2):84-9.
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Healthy Housing Reference Manual. 2006. Available at: www.cdc.gov/nceh/publication/books/housing/housing.htm
6. National Center for Healthy Housing. Housing Interventions and Health: A Review of the Evidence. 2009. Accessed December 27, 2012. Available at: www.nchh.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=2lvaEDNBldU%3d%tabid=229.