American Housing Survey, 2015 Metropolitan Data, Including an Arts and Culture Module

Résumé 0

The 2015 American Housing Survey marks the first release of a newly integrated national sample and independent metropolitan area samples. The 2015 release features many variable name revisions, as well as the integration of an AHS Codebook Interactive Tool available on the U.S. Census Bureau Web site. This data collection provides information on representative samples of each of the 15 largest metropolitan areas across the United States, which are also included in the integrated national sample (available as ICPSR 36801). The metropolitan area sample also features representative samples of 10 additional metropolitan areas that are not present in the national sample. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau intend to survey the 15 largest metropolitan areas once every 2 years. To ensure the sample was representative of all housing units within each metro area, the U.S. Census Bureau stratified all housing units into one of the following categories: (1) A HUD-assisted unit (as of 2013); (2) Trailer or mobile home; (3) Owner-occupied and one unit in structure; (4) Owner-occupied and two or more units in structure; (5) Renter-occupied and one unit in structure; (6) Renter-occupied and two or more units in structure; (7) Vacant and one unit in structure; (8) Vacant and two or more units in structure; and (9) Other units, such as houseboats and recreational vehicles. The data are presented in three separate parts: Part 1, Household Record (Main Record); Part 2, Person Record; and Part 3, Project Record. Household Record data includes questions about household occupancy and tenure, household exterior and interior structural features, household equipment and appliances, housing problems, housing costs, home improvement, neighborhood features, recent moving information, income, and basic demographic information. The Household Record data also features four rotating topical modules: Arts and Culture, Food Security, Housing Counseling, and Healthy Homes. Person Record data includes questions about personal disabilities, income, and basic demographic information. Finally, Project Record data includes questions about home improvement projects. Specific questions were asked about the types of projects, costs, funding sources, and year of completion.