Do Older People Want to Live in Mixed-income Neighborhoods?

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Date

2016-05

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The Ohio State University

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Abstract

Current research shows that residential segregation based on income in American cities is growing; mixed-income housing may be a solution. However, mixed-income housing residents often face negative stereotypes, and public housing itself carries a negative stigma. Little to no research has examined this perceived stigma concerning mixed-income housing by non-subsidized residents, and whether or not age affects this stigma. This study analyzes potential predictors of willingness to live in a mixed-income neighborhood. The first hypothesis is older people are less likely to be willing to live in a mixed-income neighborhood than younger people. The second hypothesis is adults with low annual household incomes are more likely to be willing to live in a mixed-income neighborhood than adults with high annual household incomes. My final hypothesis is adults with kids in grades K-12 are less likely to be willing to live in a mixed-income neighborhood than adults without children or with adult kids. An online survey of 385 respondents in the State of Ohio provided data to answer these questions.Using frequencies, independent t-tests, chi-square tests, along with logistic and multivariate regressions, it was found that older adults were less willingness to live in a mixed-income neighborhood than younger adults. Although annual household income and having kids were not predictors of willingness, other potential predictors were discovered. This includes marital status, current neighborhood income level and home ownership. Further research should be performed to analyze why these variables affect an individual’s willingness to live in a mixed-income neighborhood.

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mixed-income neighborhood, stigma, willingness, age

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