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American Housing Survey
STIPULATIONS FOR USE: Access Restricted to Penn State researchers and members of the Association of Population Centers (APC). The files prepared below were obtained from HUD. Access to this collection is restricted until authorization for third party redistribution has been received.
DESCRIPTION: Prior to 1984, the American Housing Survey (AHS) was called the Annual Housing Survey. It is comprised of two major collections: (1) a national survey of housing units throughout the country, and (2) surveys of housing units in selected metropolitan areas. The national data are released by Census in two forms: the National Core file and the National Core and Supplement.
For all AHS, data are collected on whether the housing units have kitchens, heating units, and electrical systems and, if so, how well these work. Information on the costs incurred for mortgage payments, real estate taxes, property insurance, utilities, and garbage collection allow comparisons of housing costs from one year to another or between geographic areas. Data collected on income can be used in conjunction with annual housing expenditures to estimate the average percentage of families and primary individuals' incomes that is spent on housing. Households that have moved in the last 12 months prior to enumeration are asked to provide comparative information on the current and previous residences of household heads. Information is collected on whether employment, family, or other factors such as changes in neighborhood or financial conditions influenced the decision to move. Demographic information, including age, sex, race, marital status, income, and relationship to householder is collected for each household member. Years of school completed, Spanish origin, length of residence, and tenure is provided for the householder.