How to Define the Suburban: HUD Survey Sheds New Light

A new HUD survey could help change the way the federal government defines the "suburban"—a notoriously tricky proposition.

2 minute read

July 1, 2020, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Suburban Alley

1000 Words / Shutterstock

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2017 American Housing Survey (AHS) included a question about whether respondents consider their neighborhoods to be urban, suburban, or rural, hoping to shed more light on one of the toughest questions in planning and development: What's a suburb, exactly?

According to a webpage hosted by the Office and Policy Development and Research, "HUD obtained responses to the neighborhood description question from nearly 76,000 households, including approximately 2,150 households in each of 25 large metropolitan areas," making it the largest ever survey on this question, expanding on a previous effort by Trulia. (The Pew Research Center has also undertaken a similar survey effort.)

The webpage sharing the new survey data also offers insights into why the motivations behind the survey, and one is a telling revelation about the disconnect between public policy on issues of land use and development compared to the realities of community for most Americans. "HUD wanted to understand the extent to which existing federal definitions of urban and rural obscure the stylized fact that half of Americans live in a suburban setting." HUD's effort to reveal the way federal definitions obscure the realities of American development patterns could inform reform in the next generation of federal definitions. 

"To date, HUD has published two products from this data. First, HUD created a series of summary tables summarizing some basic results. Second, HUD and coauthors created the Urbanization Perceptions Small Area Index, which classified each census tract as urban, suburban, or rural based on the 2017 AHS data."

Tuesday, June 30, 2020 in Office and Policy Development and Research

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today