The pandemic has resulted in an an increasing preference for sprawl among Americans, according to the findings of a recent Pew Research Center "American Trends Panel."
Vianney Gomez shares the findings of an "American Trends Panel" survey conducted this summer by the Pew Research Center.
"Americans today are more likely than they were in the fall of 2019 to express a preference for living in a community where 'houses are larger and farther apart, but schools, stores and restaurants are several miles away,'" writes Gomez to summarize those findings.
"There has been a corresponding drop in the share saying they would prefer to live somewhere with smaller houses that are 'closer to each other, but schools, stores and restaurants are within walking distance,'" according to Gomez.
The article provides additional insight into the demographic breakdown of the trend in U.S. housing preference. Previous trends in political preference only increased, according to the survey, but with both Republicans and Democrats increasing their preference for large homes and dispersed development:
As in the past, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are more likely than Democrats and Democratic leaners to say they want to live in a community with larger houses even if there are greater distances to schools, shops and restaurants. Today, 73% of Republicans say this, up from 65% in September 2019. About half of Democrats (49%) now say they would prefer to live in a more widely spaced community, up from 42%.
Additional breakdowns for race, where respondents currently live, and by age are also included in the article.
The news about American housing preferences seems to be working at odds with the changes that will be necessary to prevent the worst outcomes of climate change, according to the Sixth Assessment Report published this summer by the International Panel on Climate Change. A 2019 IPCC report explicitly named U.S. land use and driving habits as a significant contributor to climate change.
The survey findings also seem counterintuitive in context of the obvious demand for city living in the United States, as evidenced by housing prices in cities and a housing affordability crisis that has only picked up pace since the pandemic began.
FULL STORY: More Americans now say they prefer a community with big houses, even if local amenities are farther away
The Consequences of Sprawl: Overcrowded Housing and Covid Deaths
Los Angeles is the nation's capital of both crowding and sprawl. A feature published by the Los Angeles Times provides the history of how the metropolis achieved this contradiction.
Cities in the South and West Keep Sprawling
New suburbs continue to expand into previously undeveloped areas, putting strain on local resources.
On the Essential Role of Land Use in the Fight Against Climate Change
The country cannot hope to achieve its goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions without fundamentally rethinking its land use and development patterns, according to this article.
America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.
Conspiracy Theorists Discover the 15-Minute City
USA Today debunks the false claim that the United Nations’ call for enabling 15-minute cities is a coded plan to institute ‘climate change lockdowns.’
Massachusetts Zoning Reform Law Reaches First Deadline
Cities and towns had until January 31 to submit their draft plans for rezoning areas near transit stations to comply with a new state law.
Washington Could Legalize Single-Staircase Buildings
Supporters of ‘point access blocks,’ which are common in Europe and other parts of the world, say the design maximizes living space and lowers the cost of construction.
San Francisco Housing Plan Gets State Approval
The city cleared a major hurdle as its housing plan, which paves the way for 82,000 new homes by 2030, is certified by the state.
Rail Transit Plans Would Connect L.A.’s South Bay to the Regional Rail System
Two new transit extensions promise several new routes for South Bay residents to access the Los Angeles region’s transit system.
City of Grand Prairie
City of Grand Prairie
West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Hercules
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
