Visualizing the Housing Stock of American Cities

Emily Badger and Christopher Ingraham share a chart that plots the many kinds of housing into a simple, readable infographic that compares cities as varied as Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Seattle.

The article accompanying the chart breaks down the differences, for example, between Washington, D.C. ("a city of row homes and modest apartments) from the rest of country—where the detached, single-family home is "far and away the most common style of housing in America."

Concluding the article is a chart illustrating the housing stock of the 40 largest cities in the United States. Another point the chart makes, according to Badger and Ingraham: "These figures tell us not just about the physical character of each city, but the potential they have for new housing as many places (Detroit not withstanding) look for space to fit a growing urban population."