Housing + Transportation Affordability Index

HUD Applicants

Calculating the proportion of the population (or households) spending more than 45% of income on housing and transportation costs

Select the region that you are interested in. The default maps are housing costs as a percentage of income, and housing and transportation costs as a percentage of income. "Legend and Description" is the default display; click on the arrow labeled "Change" to bring up the Display menu.

Three of the displays: "Population Statistics," "Household Statistics," and "Neighborhood Statistics" provide information applicable to the HUD NOFAs. Select "Population Statistics."

The legend changes and now indicates the number and percentage of people in block groups where costs meet or exceed affordability standards, including where housing and transportation costs are 45% and greater.

The population statistics are given for the area visible on the map, but the area of focus can be changed. When you zoom or pan to change the map view the statistics will update. You can also click on the "Focus" dropdown menu to obtain population statistics for areas other than the map area.

"Whole Region" provides data for the entire region while "County" and "Municipality" allow you to view data for any county or municipality within the region. Select "County" (the following steps are also applicable for "Municipality") to bring up another dropdown menu with a list of all the counties in the region.

After you choose a county the population statistics will update and the map will zoom to your selection, with the boundaries of the county highlighted.

To determine the number of households that spend more than 45% of income on housing and transportation costs, click the "Change" arrow again to bring up the Display menu and choose "Household Statistics."

The area of focus will remain the same, but you can follow the same steps as you did with "Population Statistics" to change it. "Neighborhood Statistics" gives data on the proportion of neighborhoods (Census block groups) that are affordable or unaffordable.

This information is also available in the FAQ.