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Homeownership

General information

Home ownership refers to households that are occupied by their owners.1 Home ownership helps prevent displacement of individuals from their communities and promotes social support systems.2

Key Findings

  • In San Mateo County, 59% of households are owner-occupied.
  • Homeowners with a mortgage spend about $3,150 a month on housing, while owners without a mortgage pay $600 a month on housing costs.
  • There is a high percentage of homeownership in Pacifica, Montara, Moss Beach, Hillsborough, Woodside, Atherton, and Portola Valley.

Methods

  • Data were obtained from U.S. Census Bureau’s 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates at American FactFinder.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.
  • Data included all households.

Limitations

  • Approximately 295,000 households are selected to participate in the annual American Community Survey, or less than 1 percent of all households in the U.S. 
  • Data were estimates based on survey responses, and not actual counts.  
  • Estimates have some chance of error.

References

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey 2013 Subject Definitions
  2. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Where We Live Matter for Our Health: The Links Between Housing and Health