Worcester Neighborhoods with the Highest Housing Costs
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
SLIDES: See Worcester Neighborhoods with the Highest Housing Costs BELOW
In census tract 7314, which is situated between Chandler and Main Streets, the median income at last census count of the 142 owner occupied homes was $32,283 -- and annual housing costs for homes with a mortgage was $22,908.
"We've completed 25 first time home ownerships in the past 16 years, but funding is drying up. There used to be a home ownership round financed through the city and state level, but that hasn't happened in the past few years," said Yvette Dyson, Executive Director of Worcester Common Ground, the community development corporation in the neighborhood. "Our love is to create homeownership, but we haven't been able to package that type of product in while."
Variation Among Neighborhoods
Last August, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau released a report, "Worcester by the Numbers: Housing and Land Use," which indicated that while monthly homeownership costs topped 30% for a significant portion of the Worcester population, it still fared better than other urban cores.
“In Worcester, 43.1% of owner-occupied households spent more than 30% on selected monthly ownership costs. This percentage was the second lowest among the seven cities surveyed, indicating homeownership in Worcester is more affordable than elsewhere,” the WRRB reported in August 2013.
Dyson noted that she observed that homeowners in the WCG were facing similar issues.
"When homeowners have good mortgages, foreclosures are low," said Dyson. "They tend to be in good shape. However, there are a lot of folks who have serious work needs on their homes, and that's an issue."
This week, national news outlets including CNBC reported that homeownership fell to a 19 year low.
"The homeownership society is clearly over," wrote CNBC's Diana Olick on Tuesday. "Even as home prices soar and value returns to real estate, the one number that just keeps falling is the nation's homeownership rate. In the first quarter of this year, it fell below 65 percent for the first time since 1995. It now stands at 64.8 percent, according to the U.S. Census, down from a high of over 69 percent at the height of the last housing boom."
Looking Forward
However, for potential homeowners -- and new homeowners in particular -- Dyson advised that they should keep certain housing dynamics in mind, including the age of the home.
"I think it depends on the house that they're purchasing," said Dyson. "Typically we see first time folks with brand new properties, everything's been furnished, and won't be incurring costs on the building for at least a ten year period. If someone's looking, they want to make sure it's a stable property. You need so much to take care of a house."
Still, Dyson saw opportunities ahead.
"It's a tough time. Right now we don't have any projects in the pipeline. We do have two lots we just purchased, which we're stacking for a bigger project," said Dyson. "We're not sure now if we'll do rental or homeownership...we're testing the waters to see what's feasible."
With spring underway, Dyson spoke to what was "cropping up" in the neighborhood. "We're starting a new orchard at the corner of Jaques and Ethan Allen. We're working with the Worcester Tree initiative, Lutheran social services, Chandler Elementary -- and WPI," said Dyson. "The WPI students are pretty excited, it's great. I've met with ten of them so far."
"I think what is happening is a lot of non-profit -- and for-profit folks-- are coming to the table, and collaborating -- which has been exciting," Dyson continued. "People are becoming more aware of what other groups are out there -- and wellness of the city in general."
Related Slideshow: Worcester Neighborhoods with the Highest Housing Costs
How much do Worcester residents spend of their income on housing? Looking specifically at homes with mortgages, the website Rich Blocks, Poor Blocks crunched the most recently available census data to show how much Worcester homeowners pay annually for housing.
Below are the top ten highest housing cost-to-income ratio neighborhoods in Worcester, based on census tracts. Income and costs are annual figures for homes with a mortgage, and are in 2012 inflation-adjusted dollars.
Source: United States Census' 2008-2012 American Community Survey dataset.
Related Articles
- Housing Advocates Say Settlement is Not Enough
- Worcester Homeless: Out of Shelters, Into Housing
- NEW: Worcester Housing Complex to Pay $20K For Discrimination Allegations
- Housing Prices Drive Westward Migration from Boston to Worcester
- Worcester Housing Development In Jeopardy After Funding Freeze
- NEW: Worcester Scores $560,000 for Vacant Public Housing
- How Affordable Is Worcester Housing: New Research Bureau Report
- Worcester Housing Stock Shrinks as Prices Flatline
- NEW: Dr. Ann L. Flynn Appointed To Worcester Housing Authority
- Worcester Neighborhoods with the Highest Housing Costs
- Over 9,300 Housing and Nuisance Violations Cited By Worcester Inspectors
- Central Massachusetts’ Housing Market Beginning To Show Growth
- NEW: Gov. Patrick Pushes to Improve Housing Authorities in MA
- NEW: MA Home Sales on the Rise in May Monthly Housing Report
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities Facing Housing Discrimination
- Count Us In: Assumption Students Partner With Worcester Housing Group
- Report: Nearly 70 Percent of City’s Affordable Housing in High-Poverty Areas
- NEW: MA To Invest $67 Million in Over 1,300 Housing Units Statewide
- Elizabeth Warren Lays Out Housing Finance Reform Priorities
- NEW: Mass. Home Sales Up 20.7% In RE/MAX July Housing Report
- Grace Ross: Who Needs Shelter from the Worst Housing Crisis of Our Lifetime?
- Worcester Chamber Announces Support for Housing Incentive Program
- NEW: RE/MAX New England 2013 Housing Forecast Projects Growth
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It