U.S. Census Bureau
 American Housing Survey (AHS)




American Housing Survey for the United States: 2001


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American Housing Survey 2001 Using 2000 Controls
Table 2-11. Reasons for Move and Choice of Current Residence--Occupied Units

(Numbers in thousands)
Housing unit characteristics
Tenure
Physical problems
Household characteristics
In MSAs
Urban
Rural
Regions
Total
occupied
units		 Owner Renter New con-
struction
4 years		 Manu-
factured/
mobile
homes		 Severe Moderate Black Hispanic Elderly
(65 years
and over)		 Moved in
past year		 Below
poverty
level		 Total
occupied
units		 Central
cities		 Suburbs Outside
MSAs		 Total Outside
MSAs		 Total Suburbs Outside
MSAs		 Northeast Midwest South West

RESPONDENT MOVED DURING PAST YEAR

Total		 17512 5962 11550 2254 1221 340 965 2616 2349 999 16938 3081 17512 6277 8267 2968 14377 1535 3135 1644 1433 2425 3696 6975 4416

Reasons for Leaving Previous Unit@1

Private displacement		 506 105 401 34 33 0 36 93 84 30 494 99 506 178 236 93 426 55 80 42 38 96 69 162 180
Owner to move into unit 172 24 148 14 17 0 11 23 31 5 169 25 172 68 64 40 141 21 32 12 19 37 28 43 64
To be converted to condominium or
cooperative		 15 3 12 0 0 0 3 5 0 2 15 3 15 5 7 2 15 2 0 0 0 2 5 5 3
Closed for repairs 23 5 18 2 3 0 0 3 8 3 23 3 23 2 21 0 23 0 0 0 0 5 0 6 12
Other 294 74 220 17 12 0 21 62 45 20 286 69 294 102 143 48 246 30 48 30 18 52 34 108 101
Not reported 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
Government displacement 169 53 116 12 8 4 14 52 28 13 165 48 169 66 79 24 139 15 30 21 9 23 33 54 59
Government wanted building or land 34 16 18 3 0 0 3 14 2 3 34 15 34 13 15 6 27 3 7 5 3 3 10 5 16
Unit unfit for occupancy 10 0 10 0 3 0 5 3 3 3 10 8 10 5 6 0 10 0 0 0 0 5 3 3 0
Other 120 33 88 8 5 4 6 34 21 7 116 25 120 47 58 16 100 11 20 16 4 15 21 41 43
Not reported 4 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 0 4 2 0 3 2 0 3 0 3 0 0 4 0
Disaster loss (fire, flood, etc.) 87 22 65 17 13 0 3 21 9 3 84 21 87 26 41 20 69 12 18 9 8 7 11 59 9
New job or job transfer 2237 583 1653 296 74 44 96 239 263 19 2185 217 2237 779 1181 277 1870 140 367 216 137 264 406 949 619
To be closer to work/school/other 2336 494 1842 265 87 58 115 313 317 52 2268 444 2336 951 1046 339 2053 220 283 158 120 254 485 977 619
Other, financial/employment related 1093 239 854 68 74 23 57 153 153 40 1045 198 1093 445 501 147 918 84 175 105 64 196 154 427 316
To establish own household 2958 1251 1706 384 238 67 156 546 365 36 2894 586 2958 1000 1448 510 2438 312 519 307 198 358 736 1131 732
Needed larger house or apartment 2779 1261 1518 427 130 41 116 468 456 60 2746 394 2779 964 1421 394 2286 226 493 320 167 453 588 1094 644
Married 399 214 185 51 19 11 18 31 44 5 319 38 399 102 229 69 307 36 91 56 33 60 125 112 102
Widowed, divorced or separated 526 187 339 80 69 8 35 31 43 71 502 70 526 119 268 139 389 69 136 67 70 80 119 246 80
Other, family/person related 1854 576 1278 193 213 27 131 268 236 240 1733 406 1854 601 806 447 1454 226 400 173 221 262 382 733 478
Wanted better home 2570 1175 1395 460 154 44 116 398 382 131 2530 371 2570 857 1283 431 2042 215 528 294 216 421 541 918 690
Change from owner to renter 174 0 174 24 5 4 6 9 31 36 172 44 174 64 90 20 159 14 15 9 6 43 32 49 51
Change from renter to owner 1160 1160 0 222 117 10 25 142 174 19 1153 51 1160 322 676 163 888 60 272 163 103 162 260 407 331
Wanted lower rent or maintenance 1232 222 1010 100 93 26 85 180 203 87 1212 243 1232 543 491 198 1076 125 156 78 72 192 281 450 309
Other housing related reasons 1214 403 812 149 88 23 99 197 150 105 1170 254 1214 440 582 193 975 93 240 139 99 218 274 423 299
Other 2632 941 1691 350 212 60 145 394 341 302 2571 526 2632 973 1179 480 2085 207 547 266 273 394 503 971 764
Not reported 511 198 313 95 43 3 48 84 38 74 501 124 511 158 249 104 391 25 120 42 79 92 98 212 109

Main Reason for Leaving Previous Unit

All reported reasons equal		 310 145 165 48 17 10 15 37 27 22 297 43 310 92 176 42 237 21 73 49 21 69 60 111 71
Private displacement 190 23 167 12 10 0 13 31 27 13 190 41 190 68 82 39 158 23 32 15 17 33 38 51 67
Government displacement 56 17 39 5 5 0 9 14 8 5 56 27 56 18 26 12 38 7 17 13 4 5 12 18 21
Disaster loss (fire, flood, etc.) 81 16 65 17 10 0 3 21 9 3 79 18 81 26 38 18 66 12 15 9 6 7 11 54 9
New job or job transfer 1901 501 1400 255 60 37 85 208 215 17 1862 184 1901 656 1021 224 1605 116 296 175 107 215 343 843 500
To be closer to work/school/other 1638 290 1347 159 62 43 82 229 195 31 1581 339 1638 686 712 240 1465 164 173 94 76 157 335 696 449
Other, financial/employment related 551 108 443 29 56 12 22 74 72 19 511 96 551 227 251 73 455 31 97 54 42 103 75 209 164
To establish own household 2027 757 1270 249 173 50 116 420 244 11 1985 465 2027 716 953 358 1687 219 340 194 140 216 521 815 476
Needed larger house or apartment 1855 777 1078 263 67 29 76 316 335 35 1832 266 1855 682 908 266 1565 153 290 177 113 300 397 773 385
Married, widowed, divorced, or separated 956 298 658 99 79 21 77 79 105 56 849 122 956 261 487 208 759 117 197 103 91 134 239 405 179
Other, family/personal related 1340 392 948 147 171 17 90 187 181 188 1242 296 1340 442 561 338 1046 158 295 109 180 171 294 519 356
Wanted better home 1386 560 826 272 122 26 76 203 208 95 1360 224 1386 487 631 268 1082 124 304 153 144 199 302 554 332
Change from owner to renter or
renter to owner		 868 783 85 149 72 6 24 107 142 28 864 61 868 262 487 120 686 48 182 105 71 135 211 280 242
Wanted lower rent or maintenance 747 102 645 59 41 14 45 112 141 60 728 136 747 347 309 92 680 67 68 43 24 119 157 280 192
Other housing related reasons 756 238 518 101 49 15 53 112 83 79 727 145 756 289 337 130 597 56 160 84 74 112 195 273 176
Other 2070 702 1368 275 171 52 110 308 268 249 2017 436 2070 751 922 397 1631 170 439 204 227 308 377 793 592
Not reported 780 251 528 115 55 7 70 159 87 89 759 183 780 269 366 145 621 50 158 63 95 141 130 302 207

Choice of Present Neighborhood@1

Convenient to job		 5417 1472 3944 670 248 117 269 698 726 64 5294 570 5417 2003 2726 687 4680 406 736 434 281 779 1041 2272 1324
Convenient to friends or relatives 4224 1426 2798 506 351 96 250 608 601 358 4007 744 4224 1461 2051 711 3431 349 792 426 362 636 946 1638 1004
Convenient to leisure activities 1813 739 1074 300 95 47 86 203 158 95 1780 162 1813 681 909 223 1473 103 340 216 120 323 370 636 484
Convenient to public transportation 989 238 751 80 11 34 87 183 163 42 972 212 989 528 412 49 959 38 30 17 10 223 188 244 334
Good schools 2496 1076 1420 390 104 57 121 354 365 23 2455 447 2496 793 1418 285 2097 189 400 298 96 344 537 963 652
Other public services 934 294 640 109 33 26 66 171 140 87 924 209 934 381 433 120 833 90 100 64 30 128 221 324 261
Looks/design of neighborhood 4577 2201 2376 878 232 71 191 634 503 260 4505 515 4577 1538 2400 639 3655 303 922 562 336 649 954 1864 1109
House was most important consideration 3905 2114 1791 600 195 69 187 503 499 191 3853 540 3905 1249 1897 760 3151 435 754 416 325 579 923 1402 1001
Other 3483 1042 2440 374 361 69 208 586 432 244 3298 773 3483 1298 1500 685 2790 351 692 342 334 500 725 1257 1001
Not reported 515 192 323 93 43 3 46 86 41 72 510 130 515 161 250 104 400 30 116 41 74 87 97 221 110

Main Reason for Choice of Present
Neighborhood

All reported reasons equal		 592 275 317 93 30 10 26 74 61 34 572 71 592 222 300 70 508 37 84 48 33 124 120 181 167
Convenient to job 3730 739 2991 407 179 85 210 501 522 45 3636 440 3730 1378 1854 498 3261 301 469 262 197 500 682 1638 911
Convenient to friends or relatives 2492 730 1762 264 248 43 168 380 383 278 2328 546 2492 886 1181 425 2020 178 472 221 247 376 602 978 537
Convenient to leisure activities 408 173 236 90 42 10 5 47 34 31 399 24 408 164 170 74 306 22 103 49 51 53 67 171 118
Convenient to public transportation 212 29 183 8 0 5 21 59 40 13 212 69 212 146 60 6 207 6 5 2 0 49 38 65 60
Good schools 1162 418 744 136 42 25 42 140 162 11 1134 269 1162 395 605 161 984 106 178 119 55 120 260 484 298
Other public services 214 40 173 22 24 6 14 43 45 42 212 82 214 100 69 46 194 37 20 8 9 36 39 73 67
Looks/design of neighborhood 2448 1096 1352 448 142 34 116 395 279 133 2407 332 2448 813 1252 383 1914 167 534 308 217 308 489 1061 590
House was most important consideration 2592 1366 1226 365 137 52 125 347 372 116 2564 390 2592 836 1187 570 2076 332 516 273 238 323 668 946 655
Other 3136 900 2235 328 335 67 192 544 409 224 2952 726 3136 1165 1338 632 2496 319 639 312 312 448 630 1156 902
Not reported 526 196 330 93 43 3 46 86 42 72 521 132 526 172 250 104 411 30 116 41 74 88 102 224 113

Neighborhood Search

Looked at just this neighborhood		 7588 2200 5388 731 745 178 424 1077 1159 542 7121 1536 7588 2776 3414 1397 6067 603 1521 712 795 1070 1676 3051 1791
Looked at other neighborhood(s) 9241 3499 5742 1412 395 157 489 1429 1147 373 9141 1399 9241 3277 4540 1424 7765 869 1476 883 555 1236 1893 3660 2452
Not reported 684 263 420 111 82 5 52 109 43 84 676 147 684 224 313 147 545 64 139 49 83 120 126 265 173

Choice of Present Home@1

Financial reasons		 6456 2059 4397 612 515 153 400 875 932 294 6272 1139 6456 2455 2919 1082 5421 610 1035 543 471 800 1449 2478 1729
Room layout/design 5260 2549 2711 1132 286 63 173 728 596 322 5207 668 5260 1812 2708 739 4255 377 1005 611 362 736 1069 2165 1290
Kitchen 1322 729 593 269 93 21 53 170 155 100 1311 147 1322 450 654 218 1050 107 272 155 111 218 237 497 370
Size 4742 1886 2856 727 289 68 231 731 672 252 4694 707 4742 1842 2227 673 3957 352 785 435 321 742 956 1905 1139
Exterior appearance 2481 1332 1149 461 108 25 79 334 269 151 2460 271 2481 819 1278 384 2002 195 479 276 189 377 433 1023 648
Yard/trees/view 2541 1371 1170 333 155 34 98 242 286 149 2507 258 2541 739 1325 478 1937 215 605 337 262 416 500 993 632
Quality of construction 1978 1230 749 489 128 18 71 204 224 138 1955 224 1978 594 1021 363 1485 169 493 287 194 307 392 799 480
Only one available 1546 223 1323 91 105 49 168 251 280 86 1512 395 1546 597 674 276 1295 138 252 107 139 247 306 531 462
Other 3016 864 2151 312 190 63 176 444 302 234 2740 555 3016 1040 1413 563 2425 279 591 298 284 421 727 1066 801
Not reported 521 194 326 92 45 3 46 89 39 72 515 130 521 167 250 104 405 32 116 44 72 87 97 230 106

Main Reason for Choice of Present Home

All reported reasons equal		 667 352 315 132 36 5 27 81 81 57 664 99 667 198 374 95 515 38 152 94 56 154 116 210 188
Financial reasons 5200 1442 3759 401 451 136 348 749 782 209 5022 1007 5200 2028 2284 888 4421 495 779 376 393 604 1164 2043 1389
Room layout/design 2895 1384 1510 739 138 41 82 420 307 193 2862 352 2895 970 1510 415 2344 213 551 331 202 356 617 1249 673
Kitchen 122 42 80 17 5 0 8 16 17 6 122 18 122 43 60 19 110 17 12 7 2 29 29 47 17
Size 2386 711 1675 257 154 42 114 430 411 87 2360 442 2386 980 1067 339 2055 197 331 181 142 372 453 1018 543
Exterior appearance 598 271 327 73 8 5 20 130 67 20 590 78 598 217 299 82 495 50 103 71 32 86 109 271 132
Yard/trees/view 738 365 373 80 70 14 28 58 76 35 727 82 738 173 396 169 528 76 210 118 92 113 147 276 202
Quality of construction 563 340 222 141 49 3 13 61 79 42 551 55 563 144 312 107 420 48 142 80 59 79 106 252 126
Only one available 1175 136 1039 63 83 39 132 198 221 72 1146 320 1175 456 486 233 973 119 201 81 114 179 237 424 335
Other 2637 718 1919 258 178 52 147 384 270 206 2367 498 2637 899 1221 518 2104 250 533 257 268 364 619 951 703
Not reported 532 201 331 92 49 3 46 89 39 72 526 130 532 170 258 104 412 32 120 48 72 89 99 235 109

Home Search

Now in house		 8570 4889 3681 1423 0 124 351 1054 1040 492 8204 1103 8570 2578 4361 1631 6694 767 1876 990 864 1019 1858 3572 2122
Did not look at apartments 6719 4277 2442 1189 0 78 239 749 753 383 6397 750 6719 1953 3466 1300 5154 581 1565 825 719 793 1533 2746 1647
Looked at apartments too 1481 400 1081 152 0 39 86 259 247 55 1447 269 1481 514 696 270 1248 168 233 129 102 165 281 640 395
Search not reported 371 212 158 82 0 7 26 46 40 54 360 84 371 111 199 61 292 19 79 36 42 60 45 187 79
Now in manufactured/mobile home 1221 729 492 282 1221 15 35 95 102 72 1173 260 1221 99 640 482 450 92 771 369 390 70 229 681 241
Did not look at apartments 887 567 321 179 887 15 24 75 74 45 839 177 887 64 453 370 305 71 583 278 299 37 155 515 181
Looked at apartments too 280 122 157 74 280 0 11 20 25 14 280 67 280 28 178 73 143 19 137 82 54 29 65 143 42
Search not reported 54 40 14 29 54 0 0 0 3 13 54 16 54 7 9 39 2 2 52 9 37 5 8 23 18
Now in apartment 7721 344 7377 549 0 201 579 1468 1207 435 7562 1719 7721 3600 3266 855 7233 676 487 285 180 1336 1609 2722 2054
Did not look at houses 5232 196 5037 359 0 110 359 1002 857 365 5095 1160 5232 2426 2272 534 4946 434 286 170 100 948 1116 1857 1311
Looked at houses too 2092 116 1976 160 0 57 170 384 328 36 2078 459 2092 997 799 296 1912 229 180 107 67 306 401 753 631
Search not reported 397 32 365 31 0 34 50 81 22 34 388 100 397 176 195 26 375 13 22 9 13 82 91 113 111

Recent Mover Comparison to Previous Home

Better home		 9263 4021 5241 1514 642 139 347 1368 1397 443 9011 1436 9263 3159 4591 1512 7419 717 1844 1015 795 1329 1898 3737 2298
Worse home 2933 508 2425 192 231 114 279 410 320 138 2826 631 2933 1123 1248 562 2494 331 439 200 231 378 633 1095 828
About the same 4628 1194 3434 444 288 82 279 713 581 326 4421 852 4628 1757 2101 770 3924 452 704 377 318 584 1045 1862 1137
Not reported 688 238 450 104 60 5 60 125 51 92 680 163 688 237 327 124 540 35 148 52 89 134 120 281 153

Recent Mover Comparison to Previous
Neighborhood

Better neighborhood		 7447 3056 4391 1096 549 125 329 1084 1111 364 7201 1176 7447 2442 3855 1150 5859 559 1588 964 592 1056 1495 3031 1865
Worse neighborhood 2184 438 1747 168 115 54 202 370 216 69 2121 473 2184 972 884 329 1979 233 205 104 96 274 441 779 690
About the same 6561 1997 4565 791 444 137 341 947 881 417 6327 1153 6561 2379 2932 1250 5503 654 1059 451 596 841 1469 2654 1597
Same neighborhood 591 212 379 88 56 17 34 93 90 42 571 114 591 228 252 110 457 47 134 68 63 107 165 212 107
Not reported 729 260 469 111 57 7 59 123 50 107 719 165 729 256 344 129 579 42 150 57 86 147 126 300 157
@1Figures may not add to total because more than one category may apply to a unit.
@1Figures may not add to total because more than one category may apply to a unit.
@1Figures may not add to total because more than one category may apply to a unit.

Go to American Housing Survey for the United States: 2001

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division
Last Revised: February 18, 2005