Glossary

Definitions of key housing, demographic, and economic terms used throughout the Portal.

Area Median Income (AMI): Represents the midpoint in the distribution of household incomes within a certain geographic region. HUD publishes annual AMI levels for regions, adjusted for family size. The HUD-provided AMI is used to determine applicants’ eligibility for both federally and locally funded housing programs where participation is dependent on income levels.
Cost Burden: A household is considered cost burdened when 30% or more of household income is spent on gross housing costs (can apply to renters or homeowners).
Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA): A Core-Based Statistical Area is a geographical entity defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that comprises adjacent metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. These areas are grouped together because they share significant economic and social ties, often in the form of commuting patterns and other indicators. CBSAs provide a broader regional context for analyzing demographic, economic, and social trends across interconnected urban and rural areas. Unlike cities or towns, which are individual localities with their own local governments, CBSAs encompass multiple cities, towns, and potentially rural areas, emphasizing economic relationships and connections rather than specific administrative boundaries.
Cities/Towns: Urban areas with local governments, providing services and governance to their residents. The distinction between cities and towns can vary based on local laws and regulations.
Deed-Restricted Units: Otherwise known as subsidized units or covenanted units, these homes may receive forms of government subsidy, and typically have some form of covenant that restricts rent growth.
Dissimilarity Index: For this project, the dissimilarity index is a measure of racial segregation, which demonstrates the degree of racial segregation within specific geographic regions. A dissimilarity index of 0 demonstrates an environment of integration under which groups (in this case racial or ethnic groups) are distributed in the same proportions across all neighborhoods. A dissimilarity index of 100 indicates total segregation such that the members of one group are located in completely different neighborhoods than the second group.
Housing Typology: A housing typology is based on the number of units in a structure, and can include single family housing (detached and attached single units) or multifamily housing (residential buildings consisting of more than two housing units).
Multifamily Housing: For the purposes of this document, multifamily housing is defined as a residential building consisting of more than two housing units.
Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH): Naturally occurring affordable housing is defined as housing that is priced by market forces at rates that are affordable to low income households. Housing is traditionally considered affordable if the total housing cost (rent or mortgage plus utilities) for the household represents no more than 30% of its income. NOAH housing often makes up a significant portion of a jurisdiction’s affordable housing stock, in addition to publicly subsidized housing.
Opportunity: Locating housing in opportunity areas means that households will have equitable access to employment, transit, schooling, healthcare, and other needs. When housing is located in segregated or impoverished areas, or when poverty becomes concentrated, residents have fewer opportunities, poorer health, and even lower life expectancy.
Single Family Housing: Residential building typology, which may include detached or attached units, which only includes 1 unit.
Severe Cost Burden: A household is considered severely cost burdened when 50% or more of household income is spent on housing.
Tenure: Housing tenure refers to the financial arrangement and ownership structure under which someone has the right to live in a house or apartment. Typical forms of tenure include renter-occupancy and owner-occupancy.
Vacant and Available: Residential units that are unoccupied are considered to be vacant. There are several different reasons a home may be vacant, including: if the home is for rent or for sale, if it is a second home (seasonal use), if it is rented or owned but not currently occupied, or if the home was foreclosed upon or in need of repair. This resource defines homes as “Vacant and Available” if they are for rent or for sale only, and therefore available for new renters and homeowners.

Glossary

Definitions of key housing, demographic, and economic terms used throughout the Portal.

Area Median Income (AMI): Represents the midpoint in the distribution of household incomes within a certain geographic region. HUD publishes annual AMI levels for regions, adjusted for family size. The HUD-provided AMI is used to determine applicants’ eligibility for both federally and locally funded housing programs where participation is dependent on income levels.
Cost Burden: A household is considered cost burdened when 30% or more of household income is spent on gross housing costs (can apply to renters or homeowners).
Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA): A Core-Based Statistical Area is a geographical entity defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that comprises adjacent metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. These areas are grouped together because they share significant economic and social ties, often in the form of commuting patterns and other indicators. CBSAs provide a broader regional context for analyzing demographic, economic, and social trends across interconnected urban and rural areas. Unlike cities or towns, which are individual localities with their own local governments, CBSAs encompass multiple cities, towns, and potentially rural areas, emphasizing economic relationships and connections rather than specific administrative boundaries.
Cities/Towns: Urban areas with local governments, providing services and governance to their residents. The distinction between cities and towns can vary based on local laws and regulations.
Deed-Restricted Units: Otherwise known as subsidized units or covenanted units, these homes may receive forms of government subsidy, and typically have some form of covenant that restricts rent growth.
Dissimilarity Index: For this project, the dissimilarity index is a measure of racial segregation, which demonstrates the degree of racial segregation within specific geographic regions. A dissimilarity index of 0 demonstrates an environment of integration under which groups (in this case racial or ethnic groups) are distributed in the same proportions across all neighborhoods. A dissimilarity index of 100 indicates total segregation such that the members of one group are located in completely different neighborhoods than the second group.
Housing Typology: A housing typology is based on the number of units in a structure, and can include single family housing (detached and attached single units) or multifamily housing (residential buildings consisting of more than two housing units).
Multifamily Housing: For the purposes of this document, multifamily housing is defined as a residential building consisting of more than two housing units.
Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH): Naturally occurring affordable housing is defined as housing that is priced by market forces at rates that are affordable to low income households. Housing is traditionally considered affordable if the total housing cost (rent or mortgage plus utilities) for the household represents no more than 30% of its income. NOAH housing often makes up a significant portion of a jurisdiction’s affordable housing stock, in addition to publicly subsidized housing.
Opportunity: Locating housing in opportunity areas means that households will have equitable access to employment, transit, schooling, healthcare, and other needs. When housing is located in segregated or impoverished areas, or when poverty becomes concentrated, residents have fewer opportunities, poorer health, and even lower life expectancy.
Single Family Housing: Residential building typology, which may include detached or attached units, which only includes 1 unit.
Severe Cost Burden: A household is considered severely cost burdened when 50% or more of household income is spent on housing.
Tenure: Housing tenure refers to the financial arrangement and ownership structure under which someone has the right to live in a house or apartment. Typical forms of tenure include renter-occupancy and owner-occupancy.
Vacant and Available: Residential units that are unoccupied are considered to be vacant. There are several different reasons a home may be vacant, including: if the home is for rent or for sale, if it is a second home (seasonal use), if it is rented or owned but not currently occupied, or if the home was foreclosed upon or in need of repair. This resource defines homes as “Vacant and Available” if they are for rent or for sale only, and therefore available for new renters and homeowners.