Differences in Neighborhood Satisfaction Between African American and White Homeowners During the Early 2000s

Abstract

Equal quality of life between groups is often assumed to be achieved once homeownership is attained. Remaining discrepancies are often considered to be due to income differences. This study explored whether established models of neighborhood satisfaction, in general, predict satisfaction for homeowners and whether documented discrepancies in levels of neighborhood satisfaction between whites and African Americans persisted among homeowners in the early 2000s. After controlling for respondent characteristics and perceived and actual neighborhood attributes, race remained important in explaining residential neighborhood satisfaction. The results indicate that African American homeowners were generally less satisfied with their neighborhoods, compared to white homeowners. The study is important because residential dissatisfaction might potentially lead to compromised quality of life or neighborhood instability and decline. Therefore urban planners and policy makers need to better understand the existence and the nature of any racial inequity to facilitate creative solutions to the problem.

Key words:

• neighborhood satisfaction
• race
• homeowners

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yanmei Li

Yanmei Li (corresponding author) is Assistant Professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Florida Atlantic University Ft. Lauderdale.

Mary V. Wenning

Mary V. Wenning is Associate Professor, Department of Urban Affairs and Geography, Wright State University Dayton, OH.

Hazel A. Morrow-Jones

Hazel A. Morrow-Jones is Professor in City and Regional Planning, Associate Provost for Women’s Policy Initiatives, and Director of The Women’s Place, The Ohio State University Columbus.