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Location Affordability Index v 1.0

Published by Office of Policy Development and Research, GIS Helpdesk and Open Data Division | Department of Housing and Urban Development | Catalog Last Checked: September 30, 2026 at 03:13 PM | Dataset Last Updated: July 31, 2023 at 03:21 PM
The Location Affordability Index (LAI) helps to better understand the combined cost of housing and transportation. The LAI estimates the percentage of a family’s income dedicated to the combined cost of housing and transportation in a given location. Because what is “affordable” is different for everyone, users can choose among a diverse set of family profiles—which vary by household income, size, and number of commuters—and see the affordability landscape for each in a given neighborhood, city, or region. The Location Affordability Index (LAI) estimates the percentage of a family’s income dedicated to the combined cost of housing and transportation in a given location. Because what is “affordable” is different for everyone, users can choose among a diverse set of family profiles—which vary by household income, size, and number of commuters—and see the affordability landscape for each in a given neighborhood, city, or region. The Location Affordability Index (LAI) estimates three dependent variables of transportation behavior (auto ownership, auto use, and transit use) as functions of 14 independent variables (median income, per capita income, average household size, average commuters per household, residential density, gross density, block density, intersection density, transit connectivity, transit frequency of service, transit access shed, employment access, job diversity, and average commute distance). To hone in on the built environment’s influence on transportation costs, the independent household variables (income, household size, and commuters per household) are set at fixed values to control for any variation they might cause. The LAI also estimates two dependent variables of housing costs (Selected Monthly Owner Costs and Gross Rent) as functions of 16 independent variables: regional median selected monthly owner costs and regional median gross rent in addition to the 14 variables used in the transportation model. To learn more about the Location Affordability Index (v.1.0) visit: https://www.locationaffordability.info/LAPMethods.pdf , for questions about the spatial attribution of this dataset, please reach out to us at GISHelpdesk@hud.gov. Data Dictionary: DD_Location Affordability Indev v.1.0. Date of Coverage: 2005-2009 https://www.locationaffordability.info/LAPMethodsV2.pdf

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Complete Metadata
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description The Location Affordability Index (LAI) helps to better understand the combined cost of housing and transportation. The LAI estimates the percentage of a family’s income dedicated to the combined cost of housing and transportation in a given location. Because what is “affordable” is different for everyone, users can choose among a diverse set of family profiles—which vary by household income, size, and number of commuters—and see the affordability landscape for each in a given neighborhood, city, or region. The Location Affordability Index (LAI) estimates the percentage of a family’s income dedicated to the combined cost of housing and transportation in a given location. Because what is “affordable” is different for everyone, users can choose among a diverse set of family profiles—which vary by household income, size, and number of commuters—and see the affordability landscape for each in a given neighborhood, city, or region. The Location Affordability Index (LAI) estimates three dependent variables of transportation behavior (auto ownership, auto use, and transit use) as functions of 14 independent variables (median income, per capita income, average household size, average commuters per household, residential density, gross density, block density, intersection density, transit connectivity, transit frequency of service, transit access shed, employment access, job diversity, and average commute distance). To hone in on the built environment’s influence on transportation costs, the independent household variables (income, household size, and commuters per household) are set at fixed values to control for any variation they might cause. The LAI also estimates two dependent variables of housing costs (Selected Monthly Owner Costs and Gross Rent) as functions of 16 independent variables: regional median selected monthly owner costs and regional median gross rent in addition to the 14 variables used in the transportation model. To learn more about the Location Affordability Index (v.1.0) visit: https://www.locationaffordability.info/LAPMethods.pdf , for questions about the spatial attribution of this dataset, please reach out to us at GISHelpdesk@hud.gov. Data Dictionary: DD_Location Affordability Indev v.1.0. Date of Coverage: 2005-2009 https://www.locationaffordability.info/LAPMethodsV2.pdf
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issued 2023-07-31
keyword 
[
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  "CPD",
  "Community Planning and Development",
  "DOT",
  "Economy",
  "Governmental Units",
  "HUD",
  "LAI",
  "Location",
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modified 2023-07-31T15:21:12.342Z
programCode 
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rights 
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  "@type": "Location",
  "prefLabel": "United States and Minor Outlying Islands"
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title Location Affordability Index v 1.0

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