Population: Census 2000.

Poverty: Percentage of population with incomes below poverty level ($17,463 for a family of four with two children in 2000), Census 2000.

Median income: HUD’s 2005 Median Family Income; MFIs of constituent counties of metropolitan statistical areas have been estimated by HUD Field Economist. HUD data was used because it was more recent than Census 2000 figures.

Change in median income: Percent change in median family income, Census 1990 to Census 2000.

Median home value: The median value of a single-family home in 2000. Census 2000.

Change in home value: Percent increase in home value, Census 1990 to Census 2000.

Fair market rent: HUD’s annual estimate of the actual market rent for a modest two-bedroom apartment in the conventional marketplace. Fair market rents include utility costs. HUD 2005.

Housing wage: The hourly wage needed to afford (at no more than 30% of gross income) a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent. National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2005.

Median mortgage payment: Median monthly homeowner costs, including payments for mortgages, deeds of trust, real estate taxes, etc. Census 2000.

People paying more than 30% of income on mortgage: The percentage of homeowners spending 30% or more of their gross income on homeownership costs. Census 2000.

Median rent payment: The median monthly gross rent, including utilities, paid by households. Census 2000.

People paying more than 30% of income on rent: The percentage of renters spending 30% or more of their gross income on rent. The percentage is higher when the households that were not counted are not factored in; however, the number we used is the most straightforward figure. Census 2000.

Proportion of owners to renters: The percentage of homeowners versus renters. Census 2000.

Housing need:

Renters: 2000 HUD estimate of the number of very low income households living in rental units that are overcrowded, lack total kitchens or plumbing facilities, or are unaffordable. 

Owners: 2000 HUD estimate of the number of very low income households living in homes that they own that are overcrowded, lack total kitchens or plumbing facilities, or are unaffordable.

Elderly: 2000 HUD estimate of the total number of very low income elderly households living in rental units or single family homeownership units that are overcrowded, lack total kitchens or plumbing facilities, or are unaffordable.

Total: 2000 HUD estimate of the total number of very low income households living in rental units or single family homeownership units that are overcrowded, lack total kitchens or plumbing facilities, or are unaffordable.

Homes without complete kitchens: 2000 Census estimate of the number of households lacking complete kitchen facilities. 

Homes without complete plumbing: 2000 Census estimate of the number of households lacking complete plumbing facilities.

Manufactured housing: The percentage of homes that are manufactured, or HUD code, homes. Census 2000.

Homes damaged in Hurricane Floyd: The total number of households who described their residence as unlivable after Hurricane Floyd. As reported by FEMA in March 2000.

ESG Shelters: Number of homeless shelters that received federal Emergency Shelter Grants in FY 2002. Office of Economic Opportunity, NC DHHS.

Unduplicated people served in those shelters: Number of unduplicated homeless persons served in each county that received federal Emergency Shelter Grants in FY 2002. Office of Economic Opportunity, NC DHHS.

Public housing units: Approximate number of public housing units, as reported by local public housing authorities in November 2002.

Section 8 vouchers available: Approximate number of federal Section 8 vouchers available for rental assistance, as reported by local public housing authorities and other agencies that distribute vouchers, in November 2002.

People on waiting list for vouchers: Approximate number of households waiting for Section 8 rental assistance, as reported by public housing authorities in November 2002. These numbers vary widely from county to county depending on waiting list management; some agencies let the list grow indefinitely, while others close their lists once they exceed a certain number of families.