2026 E-Insights Report

3.1: Housing Affordability and Stability

Housing affordability and stability are central components of quality of life, shaping household security, mobility, and long-term economic resilience — with a secondary impact on the sense of community membership. These indicators examine the cost, availability, and tenure of housing across the region, highlighting the extent to which residents can secure and maintain stable housing without excessive financial strain.

Rising home values and rental costs continue to exert pressure on households across all income levels. Trends in home value and rent indices indicate that housing costs have increased faster than many households’ ability to absorb them, particularly for renters. The share of renters spending 30% or more of their income on housing reflects a growing cost burden, limiting resources available for other essential needs such as healthcare, childcare, and transportation.

Measures of housing affordability further underscore these constraints. The proportion of households with monthly housing costs below $1,500 provides insight into the shrinking availability of lower-cost housing options, while owner-occupancy rates offer a perspective on housing tenure and long-term stability. Together, these indicators suggest that access to affordable housing is increasingly uneven, with implications for both financial security and community continuity.

Housing stability is also influenced by the availability and use of existing housing stock. The share of vacant housing units designated for recreational or seasonal use highlights structural factors that can reduce the supply of housing available to year-round residents, particularly in high-demand areas. While such units contribute to local economies in some contexts, they may also intensify affordability pressures by constraining the housing market for permanent residents.

These indicators point to housing as a key source of strain on quality of life across the region. Affordability challenges do not affect all households equally, but they shape patterns of stability, displacement, and economic vulnerability that ripple through other aspects of daily life.

Key Insights

Overall Takeaway

Housing costs are a central pressure point for quality of life, affecting household stability and long-term economic security.

Highlights
  • Affordability strain: Home values and rents in the region have risen faster than incomes for many households, contributing to a high share of renters who spend 30% or more of their income on housing.
  • Limited lower-cost options: The region has a shrinking share of households with monthly housing costs below $1,500, indicating a tightening supply of lower-cost housing options.
  • Ownership patterns: Homeownership rates, alongside patterns of vacant and recreational-use housing, suggest that housing availability and stability vary across communities within the region.
  • Household tradeoffs: For many households in the region, high housing costs combined with childcare expenses and income constraints limit financial flexibility and increasing vulnerability to economic shocks.