Housing Needs and Trends in Central Appalachia and Appalachian Alabama

Abstract

Appalachia is a region with significant contrasts. The evolution of the economic landscape over the last century has led each county in the region to face and adapt to unique circumstances. Although each county is unique, general housing trends in the region can be identified as well as outlier counties that do not conform to these trends. Many of the relevant housing trends in the region are quantifiable using US Census data. VCHR has compiled this data for a wide range of housing topics, including housing stock, demand, and affordability. Despite limitations such as reduced reliability in low-population counties, VCHR has conducted a relatively complete survey of issues relating to housing demand and preferences has been conducted.