The U.S. remains largely a suburban nation, though central cities are experiencing a great comeback after years of population loss. But what exactly is a suburb? A new report from the Urban Land Institute provides answers by providing subcategories.
"The report, Housing in the Evolving American Suburb [PDF], provides a new analytic framework developed by RCLCO [Real Estate Advisors] for the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing that describes different kinds of suburbs based on the key factors that define and determine their housing markets," writes Robert Krueger in a press release for ULI.
The report classifies and compares suburbs in the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. – shown in a searchable online map – and assesses the key issues that will shape suburban residential demand and development in the years ahead.
Krueger list seven bullets that show the dominance of suburbs over central cities in terms of population, employment, and other demographics. Two exceptions:
- Between 2005 and 2010, employment in suburban areas remained stagnant, while it increased by 8.2 percent in urban areas. But between 2010 and 2014, jobs increased by 9 percent in suburbs versus 6 percent in urban areas.
- The regional variation in home values between suburbs and cities is substantial. On average, the median home value in urban areas is $365,000 compared to $305,000 in suburban areas.
Among suburbs, the report considers three categories:
- High-density suburban: relatively dense outer neighborhoods and commercial corridors.
- Suburban: well-populated neighborhoods where most of the housing stock consists of single-family detached homes.
- Low-density suburban: neighborhoods where most of the housing stock consists of single-family detached homes, and where there is some undeveloped land.
One disturbing characteristic they all share: "Auto dependence is uniformly high across all types of suburbs, even in those with better access to transit."
The report further differentiates suburbs into "five suburban paradigms" ranging from "established high-end suburbs" to "greenfield value suburbs." See page 5 of report [PDF] for their definitions.
Laura Kusisto of The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the analysis. The "research shows that suburbs are continuing to outstrip downtowns in overall population growth, diversity and even younger residents," writes Kusisto (also see short summary of the article, fully accessible on Builder).
The Journal's '"binary classification" prompted Joe Cortright to review her article for City Observatory:
Last Friday’s Wall Street Journal came out with another eye-catching headline story in the city versus suburbs battle of the bands: “Suburbs outstrip cities in population growth, study finds."
On its face, the article seems to imply that much of what has been written in recent years about a rebound in cities is either wrong or somehow overstated.
Cortright suggests to his readers that they read the ULI press release to understand how their report is not an urban vs. suburban analysis, but a suburb vs. suburb analysis. In addition to Krueger's press release, see a short review of the report by
Hat tip to Tom Rubin via Sierra Club Bay Area Transportation Forum.
Report: Housing Construction Not Meeting Middle Class Needs
The construction industry is building less "attainable housing" than demanded by the market.
If Housing Affordability Is Top Concern, Let Metro Regions Sprawl
Research from BuildZoom, a San Francisco-based contractors' website, shows that housing affordability increases with a region's ability to build outwards, as opposed to upwards. Densification largely has not accompanied efforts to curb sprawl.
Seattle Voters To Be Put To Transit Test in November
Will a large city do what its county voters refused to do—fund the county bus system, though largely within city limits? Seattle voters will be put to the test in November when asked to pay an annual $60 vehicle fee and 0.1% sales tax.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
