Crabgrass confinement: Housing and transportation challenges of low- and moderate-income suburban residents in the San Francisco Bay Area

Abstract

The relationship between housing and transportation costs has been the focus of much research, with classic urban theory positing that housing costs decrease and commuting costs increase as households move away from city centers. The growing population of low and low-moderate (LMI) households in suburbs may be taking advantage of lower housing costs, though research shows that housing cost savings in suburbs are offset by higher transportation costs. Our research explores dimensions of housing and transportation cost burden on LMI households in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area using qualitative data from online/in-person surveys (n = 208) and interviews conducted in English and Spanish (n = 25).We found that housing burden is high, suggesting that LMI households choose to live in suburbs for diverse reasons, including rising rents and other requirements (e.g., credit score, rental history) in core cities, and desire for home ownership and a safer environment for children. Yet LMI suburban residents are still vulnerable to rising rents and housing instability in suburban areas. In addition to high housing costs, transportation costs are higher in suburbs due to longer commutes and higher reliance on personal vehicles. Car access is necessary, especially for households with young children. Reliance on cars becomes an issue as LMI households often encounter maintenance issues of used cars or inability to make car payments. When faced with lack of car ownership, households rely on social networks or public transit, and in some cases, forgo trips or relinquish their vehicles entirely. The lack of quality transportation alternatives in suburban contexts, as existing public transit services have long headways and are not well-suited to serving off-peak trips between suburban areas, leaves LMI households vulnerable.