The Influence of Residential Mobility of Elderly Households on Housing Costs

Abstract

The purpose of this study is twofold: 1) to examine differences in housing and social demographic characteristics between elderly movers and stayers, and 2) to determine the influence of mobility and other selected demographic and housing characteristics on monthly housing costs. Using the 1995 American Housing Survey, t-tests and chi-squares tested for significant differences between the 779 movers and 779 stayers. Movers had significantly fewer people in their households. Both movers and stayers had an average educational attainment of slightly more than 12 years, with movers in the sample having somewhat higher educational attainment levels than stayers. Neither age, marital status, racial composition, nor income varied between the two groups. Tenure, quality, and, cost of housing all varied significantly between the two groups, as did regional location. In the regression equation, mobility was a highly significant factor in predicting monthly housing costs. Movers had higher monthly housing costs than stayers. In addition, education, household income, region, tenure, and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan location were significant. Home owners and households located in metropolitan areas had higher housing costs than renters or households located in nonmetropolitan areas. Two regions of the country, the Northwest and the West, had higher housing costs than did households located in the South. The consequences of mobility decisions need to be continually evaluated so that the elderly occupy housing that meets their current as well as their long-term needs.