Suburban poverty in Austin: 2nd highest US metro in growth rate? (Cedar Park: health insurance, condo)

[mayfair44]

Originally Posted by steve78757

Families moving out, DINKs moving in.

SINKs too!

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by mayfair44

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2011/8/04%20immigration%20suro%20wilson%20singer/0804_immigration_suro_wilson_singer.pdf

I don't judge by such superficial things as newer cars and newer houses. That would be silly, come on now. When we moved into our home, we owned a '93 crown Victoria. I based what I said on figures that I noted in the Census. The suburbs overall have a relatively low poverty rate. The people on SNAP and any other assistance program is below 10%. The average h/h income for most of the suburbs is over 65k. These aren't pie in the sky numbers that I'm making up. If you want to also use anecdotal evidence to corroborate my assertion that the suburbs aren't as poverty stricken as these articles seem, all one needs to do is note the frenzied suburban development. In my area for example, we have an inordinate number of banks, all manner of retail services, all manner of amenities...they don't build these things in areas that are on the downturn. There wouldn't be nearly as many things available. This is not to say that there aren't poor people in the suburbs..of course there are. But a lot of the flight from Austin wasn't mostly poor people, but mostly middle classed people, dual earners who wanted good schools and more affordable homes. I will say this, if your income is low, you'd probably live better in a suburb.

And another thing, I'm not comparing the suburbs with Austin.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by steve78757

Families moving out, DINKs moving in.

That makes a lot of sense.

I think there might be some additional things like smaller families replacing larger ones, roommates being replaced by one person, second homes, etc. Generally the higher the income, the lower the number of folks per housing unit / sq ft. So with the increase in housing cost, you get less people but they use up more housing units.

On the map CptnRn posted, orange areas include some of the hottest housing markets in the city; people are fighting to find a place to live, rents are skyrocketing, and some infill is adding units which will be absorbed quickly. Yet with the population decline, you'd think the opposite would be happening.

It's so ironic that now the high income earners want to live in smaller units in-town, where they can get on a bus or walk to work/other destinations. Yet lower income people probably love the idea of a yard and garage, not sharing walls, and not having to ride public transportation everywhere. The ol' switcheroo.

[riaelise]

[quote=atxcio;29686784]That makes a lot of sense.

I think there might be some additional things like smaller families replacing larger ones, roommates being replaced by one person, second homes, etc. Generally the higher the income, the lower the number of folks per housing unit / sq ft. So with the increase in housing cost, you get less people but they use up more housing units.

On the map CptnRn posted, orange areas include some of the hottest housing markets in the city; people are fighting to find a place to live, rents are skyrocketing, and some infill is adding units which will be absorbed quickly. Yet with the population decline, you'd think the opposite would be happening.

It's so ironic that now the high income earners want to live in smaller units in-town, where they can get on a bus or walk to work/other destinations. Yet lower income people probably love the idea of a yard and garage, not sharing walls, and not having to ride public transportation everywhere. The ol' switcheroo.[/quote]

I love the idea of a yard and a garage and not sharing walls. Regardless of how much I make. There's no way I'd ever give up a home with a yard to live in an apartment building. Income really doesn't have anything to do with that, IMO.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by riaelise

I love the idea of a yard and a garage and not sharing walls. Regardless of how much I make. There's no way I'd ever give up a home with a yard to live in an apartment building. Income really doesn't have anything to do with that, IMO.

You are right. It's probably more accurate to say it's a case of the "grass is greener on the other side". People who live in the city might dream of having more space and a yard, regardless of income. And people in the suburbs might dream of living in a walkable inner city neighborhood without house/yard maintenance. Some might be fine with the same thing that they already have.

Now I've accidentally stepped too far into the city/suburb debate, so I'll stop now! But bottom line you are right, my observation was an incorrect generalization.

[steve78757]

Originally Posted by riaelise

I love the idea of a yard and a garage and not sharing walls. Regardless of how much I make. There's no way I'd ever give up a home with a yard to live in an apartment building. Income really doesn't have anything to do with that, IMO.

That's just you. There's still an overall trend of increased suburban poverty that is fairly pronounced and relatively high compared to urban areas. And as far as Austin is concerned, the trend is skyrocketing property values in town.

[mayfair44]

Originally Posted by riaelise

I don't judge by such superficial things as newer cars and newer houses. That would be silly, come on now. When we moved into our home, we owned a '93 crown Victoria. I based what I said on figures that I noted in the Census. The suburbs overall have a relatively low poverty rate. The people on SNAP and any other assistance program is below 10%. The average h/h income for most of the suburbs is over 65k. These aren't pie in the sky numbers that I'm making up. If you want to also use anecdotal evidence to corroborate my assertion that the suburbs aren't as poverty stricken as these articles seem, all one needs to do is note the frenzied suburban development. In my area for example, we have an inordinate number of banks, all manner of retail services, all manner of amenities...they don't build these things in areas that are on the downturn. There wouldn't be nearly as many things available. This is not to say that there aren't poor people in the suburbs..of course there are. But a lot of the flight from Austin wasn't mostly poor people, but mostly middle classed people, dual earners who wanted good schools and more affordable homes. I will say this, if your income is low, you'd probably live better in a suburb.

And another thing, I'm not comparing the suburbs with Austin.

No need to get defensive. I'm just saying lots of people (not you) are quick to judge status on appearances. And that this study was based on the Census. That's all.

BTW, I wouldn't judge you on the Crown Vic lol. *smh* See what I mean? Case in point.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by atxcio

You are right. It's probably more accurate to say it's a case of the "grass is greener on the other side". People who live in the city might dream of having more space and a yard, regardless of income. And people in the suburbs might dream of living in a walkable inner city neighborhood without house/yard maintenance. Some might be fine with the same thing that they already have.

Now I've accidentally stepped too far into the city/suburb debate, so I'll stop now! But bottom line you are right, my observation was an incorrect generalization.

No, no, no axcio...I don't want to wade into that debate either! Sorry, I didn't mean my post to sound that way. Actually what you said right now sums me (and many other former city dwellers) up perfectly. In NYC, there was just no way I'd ever have a home with a real yard. It was just too expensive!

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by steve78757

That's just you. There's still an overall trend of increased suburban poverty that is fairly pronounced and relatively high compared to urban areas. And as far as Austin is concerned, the trend is skyrocketing property values in town.

Compared to some urban areas. And I really don't think it is just me.

It's only natural that there is an increase in lower income people in the suburbs since after all, they've experienced exponential growth in a short amount of time. But the majority of new people in suburban cities are regular working families such as myself. The suburbs aren't some sort of catch all for all of Austin's poor. There are still many places in Austin proper that lower income people can (and still do) reside.

[steve78757]

Originally Posted by riaelise

It's only natural that there is an increase in lower income people in the suburbs since after all, they've experienced exponential growth in a short amount of time.

I'm pretty sure the increase in the suburban poverty rate is greater than the overall rate of population growth there. That's what is being pointed out. This trend, relative to urban areas, is a fairly new thing, I believe. Pre-2000 I don't think this was happening. Why now?

Originally Posted by riaelise

The suburbs aren't some sort of catch all for all of Austin's poor.

Who said that? Did anyone here say that?