Publication Date: March 16th, 2023
Publication Type(s): Policy Brief
Topic(s): Disabilities, Health Disparities and Health Equity, Rural Statistics and Demographics, Social Determinants of Health
Author(s): Swendener A, Rydberg K, Tuttle M, Yam H, and Henning-Smith C
Housing is well documented as an important social determinant of health. Inadequate housing quality can lead to negative health outcomes. Two such housing quality factors that impact health include the financial burdens of housing (e.g., housing affordability) and the internal conditions of a home, such as overcrowding. Although housing has been linked to health equity, what is less understood is how these housing characteristics vary by geography, particularly by rural or urban location. Differences in housing characteristics among various demographics of rural and urban adults is one mechanism that can be used to better understand population-level health inequalities, especially among marginalized populations.