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June 23, 1997
The Image Of The American Cities Is On The Rebound, With Medium- To Small- Sized Cities Outpacing Large Cities As A Desirable Place To Own A Home, According To The 1997 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey
WASHINGTON – More than eight in ten Americans would consider living in a medium- to small-sized city, but fewer than one American in ten would choose to live in a large city, if given the choice. Yet while Americans today are evenly divided on whether cities are emblematic of progress or problems, there has been real improvement in Americans' image of our cities since the beginning of the decade. These are among the major findings of the 1997 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, released today to coincide with tomorrow's James W. Rouse Forum on the American City.
Despite serious concerns about whether large cities are an ideal place to live, the image Americans have of cities is on the rebound. In 1997, 36% of those surveyed say that cities are "centers of business, culture, and progress," and 38% say cities are "centers of poverty, crime, and other social problems." While still evenly divided, this
represents sharp improvement over attitudes expressed in an
NBC/Newsweek survey taken by Peter D. Hart in 1991, when only 30% said cities were centers of progress, and 42% said they were centers of social problems.
The Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, which probes American attitudes about housing and homeownership, has been undertaken each year since 1992 by the survey research firms of Peter D. Hart and Robert Teeter. For Fannie Mae's 1997 survey, Hart and Teeter focused specifically on attitudes Americans have toward our cities.
"The 1997 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey shows that, while negative images of cities are still prevalent, progress is being made. There is greater recognition of cities as centers of culture and entertainment, as well as opportunity. Yet while crime rates in cities are down, and homeownership rates up, the perception of improvement in city life has not yet taken hold. This indicates just how much work those of us who care about cities have to do to change attitudes about them," said James A. Johnson, Fannie Mae Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
How Americans View Cities and Suburbs
By a better than two-to-one margin, Americans believe job
opportunities have increased more in cities (57%) than in
suburbs (24%). And by a four-to-one margin, respondents cited "the availability of entertainment and cultural events" as having increased more in cities (69%) than in suburbs (17%). In fact, what sets cities apart from the suburbs or small towns is culture. Twenty-three percent of all adults cite "cultural attractions" as the "one thing that most sets cities apart from suburbs, small towns, or rural areas."
Yet a comparison of often perceived trends in cities and in suburbs dramatically favors the suburbs. By a five-to-one margin, Americans believe overcrowding and congestion have increased more in the past five years in cities (71%) than in suburbs (14%) – this despite the fact that in many parts of the country, cities have lost population at the
expense of the suburbs.
By a nearly seven-to-one margin, Americans believe that "tensions among groups and racial tensions" have increased more in cities (66%) than in suburbs (10%). And despite the fact that, all across the nation, crime rates in cities have decreased, there still is a perception that they have increased more in cities; by a nearly four-to-one margin, Americans believe "crime, violence, and gangs" have increased more in cities (64%) than in suburbs (17%).
Where Americans Want to Live
More Americans (83%) would consider living in a medium- to small-sized city than any other place, but fewer than one
American in ten would choose to live in a large city, if given the choice; and six Americans in ten would not even consider buying a home in a large city. Suburbs, medium-sized cities, small towns and rural areas were all desired as a place to live by an even distribution of roughly one-in-five adults, but only 9% cited "a large city" as a place they would choose to live. When asked where they would consider buying a home, 59% stated they "would not consider" buying a home in the major city nearest to where they live.
"There are signs of hope," said Johnson. "The most positive image of cities is held by young people age 18 to 24, who by a two-to-one margin think of cities as centers of progress, rather than as centers of social problems. It is vital for young adults to have such attitudes, if American cities are to thrive as we enter a new century. Those who own homes in cities are more likely than others to view cities positively – a reinforcement of the data we've seen previously showing that homeownership is an important element in giving someone a stake in his community."
The 1997 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey was released to
coincide with the first annual Rouse Forum on the American City, sponsored by The Fannie Mae Foundation, The Enterprise Foundation, and The Brookings Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy. The 1997 Rouse Urban Forum will take place at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, June 24, and will feature Secretary Robert Rubin, Harvard Professor Michael Porter, and panels from five cities where new urban policies have been successful: Baltimore, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Portland.
Other major findings of the 1997 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey include:
- Having enough money for a down payment continues to be the single greatest obstacle to homeownership, as it has since 1992, but while 44% of respondents cited it as a "major obstacle," this is down from the 52% who cited it as such in 1996.
- Other obstacles to homeownership have declined in the past year, as Americans have become more confident in the economy and their economic security. In 1997, economic insecurity is still more of a perceived factor in
preventing Americans from owning a home than it was in the peak optimism periods of Spring 1993 and Spring 1994, but concerns about having enough confidence in one's job, having enough income, and having a good enough credit record to own a home have decreased markedly since one year ago.
- In 1997, the percentage who cite job security fears as an obstacle to homeownership is 36% -- meaningfully higher than the 26% who cited this as an obstacle in 1995, but far lower than the 48% who in 1996 cited "confidence in the security of your job" as a "major obstacle to homeownership."
This year is seen as a good time to buy a home, with attitudes relatively constant with the findings of one year ago.
While significantly higher than the findings in 1995, the belief that it is a "very good time to buy," is also markedly lower than it was during the peak levels of 1993/1994. Sixty-three percent of adults believe this is a "somewhat" to "very good time to buy a home," presaging a strong year for home buying.
Americans are significantly more optimistic about their communities and their quality of life in 1997 than they were at the beginning of the decade. While 81% of 1997 respondents believe things are going "very well" or "fairly well" in the city or town in which they live, the figure was only 68% in 1991.
The 1997 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey is comprised of 1,652 interviews, in all regions of the country, and has a margin of error for overall responses of less than 3%. Those interested in a complete survey report should call (202) 752-6707.
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1997 National Housing Survey Report