Safety, Schools, Walkability: What Americans Valued in 2013

In 2013, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) explored American public opinions about housing, transportation, and community. The America in 2013 survey used a statistically representative sample of Americans to understand Americans' housing and neighborhood preferences. While the American people are overwhelmingly satisfied with their community’s quality of life, the findings highlight the diversity of views Americans hold about where they live. The survey offers insight into what types of neighborhoods Americans prefer and covers topics as varied as housing, access to shopping and other amenities, and transportation.

Major findings:

• When it comes to choosing a community, neighborhood safety, quality schools, and walkability are the top three priorities.
• A majority of Americans would live in a smaller home in order to have a shorter commute.
• The fastest growing segments of the American population—Latinos, Gen Y, and African Americans—prefer to live in medium-sized or big cities.
• A majority of Americans would like their community to have attributes associated with compact development.
• A majority of Americans likely to move in the next 5 years would prefer to settle in mixed-use communities.