Comprehensive Master Plan - City of Alvin

Community Snapshotlow compared to the nation, state, county, and all of the peer communities.This characteristic is due to, and responsible for, many of the other statisticsreported above, such as the median age, average persons per household,median household income and rate of poverty. Therefore, the housingconditions and characteristics is an area requiring attention to bring the localhousing market in line with other area communities. Without a proactiveprogram to address the local housing issues, this may be a hindrance in theCity’s economic development efforts.HOUSING Affordability • • •TABLE 2.6HOUSING AFFORDABILITYPercent ofAffordableHouseholdMedianMortgageIncomeIncomePayment180% $69,437 $1,736150% $57,864 $1,447120% $46,291 $1,157100% $38,576 $96480% $30,861 $77250% $19,288 $48230% $11,573 $289Source: U.S. Census BureauFIGURE 2.7AGE OF STRUCTURE17%11% 4% 4% 1%32%In Alvin, the median household income in 2000 was $38,576, asshown in Table 2.6, Housing Affordability. For housing to beconsidered affordable to a family earning the median householdincome, housing costs could not exceed $964 per month. A familyearning 180 percent of the median could afford to pay $1,736 permonth and still consider housing costs affordable. Conversely,households earning only 30 percent of the median income can afford$289 in monthly housing related expenses.According to the 2000 Census, of the housing units with a mortgage,18.8 percent of the household income is spent on monthly ownercosts. The monthly owner costs for housing units without a mortgageis 11.2 percent of the household income. The aggregate value of allhousing units with a mortgage is $187,282,500 compared to$101,807,500 for those without amortgage, meaning that 35 percent ofthe value of owner occupied units iswithout a mortgage. Comparatively,the median contract rent in Alvin is$465, which is 23.1 percent of thehousehold income. Generally, residentsof Alvin are spending less of theirhousehold income on housing than istypical and generally allowed bylenders, which is up to 30 percent.9% 6%16%1999 to March 2000 1995 to 1998 1990 to 19941980 to 1989 1970 to 1979 1960 to 19691950 to 1959 1940 to 1949 1939 or earlierThe average age of housing structuresmay be one possible explanation as towhy there is such a high percentage ofSource: U.S. Census BureauPage 2-16