Abstract
This thesis explores the relationship between gentrification and housing affordability across U.S. counties, with a particular focus on its impact beyond major metropolitan and megapolitan regions. Using a dataset of over 30,000 county-level observations from 2010 to 2019, I employ multiple Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions to assess how increasing levels of gentrification influence housing affordability. The results reveal that rising gentrification is strongly associated with declining housing affordability, disproportionately affecting less densely populated areas. These findings suggest that some communities may be particularly vulnerable to affordability pressures linked to gentrification, as rising housing prices outpace local wage growth. This study highlights the nuanced relationship between gentrification and housing affordability challenges across diverse geographic landscapes.
Advisor
Ling Liu, Jancy
Department
Economics
Recommended Citation
Avila, Jimmy, ""Priced Out of Home": Evaluating the Impacts of Gentrification on Housing Affordability in the United States" (2025). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11469.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11469
Publication Date
2025
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2025 Jimmy Avila