Special to Realty/Builder Connection
Concerns that new apartment construction will lead to overcrowded neighborhood schools are baseless, according to a new study by the National Association of Home Builders.
“This new analysis shows that the idea that multifamily housing puts an undue burden on local schools is a myth,” said Bobby Rayburn, president of NAHB and a home and apartment builder from Jackson, Miss. “Unfortunately, it is a myth that has led to a lot of opposition to apartment and condominium development in communities across the country.”
Using the most recent American Housing Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau, NAHB’s study found an average of only 37 school-aged children per 100 multifamily households. The average for 100 single-family households is 62 school-age children..
“Education is the biggest item in most local government budgets, so it’s reasonable for public officials to be concerned about whether new residential construction will result in a big influx of new students,” says NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “But this study shows that new multifamily construction has a limited impact on school enrollment.”
NAHB’s analysis found that the number of school-age children is even lower for larger, high-density apartment buildings. In buildings with more than 20 apartments or condominiums, there are only about 26 school-age children per 100 households. That number is lower still for people who recently bought or rented. And in buildings with only one- and two-bedroom units, the number drops again, with condominium residents reporting fewer children than renters.
The fewest school-age children are found in recently purchased condominium homes in buildings with more than 20 units - about 10 children for every 100 such households.
“The data make a lot of sense when you also look at the demographic trends of renters and condo buyers,” said Seiders. “Multifamily buildings are much more likely to house either younger households of singles, couples or ‘empty-nesters’ whose children are already grown.
Seiders added that all new housing construction contributes substantially to a community’s tax base, and that this data should make it easier for local governments and planning boards to consider a diverse and affordable housing stock - one that includes apartments and condos - without worrying about overburdening their local schools.