CommunityScale’s Housing Needs Assessments provide a clear, data-driven picture of local housing demand. The Housing Forecast methodology is used to analyze demographic and employment trends, evaluate existing and planned housing supply, and identify misalignments between available units and resident needs. Cost burdens are measured by income level and household characteristics to highlight affordability gaps. The analysis includes a detailed inventory of the current housing stock by type, price, and bedroom count, along with recent market and development trends. The study concludes with a housing production target that aligns with projected growth and supports local affordability goals.

Housing Needs Assessments are the foundation of CommunityScale’s approach to the three phases of local housing action. Each assessment uses CommunityScale’s household income forecasting methodology and housing shortage calculations to quantify both current gaps and future needs. Findings are delivered as a report with visualizations and an interactive Housing Forecast dashboard for ongoing community reference.

Projects featuring housing needs assessments:

• Upper Arlington, OH: housing data analysis
• Apex, NC: housing plan update
• Stowe, VT: housing needs assessment
• Johnson County, IA: housing assessment study
• Rhode Island: statewide housing needs assessments
• Muskogee, OK: comprehensive housing study
• Kentucky Buffalo Trace: three-county housing needs assessments
• Pueblo, CO: consolidated plan and fair housing analysis
• Greenfield, MA: housing plan
• Kennebunk, ME: housing needs plan

Related reading:

• Three phases of local housing action
• How CommunityScale forecasts households by income group
• Housing shortage and equilibrium calculations
• Working with household income, HUD Income Limits, MFI, and AMI
• Which places have the best cost burden performance?
• Why we focus on housing supply