South County Sector Plan: The Sector Inventory

Housing

Vacancy rates remained stable in the 1990s, even as an additional 1,200 units were added to the housing stock.

Housing values increased by nearly 65% over ten years (1980-90), a relatively strong increase given the static nature of home construction in the South County during that time.

Steady increases in housing values, relatively low vacancy rates, and a substantial stock of older homes, suggest opportunities for housing renovations.

Housing Information

	1980	1990	2000	1980-1990 % Change	1990-2000 % Change
Value	$39,300	$63,879	NA	62.5%	NA
Median Rent	$130	$234	NA	80.0%	NA
Total Dwelling Units	6,774	7,191	8,392	417	16.7%
Owner Occupied	5,140	5,372	6,300	4.5%	17.3%
Renter Occupied	1,342	1,321	1,485	-1.6%	12.4%
Vacant	292	498	607	70.5%	21.9%
Vacancy Rate Percentage	4.3%	6.9%	7.2%	60.5%	4.3%

Source: Bureau of Census 1990, 2000

Household Characteristics

	1980	1990	2000	1980-1990 % Change	1990-2000 % Change
Total Number	6,482	6,693	7,785	3.3%	16.3%
Average Household Size	2.8	2.6	2.42/2.32	-7.1%	NA
Families	5,271	5,233	5,616	-0.7%	7.3%
Married Couples	4,441	4,423	4,681	-0.4%	5.8%
Single Parent Families with children < 18 years old	387	388	463	0.3%	19.3%
Male Head of Household	37	78	105	110.8%	34.6%
Female Head of Household	350	310	358	-11.4%	15.5%

Source: Bureau of Census 1990, 2000
Note: Average Household Size in the 2000 census was reported for both owner-occupied (2.42) and renter-occupied (2.32).

Housing Type

	1980	1990	2000	1980-1990 % Change	1990-2000 %Change
Total Dwelling Units	6,774	7,191	8,392	6.2%	16.7%
Single Family Detached	5,540	5,720	NA	3.2%	NA
Single Family Attached	128	156	NA	21.9%	NA
Multifamily	603	495	NA	-17.9%	NA
Mobile Home	530	750	NA	41.5%	NA

Source: Bureau of Census 1990, 2000

The total number of units added to the housing stock increased nearly 17 % between 1990-2000.

The most significant housing change during the period of 1980-90 was the 42% increase in manufactured housing, most likely reflecting the low costs of prefabricated housing and the conversion of agricultural lands to low density residential.

Multifamily housing also decreased from 1980-1990, largely as a result of annexation by the city and the loss of structures as the result of demolition and abandonment. Increases in the multifamily housing stock were not noted for the South County, indicating a potential gap in the housing stock.