About this data measure

• Housing – including affordability, quality, safety, and stability – is one of the best-researched social determinants of health given the connection between housing and health outcomes and health care costs. (Source: Health Affairs)
• Rhode Island ranks poorly for housing cost burden and, since 2016, the percentage of Rhode Islanders who are housing cost burdened has remained relatively unchanged.
• National studies indicate that the share of cost-burdened renter households was significantly higher among households of color compared to White households. Similar data are needed at the local level to better understand disparities.
• Housing cost burden is also a Rhode Island Health Equity Measure.