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March 3, 2005 North Dakota Housing Units Continue to Rise Despite Small Change in Population The number of housing units in North Dakota has increased at a much faster pace than the population in the past 63 years. This month’s “Population Bulletin,” a monthly publication from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University, discusses the July 1, 2003, housing unit estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau’s population division. These current estimates reveal a continuing rise in North Dakota’s established housing trend. In 1940, housing units totaled 162,881 statewide, compared with 289,677 in 2000. This represents a 78 percent increase during the 60-year period. The 2003 estimates suggest another 2.5 percent rate of growth during the 2000-to-2003 period. On the other hand, the population grew by less than 1 percent between 1940 and 2000 and dropped 1.3 percent between 2000 and 2003. Changes in household composition help explain the apparent contradiction between a stable population and a substantial increase in housing. In 1940, the average household size was 4.2 people compared with 2.4 today. In 1940, 7.9 percent of households had only one person compared with 29.3 percent today. This reflects both a growing elderly population, many of whom are women living by themselves, and young adults living by themselves. “These dynamics in household size and type make it very important for policy-makers to monitor housing supply and demand,” according to Richard Rathge, North Dakota State Data Center director. “For example, the greatest need in housing in our state is senior housing. The number of older seniors, those 85 and older, will double in less than 15 years. Therefore, we need to ensure elderly-friendly housing will be available for them,” Rathge says. A report that explores the current and future supply and demand in housing in North Dakota is available at www.ndhfa.org. Larger metropolitan areas within North Dakota account for much of the housing unit growth. Approximately 50 percent of all housing growth between 1940 and 2000 took place in Cass and Burleigh counties. Between 2000 and 2003, 78 percent of all growth statewide took place in Cass and Burleigh counties. Nationally, housing numbers grew 4.3 percent between 2000 and 2003, with states in the Southwest and Southeast having the largest percentage gains. ### Source:
Richard Rathge, (701) 231-7980, Richard.Rathge@ndsu.edu
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North Dakota State University |
