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Report ranks Massachusetts a ‘bottom state’ for affordable housing
By Sury Chakraborty,
6 days ago
The average construction cost per new housing unit in Massachusetts ($334,280) makes it the third priciest in the nation, according to the report.
Construction Coverage has named Massachusetts a “bottom state” for investment in affordable housing, behind only Hawaii and Wyoming.
Michael Stromberg, lead data analyst at the research firm, said the July 19 report ranked locations by the average construction value of all of the new housing units authorized in 2023. The website used data from the US Census Bureau and Zillow for the analysis, the methodology states.
“In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, the average value per new housing unit authorized was $311,451, nearly 30 percent higher than the national average of $241,792,” Stromberg said.
The average construction cost per new housing unit in Massachusetts ($334,280) makes it the third costliest in the nation, according to the report.
Earlier this month, Gov. Maura Healey signed what’s labeled as the “most ambitious legislation” to address housing costs in state history. The Affordable Homes Act authorizes $5.16 billion in spending to support the “production, preservation and rehabilitation” of about 65,000 homes across the state in five years, according to the state website.
Construction Coverage, which researches construction software and insurance, states that between February 2012 and May 2022, the annual rate of residential construction spending rose by $700 billion in the United State. Since then, however, it has fallen by nearly $150 billion.
“The factors influencing the ultimate cost of construction are multifaceted,” Stromberg said. These include the costs of materials, labor, regulatory compliance, and site preparation. Housing unit valuation is an estimate of the structure value and not a reflection of the land value, according to the report’s methodology.
Stromberg said the high cost of new housing in the Boston metro area and in Massachusetts as a whole suggests economic prosperity, but also highlights the challenges of increasing the affordable housing stock. “Strict building codes, zoning laws, and permitting processes often increase construction time and costs,” he said.
These were the top and bottom states when it comes to investment in affordable housing:
TOP STATESAVERAGE*BOTTOM STATESAVERAGE*
Delaware$143,579Hawaii$423,609
New Jersey$157,141Wyoming$342,230
West Virginia$189,464Massachusetts$334,280
Nebraska$191,523New Hampshire$303,025
Mississippi$192,134New Mexico$294,066
Kentucky$195,491Indiana$284,439
South Dakota$205,824Colorado$280,276
Virginia$205,945Alaska$279,491
New York$208,845Wisconsin$277,886
Texas$218,731Iowa$277,068
Arkansas$220,884Utah$275,507
Louisiana$227,295Michigan$274,404
North Carolina$230,054Illinois$268,098
Georgia$230,662South Carolina$265,617
Arizona$232,132North Dakota$263,343
Source: Construction Coverage
*Average value per new housing unit authorized
Here’s how the New England states were ranked:
STATEAVG. VALUE PER NEW HOUSING UNIT AUTHORIZEDTOTAL NEW HOUSING UNITS AUTHORIZEDRANK
Massachusetts $334,28013,21448
New Hampshire $303,0254,55547
Maine$260,4116,18332
Rhode Island $241,6431,16922
Connecticut$233,8896,27218
Vermont $233,3992,45617
Source: Construction Coverage
In 2023, both Massachusetts and New Hampshire ranked third and fourth, with an average value per new housing unit of $290,607 and $278,503, respectively, data from the report show. This reflects a 15 percent increase in average value in Massachusetts and an 8.8 percent jump in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire was also among the top five states with high construction costs.
“High construction costs lead to higher housing costs, making it harder for first-time buyers and renters to find affordable housing,” Stromberg said, noting that this aggravates housing shortages, particularly for the economically vulnerable.
These large metros added the most affordable housing units:
RANKMETROTOTAL NEW
HOUSING UNITS
AUTHORIZED
1.Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas68,755
2.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas68,029
3.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-Pa.63,030
4.Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler-Ariz.45,616
5.Austin-Round-Rock-Georgetown, Texas38,773
6.Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Ga.38,639
7.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.30,767
8.Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia-NC-SC29,419
9.Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla.25,415
10.Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.25,386
Source: Construction Coverage
Here’s some other New England metros fared in the rankings:
METRORANKTOTAL NEW
HOUSING UNITS
AUTHORIZEDAVERAGE VALUE PER NEW HOUSING UNIT AUTHORIZED
Without policies to encourage the construction of more affordable housing, home shoppers and developers will turn more toward the Midwest and South, he said. “Continued high construction costs will slow the growth of affordable housing supply, pushing home prices and rents upward.”
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