Regional residents who move farther out in the suburbs to find homes they can afford may end up losing those savings on increased transportation costs, according to a report to be released today.
The D.C.-based Urban Land Institute found that when transportation costs are considered, those who live in the outer suburbs such as Stafford and Prince William counties pay more on average than those in inner suburbs such as Montgomery County that have higher housing costs.
Households in inner suburbs pay on average $37,840 a year for housing and transportation, the report found, while those who live farther out pay $39,553 annually. Those in the center of the region — D.C., Alexandria and Arlington County — pay the lowest on average at $29,718.
“When people look at housing, they seldom consider the transportation costs,” said Pam Patenaude, executive director of the institute’s Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing.
Patenaude added that many people scout for homes or apartments on weekends when roads are less crowded, so they don’t consider how much time they will spend stuck in traffic. It also can be difficult for people to factor in the maintenance, gas and other costs of driving a car a longer distance each day.
The institute soon will offer an online calculator to help people estimate their transportation costs as they plan where to live.
Transportation costs typically offset housing savings for families living 15 miles or more away from their jobs, the study says. The report looked at data from 2000 and 2006, which means it captured the height of the real estate market but didn’t include the spike in last summer’s fuel prices.
The report’s authors also are hoping their study can prod policymakers to consider adding more affordable housing options closer to transit.
Regionwide, households spend almost 47 percent of the median household income on housing and transportation annually, with $23,000 going to housing and $13,000 to transportation.
In communities such as Manassas Park and Fredericksburg, households are paying more than half of the median income in each jurisdiction, $73,941 and $46,007 respectively, on housing and transportation.
Patenaude said her group was eyeing areas such as Tysons Corner, which is expecting to have several Metrorail stops on the proposed Dulles rail line. “We hope to have an impact on what is actually built there,” she said.
HERE IN MY CAR
* Drivers spend an average of 60 hours per year in traffic, which adds up to an estimated 91 million gallons of wasted fuel.
* Households spend almost 47 percent of the median household income of $78,000 on housing and transportation, with $23,000 spent annually on housing and $13,000 on transportation.
Source: Urban Land Institute
