Data include year structure built, type and number of living quarters, occupancy status, access, number of rooms, presence of commercial or medical establishments on the property, and property value. Additional data focus on kitchen and plumbing facilities, type of heating fuel used, source of water, sewage disposal, heating and air-conditioning equipment, and major additions, alterations, or repairs made to the property. Data relating to housing expenses include monthly mortgage or rent payments, utility costs, property insurance costs, garbage collection costs, and the amount of real estate taxes paid last year. In addition, information is furnished on whether the household received government assistance to help pay heating or cooling costs or for other energy related services. Much of the same characteristics data are presented for housing units previously occupied by recent movers.
Data provided also include indicators of housing and neighborhood quality.
Characteristics indicative of neighborhood quality are exterminator service, boarded-up buildings, and overall opinion of the neighborhood. In addition to housing characteristics, data on age, sex, race, marital status, income, and relationship to the householder are available for each household member. Additional data on years of school completed, Spanish origin, length of residence, and tenure are provided for the householder. Census Bureau did not provide retrieval software for micro data files. Commercial software necessary to use and manipulate data.