The New York Times has created a series of data visualizations illustrating how the zoning policies of many U.S. cities make it difficult for low-income families to afford housing. Many cities zone most of their residential land for single-family homes, which effectively bans townhomes, duplexes, and apartments. The visualizations show that 84 percent of Charlotte’s residential land is zoned as single-family housing. Such zoning can entrench racial and economic segregation by making it less likely working-class families would live next to affluent ones.
Visualizing Housing Options in U.S. Cities
