Model Housing Element Development Process
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Step 2: Other Data to Consider
The following data may also be useful in analyzing and planning for housing in your jurisdiction. Explanations and links are provided below. Planning staff will continue to upgrade the Dashboard as new data is available and in response to feedback from users.
- Population trends, estimates, and projections: Considering recent growth trends, as well as the projected growth of a jurisdiction, will help local planners determine if existing housing stock, residential pipeline units (if applicable), and available land for residential development will meet the housing needs of existing and future residents. The State Data Center includes population estimates for Maryland’s counties and municipalities, and projections for counties.
- Occupational Projections and Wage information: Housing affordability is closely aligned with employment and wages in a regional or local economy. By considering the current wages and expected future employment sectors in a region, a jurisdiction can plan for the diversity of housing needed to accommodate its workforce. The Maryland Department of Labor breaks the state into 12 workforce regions, and projects occupational growth within those regions, and wage estimates for the same regions. One method a jurisdiction can use to consider the match between their housing and employment on a regional level is called a Jobs-Housing Analysis. Learn more about it in the inset.
Jobs-Housing Analyses vary in the approach they use, but they often consider the following factors when determining the fit between housing and employment in a region.Population
Jobs
Income Distribution
Housing Trends
Economic Diversity
Housing Fit
- Placing Jobs M&G: Planning’s Placing Jobs M&G incorporates economic development resources, data, and incentives from a variety of state agencies that may be useful for a jurisdiction seeking to coordinate its housing and economic development planning.
