Joint Center for Housing Studies Harvard University

Home ownership differentials are both a consequence and a cause of social inequality in the United States. Differences in income, wealth, education, family structure, and racial identity all contribute to differences in home ownership, and differential home ownership opportunities help sustain differences in wealth, education, access to jobs, and overall quality of life. In particular, home ownership differentials have played a pivotal role in creating and sustaining social inequality between whites and nonwhites across a wide range of social indicators.