{"id":1958,"date":"2026-01-26T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T09:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.easidemographics.com\/web\/?p=1958"},"modified":"2025-12-09T03:54:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T03:54:20","slug":"closing-the-housing-gap-with-data-driven-multi-unit-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.easidemographics.com\/web\/closing-the-housing-gap-with-data-driven-multi-unit-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"Closing the Housing Gap: How Data-Driven Multi-Unit Housing Can Transform Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

The housing crisis is real. With an <\/span>estimated shortage of 1.5 to 5.5 million units nationwide<\/span><\/a>, everyone from city halls to state capitals to big businesses is racing to figure out how to solve it. The thing is, we can\u2019t just keep building more single-family homes. We need to think bigger, denser, and smarter. It’s about getting strategic with multi-unit housing, smarter densification, and creative repurposing of commercial and retail properties.<\/span><\/p>\n

Demographic data is the secret weapon that\u2019ll help devise a new way forward. Instead of guessing where housing demand is highest, developers and local governments can use census data, EASI analytics, and internal real estate metrics to identify exactly where these projects are needed and will succeed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Multi-Unit Housing Reality Check<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n

Buildings with between 5 and 19 units made up just <\/span>2.28% of new housing starts<\/span><\/a>, while those with 20+ units represented 22.3% of starts. Homes with five units or more made up 32.3% of new housing starts. The data is clear: we’re already building multi-unit housing, but we need to be smarter about where and how it\u2019s done.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among multi-unit residential buildings, <\/span>only 6.50% are built with the intent to sell units<\/span><\/a>. The other 93.5% are built to be rentals. This tells us something important about market demand and financing structures. With the <\/span>median age of renters in multifamily housing<\/span><\/a> at approximately 34 years old, we’re looking at millennials and younger Gen Xers who value flexibility and urban accessibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s the kicker: <\/span>approximately 60% of all multifamily units<\/span><\/a> are located in urban areas. That concentration creates opportunities for municipalities and developers who understand where the remaining 40% should go.<\/span><\/p>\n

Strategic Repurposing: Beyond Empty Office Buildings<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n

Commercial-to-residential conversions are projected to <\/span>create 70,700 apartment units in 2025<\/span><\/a>. That\u2019s great to see because these adaptive reuse projects are <\/span>nearly 20% cheaper than new construction<\/span><\/a> and offer more housing.<\/span><\/p>\n

The success stories are fascinating. Philadelphia converted over 8 million square feet of space in more than 40 office buildings between 2000 and 2020, resulting in a <\/span>54% boost in the city center’s population<\/span><\/a>. In 105 of America’s largest cities, 15% of commercial office buildings could be used for adaptive reuse, <\/span>potentially adding 171,470 housing units<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But here’s where it gets really interesting. Some of the most creative conversions are happening in unexpected places and with unexpected real estate. <\/span>Developers<\/span><\/a> purchased a 2,400-acre prison site in Fairfax County, Virginia, and converted the cellblocks into homes, apartments, and commercial spaces, adding green spaces, schools, and an arts center.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by Alexander Company<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Using Data to Identify Prime Locations<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n

This is where demographic intelligence separates successful projects from expensive mistakes. Not every empty building is worth converting into housing. You need to understand who lives where, what they need, and how they’re likely to change over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

EASI’s demographic data reveals patterns that census numbers alone can’t capture. Each group has different housing preferences and location priorities. So, for example, an EASI Quick Table – Life Stage by Income Report within 15 miles of ZIP code 59001 in Montana (Absarokee, MT) shows that there are more Nearly Senior (55-64) and Senior (65-74) age families with no children with higher and moderate income than anything else. This is likely a suitable area for smaller housing options, such as those with three bedrooms or fewer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In ZIP code 59069 (Reed Point, Montana), however, the situation changes. Here, there are more Middle (35-44), Late Middle (45-54), and Nearly Senior (55-64) age families with no children with higher and moderate income. Single-family detached homes might be a better option here, whether they\u2019re purpose-built or conversions of other real estate assets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Combining census data with EASI demographics data and analysis helps you identify:<\/span><\/p>\n