The green-leaning Center for Neighborhood Technology says living in the greater Hickory area might not be as cheap as you think.
Overall, housing costs fall within the federal government's standard for affordability. The problem: When you add in what residents spend on transportation, most of the four-county region rises out of the reasonably priced range as defined by the center.
The federal department of Housing and Urban Development recommends families spend no more than a third of their income on housing. Households in Catawba, Burke, Caldwell and Alexander counties spend even less than that — about a quarter of their income.
"People seek locations to meet this goal, but they don't take into account the cost of transportation," said HUD deputy secretary Ron Sims.
The Center for Neighborhood Technology believes housing and transportation combined shouldn't exceed 45 percent of family income. In our region, the two costs eat up more than half, according to the center.
In fact, people here spend more on transportation than on housing — 29 percent of the average household income as compared to 25 percent.
Transportation costs include car payments, gas and maintenance.
About 40 percent of the nation's neighborhoods are in the same situation, said Nicole Gotthelf, a spokeswoman for the Center for Neighborhood Technology.
She said that's more common in areas where public transportation is sparse.
So what should be done?
The nonprofit urges governments to consider offering alternative means of transportation. Consumers also can consider buying homes closer to work and shopping locations.
The nonprofit, a Washington, D.C.-based group, also asked real estate agencies to include average transportation costs in home listings.
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