2016 Bay Area Council Poll

Report of Survey Results

Methodology

Web survey of San Francisco Bay Area residents

February 12 March 10, 2016

1,000 total interviews

Margin of Error: + 3.1 percentage points

The survey was available in English, Chinese, and

Spanish
As with any opinion research, the release of selected figures from this report without the
analysis that explains their meaning would be damaging to EMC. Therefore, EMC
reserves the right to correct any misleading release of this data in any medium through
the release of correct data or analysis.
Please note that due to rounding, percentages may not add up to exactly 100%

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Ease of Finding Housing

It is getting harder to find housing.
Easier

2015

6%

2016

3%

20%

16%

About the same

Harder

Don't know

68%

74%

Thinking about housing in the Bay Area compared to a year ago is it much easier to find
housing than a year ago, somewhat easier to find housing than a year ago, about the same
as a year ago, somewhat harder to find housing than a year ago, much harder to find
housing than a year ago.

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Ease of Finding Housing Over Time by County

Residents in Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties in particular report
increased difficulty in finding housing.
% Rating it harder to find Housing
68%

Overall

74%

71%

Alameda (21%)
Contra Costa (14%)

78%
57%

North Bay Region (18%)

San Francisco (12%)
San Mateo (10%)
Santa Clara (25%)
Thinking about housing in the Bay Area compared to a year ago is it much easier to find housing than a
year ago, somewhat easier to find housing than a year ago, about the same as a year ago, somewhat
harder to find housing than a year ago, much harder to find housing than a year ago.

2015

66%

65%
70%

2016

72%
69%
73%
75%
69%
78%

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New Housing Need

While San Francisco remains the location where housing is needed most, respondents
increasingly select Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.
2015

2016

On the map below, please indicate the approximate location in the Bay Area where you feel new housing is most needed
right now. You may click up to three locations on the map. If you do not think housing should be built anywhere in the Bay
EMC #16-5727 BAC Annual Poll | 5
Area, just click the arrow at the bottom to continue.

New Housing Need by County

Residents from around the Bay feel new housing is needed in San Francisco in addition to their own counties.

Alameda

Contra Costa

North Bay
Region

San
Francisco

San Mateo

Santa Clara

On the map below, please indicate the approximate location in the Bay Area where you feel new housing is
most needed right now. You may click up to three locations on the map. If you do not think housing should
be built anywhere in the Bay Area, just click the arrow at the bottom to continue.

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Building New Housing

Two-thirds support policies to allow housing development in transit and commercial
areas, but most do not support higher density building in their neighborhoods.
Total Agree
I support policies that make it
easier to build new housing in
transit and commercial areas.

68%

I support the building of new

housing in my neighborhood.

I support the building of new

higher density housing in my
neighborhood.

Total Disagree

21%

56%

37%

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

39%

55%

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Housing Development in My Neighborhood

Support for building of new housing in residents neighborhoods remains just over 50%.
I support the building of new housing in my neighborhood.

Total Agree
2014

2015

2016

56%

54%

56%

Total Disagree
38%

38%

39%

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

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Housing Development by County

A majority of residents throughout the Bay Area support building new housing in their
neighborhood.
I support the building of new housing in my neighborhood.

Total Agree
Overall

Alameda (21%)
Contra Costa (14%)

56%

61%

52%

North Bay Region (18%)

57%

San Francisco (12%)

57%

San Mateo (10%)

Santa Clara (25%)

51%
54%

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Total Disagree
39%

34%

44%
39%

36%
39%
42%

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Housing Development by Age and Income

Millennials are most supportive of building new housing in their neighborhood, while
older residents are most resistant.
I support the building of new housing in my neighborhood.

Total Agree
Overall

56%

Millennial 18-33 (29%)

Mature 65+ (15%)

39%

64%

Gen X 34-49 (32%)

Baby Boom 50-64 (24%)

Total Disagree

30%

60%
49%
44%

35%
47%
54%

<$75K (35%)

58%

36%

$75K-$125K (29%)

60%

36%

$125K (25%)

56%

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

41%

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Housing Near Transit and Commercial Areas by County

Contra Costa County residents are particularly supportive of building housing near transit
and commercial areas.
I support policies that make it easier to build new housing in
transit and commercial areas.
Total Agree

Total Disagree

Overall

68%

21%

Alameda (21%)

67%

22%

Contra Costa (14%)

71%

North Bay Region (18%)

67%

San Francisco (12%)

65%

18%
25%
19%

San Mateo (10%)

68%

18%

Santa Clara (25%)

69%

20%

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

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Housing Near Transit and Commercial Areas by Age and Income

Older residents and higher income residents support policies that make it easier to build
housing near transit hubs.
I support policies that make it easier to build new housing in
transit and commercial areas.
Total Agree
Overall

Millennial 18-33 (29%)

68%
64%

Total Disagree
21%
21%

Gen X 34-49 (32%)

69%

21%

Baby Boom 50-64 (24%)

69%

22%

Mature 65+ (15%)

<$75K (35%)

71%
63%

$75K-$125K (29%)

72%

$125K (25%)

73%

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

19%
23%
18%
20%

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Support For In-Law Units by County

A majority supports allowing in-law units on private residential property, especially those
living in the North Bay Region.
Changing the permitting process to make it easier to build
in-law units on privately-owned residential property
Total Support
Total Oppose
Overall

65%

21%

Alameda (21%)

63%

24%

Contra Costa (14%)

63%

24%

North Bay Region (18%)

San Francisco (12%)

76%
61%

15%
22%

San Mateo (10%)

64%

23%

Santa Clara (25%)

63%

22%

Please indicate the extent to which you support or oppose each of

the following:

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Support For In-Law Units by Age and Income

Older residents and those with higher annual incomes are more supportive of making it
easier to build in-law units.
Changing the permitting process to make it easier to build
in-law units on privately-owned residential property
Total Support
Total Oppose
Overall
Millennial 18-33 (29%)

65%
62%

21%
19%

Gen X 34-49 (32%)

66%

22%

Baby Boom 50-64 (24%)

67%

23%

Mature 65+ (15%)

<$75K (35%)

69%
61%

22%
20%

$75K-$125K (29%)

69%

20%

$125K+ (25%)

70%

22%

Please indicate the extent to which you support or oppose each of

the following:

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Percent of Income Spent on Housing by HH Income

Those who make the most spend the lowest percent of income on housing.
Spend 20% or less on housing
Overall

HH Income <$50k
(20%)
$50k-$100k (32%)

$100k-$150k+ (21%)

$150k+ (16%)

28%

25-35%

45-55%

32%

13%

27%

24%

19%

26%

48%

Don't know
9%

18%

36%
37%

60%+

24%
33%

9%
19%

36%

Approximately what percentage of your household income do you spend on

housing?

7%
9% 1%

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Percent of Income Spent on Housing by Homeowners/ Age

Renters spend more of their incomes on housing.
Spend 20% or less on housing
Overall

28%

Homeowner <50
(25%)

26%

Homeowner 50+
(30%)

32%

15%

Renter 50+ (9%)

14%

19%

37%
48%

Renter <50 (36%)

25-35%

18%
27%

33%
27%

9%

23%
34%

Approximately what percentage of your household income do you spend on

housing?

6%
10% 3%

14%
12%

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Contacts

Ruth Bernstein
ruth@EMCresearch.com
510.550.8922

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