Quality of Life Project - Metadata

Population

Field Name: population

Short Field Name: p1

Description

Total population in each area.

Importance

Total population is a baseline measure that indicates the number of people living in a Neighborhood Profile area. It is used to calculate density and other per capita data. Trends in population show were the community is growing and where it is decreasing, which can help government officials and other service providers know where infrastructure and other services may be needed.

Source

U.S. Census, 2010

2010 U.S. Census

Median Age of Residents

Field Name: median_age

Short Field Name: p2

Description

Median age of residents in each area.

Importance

The age of residents in a neighborhood provides an indication of its character, including the resources and the services it may need. A younger population could need help with educational and employment resources and access to recreational facilities.

Source

American Community Survey, 2006-2010. The data is a five year sample for the years 2006 to 2010.

American Community Survey

Race - White or Caucasian

Field Name: white

Short Field Name: p8

Description

Percentage of residents in each area self-identified as white or Caucasian.

Importance

Information on race is required for many Federal programs and is critical in making policy decisions, particularly for civil rights. Race data also are used to promote equal employment opportunities and to assess racial disparities in health and environmental risks.

Source

U.S. Census, 2010

2010 U.S. Census

Race - Black or African American

Field Name: black

Short Field Name: p9

Description

Percentage of residents in each area self-identified as black or African American.

Importance

Information on race is required for many Federal programs and is critical in making policy decisions, particularly for civil rights. Race data also are used to promote equal employment opportunities and to assess racial disparities in health and environmental risks.

Source

U.S. Census, 2010

2010 U.S. Census

Race - Asian

Field Name: asian

Short Field Name: p10

Description

Percentage of residents in each area self-identified as Asian.

Importance

Information on race is required for many Federal programs and is critical in making policy decisions, particularly for civil rights. Race data also are used to promote equal employment opportunities and to assess racial disparities in health and environmental risks.

Source

U.S. Census, 2010

2010 U.S. Census

Retirement Age Population

Field Name: retirement_age_population

Short Field Name: p11

Description

Percentage of residents in each area age 65 and older.

Importance

The age of residents in a neighborhood provides an indication of its character, including the resources and the services it may need. A neighborhood with aging residents could need services or housing to help residents age in place.

Source

U.S. Census, 2010

2010 U.S. Census

Youth Population

Field Name: youth_population

Short Field Name: p12

Description

Percentage of residents in each area age 19 and under.

Importance

The age of residents in a neighborhood provides an indication of its character, including the resources and the services it may need. A younger population could need help with educational and employment resources and access to recreational facilities.

Source

U.S. Census, 2010

Technical Notes

Population living in group quarters divided by the total population.

U.S. Census

Race - Hispanic/Latino

Field Name: hispanic

Short Field Name: p13

Description

Percentage of residents in each area self-identified as Hispanic.

Importance

Information on race is required for many Federal programs and is critical in making policy decisions, particularly for civil rights. Race data also are used to promote equal employment opportunities and to assess racial disparities in health and environmental risks.

Source

U.S. Census, 2010

2010 U.S. Census

Median Household Income

Field Name: medianhouseholdincome

Short Field Name: m1

Description

Median Household income of each area.

Importance

The median household income provides an indication of how well people are doing financially in a neighborhood. Lower wage earners may have higher percentages of their income devoted to consumption and less for saving, making them less resilient in economic downturns. Higher wage earners may have more of their income available for consumption and more savings that can enable them to be resilient in economic downturns. Total disposable income is a function of both of consumption and population. Service providers and retailers look at income levels to help them locate their services.

Source

American Community Survey, 2006 to 2010. The data is a five year sample for the years 2006 to 2010.

Technical Notes

The median household income for each neighborhood profile area. The amount is inflation adjusted for 2010.

Goodwill
North Carolina Employment Security Commission
Self Help
Urban League of Central Carolinas
American Community Survey
United Way

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Field Name: welfare

Short Field Name: m4

Description

Percentage of residents receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Importance

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. Identifying communities with high SSI percentages is useful for service providers and neighborhoods who want to know where families in distress may be located.

Technical Notes

U.S. Census, 2010.

Applying for Food and Nutrition Services
Free or low cost clinics

Violent Crime Rate

Field Name: violent_crime

Short Field Name: s1

Description

The percentage of total violent crime incidences reported in an area.

Importance

Perhaps the most important indicator of community safety is the violent crime rate. This data shows where high rates of violent crime exist, so that neighborhoods and public safety officials can maximize resources. By having access to additional resources, residents and police can develop strategies to target specific crimes.

Source

City of Greenville Police Department, calendar year 2013.

Technical Notes

The total number of violent crimes in each NPA were divided by the total for the city. Violent crimes are defined by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and include Murder, Rape, and Aggravated Assault.

City of Greenville Police Department

Property Crime Rate

Field Name: property_crime

Short Field Name: s2

Description

The percentage of total property crime incidences reported in an area.

Importance

Property crime impacts resident safety. This data helps public safety officials and residents develop strategies to target specific crimes.

Source

City of Greenville Police Department, calendar year 2013.

Technical Notes

The total number of property crimes in each NPA were divided by the population for each NPA. The rate was converted to number of crimes per 100,000. Property crimes are defined by the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and include Burglary, Larceny, and Motor Vehicle Theft.

City of Greenville Police Department

Drug Violation Rate

Field Name: drug_violations

Short Field Name: s3

Description

The percentage of total drug violation incidences reported in an area.

Importance

Illicit drug presence impacts resident safety. This data helps public safety officials and residents develop strategies to target specific crimes.

Source

City of Greenville Police Department, calendar year 2013

Technical Notes

The total number of drug crimes in each NPA were divided by the total for the city.

City of Greenville Police Department

Year Single-Family Housing Constructed

Field Name: year_built

Short Field Name: g3

Description

Average year built of residential housing for each area.

Importance

Categorizing the average year of construction for single-family housing provides an indication of the condition of a neighborhood’s housing stock. Typically, older houses need some level of repair, renovation, or maintenance. Comparing the average year of construction with other variables such as housing code violations provides an indication of areas in need of home improvement resources.

Source

2010 Decennial Census

Technical Notes

The year of construction for each single-family detached housing in each Neighborhood Profile Area (NPA) is summed and dived by the number of housing units in the NPA. N/A includes NPAs with zero residential buildings.

City of Greenville Housing

Rental Percentage

Field Name: rental_units

Short Field Name: g11

Description

Percentage of rental dwellings for each area.

Importance

Rental housing is a desirable option for many residents, particularly in the current economic climate. Increasing numbers of rented properties should be analyzed with other data such as the age and condition of the homes, design, or house size, adjacent land uses, and area incomes. A major factor to consider with rented homes is the level of management by the owners which impacts adjacent properties positively or negatively as much as owner-occupied dwellings.

Source

2010 Decennial Census

Technical Notes

The number of single-family (detached) rental housing summed for each Neighborhood Profile Area (NPA) and divided by the NPA total number of single-family (detached housing).

COG Code Enforcement Division

Median Rent

Field Name: rent

Short Field Name: g13

Description

Median rent of all housing units for an area.

Importance

Quantifying housing affordability by median rental cost provides an indication of the overall value of residential property, amenities in the surrounding area or types of adjacent land uses among other related variables. Neighborhoods with rental cost below area averages do not always indicate a lower quality of living. Other factors to consider in lower rents are the average size of housing units, location, housing design, and supply of housing in the area.

Source

2010 Decennial Census

Technical Notes

The median gross rent of all housing units for each Neighborhood Profile Area (NPA). Gross rent is the contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, and water and sewer) and fuels (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.) if these are paid by the renter (or paid for the renter by someone else).N/A includes only NPAs with less than 50 rental units in the sample. Rent cost is inflation adjusted to 2010.

Greenville Housing Authority
COG Housing Division
American Community Survey

Housing Code Violations

Field Name: code_violations

Short Field Name: g14

Description

Number of all housing code violations for each area.

Importance

Greenville’s housing code regulations are used to ensure residents are not affected by substandard residential buildings. Structures that do not meet minimum housing code must achieve compliance through the housing code process. A high number of violations may indicate targeted areas for improvement or the presence of older buildings in need of rehabilitation.

Source

City of Greenville Code Enforcement Division, calendar year 2013.

Technical Notes

Shown as an average compared to total number of dwellings in the NPA.

COG Code Enforcement Division
COG Housing Division
COG Inspections Division

Neighborhood Nuisance Violations

Field Name: nuisance_violations

Short Field Name: g15

Description

Number of documented nuisances for each area.

Importance

The City of Greenville requires property owners to maintain their premises in a safe and sanitary condition. Violations include graffiti, high weeds/grass, accumulation of trash or abandoned structures. Tracking the types of calls assists neighborhood residents identify repeated problems and develop a strategy to identify solutions. Sudden increases in nuisance calls for service may also show signs of improvement in a community through focused enforcement efforts.

Source

City of Greenville Code Enforcement Division, calendar year 2013.

Technical Notes

Shown as number of violations in the NPA.

COG Code Enforcement

Owner-Occupied Housing

Field Name: owner_occupied

Short Field Name: g17

Description

Percent of housing units that are owner-occupied.

Importance

Beyond the individual economic benefits to homeowners, higher rates of homeownership are valued by community leaders and local government leaders for the positive impacts on neighborhoods, including social-family, crime, and economic improvements.

Source

2010 Decennial Census

Technical Notes

The number of owner-occupied units divided by the the total number of occupied units.