Abstract:
This study employs a mixed-method research design to examine how housing financial stress impacts community well-being with a focus on rural areas in the U.S. We combine descriptive and statistical analyses with key informant interviews and multiple measures of community well-being. Two key findings emerge: housing financial stress is more common in urban areas and among renters, and its impact on community well-being varies across the urban-rural spectrum and by well-being measure. These nuances highlight the need for caution when generalizing about housing financial stress and its effects on the larger community.