Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
Arkansas Value:
Percentage of occupied housing units with at least one of the following problems: lack of complete kitchen facilities, lack of plumbing facilities, overcrowding or severely cost-burdened occupants (5-year estimate)
Arkansas Rank:
Additional Measures:
Explore Population Data:
Percentage of occupied housing units with at least one of the following problems: lack of complete kitchen facilities, lack of plumbing facilities, overcrowding or severely cost-burdened occupants (5-year estimate)
<= 12.7%
12.8% - 13.3%
13.4% - 15.2%
15.3% - 17.2%
>= 17.3%
US Value: 16.7%
Top State(s): West Virginia: 11.0%
Bottom State(s): California, Hawaii: 25.7%
Definition: Percentage of occupied housing units with at least one of the following problems: lack of complete kitchen facilities, lack of plumbing facilities, overcrowding or severely cost-burdened occupants (5-year estimate)
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, 2016-2020
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
Housing influences health and well-being. Those lacking at least one basic household necessity (bathtub/shower, sink with faucet, stove or refrigerator) have higher rates of being uninsured. Poor quality of housing can cause disease and injury and affect childhood development, while other housing-related factors such as neighborhood environment and overcrowding can lead to mental and physical health problems.
Housing issues that can impact health include, but are not limited to:
While anyone may live in a home with conditions that threaten health, those with a greater risk of experiencing housing-related health conditions include:
Evidence supports various interventions to prevent and minimize the impact of housing problems on health. Healthy Homes programs at state and local levels have been found to improve health by remedying unhealthy housing conditions, such as lead hazards, inadequate ventilation and excess moisture.
Increasing affordable housing options through local and national housing development policies, rental vouchers and subsidized housing programs can help cost-burdened individuals afford housing. More collaboration between the housing and health sectors is needed to promote healthy home environments and to better integrate health care into public housing systems, particularly for those with chronic health needs. The National Low Income Housing Coalition offers additional resources and policy recommendations related to housing challenges.
Healthy People 2030 has multiple goals related to housing, including:
Braveman, Paula, Mercedes Dekker, Susan Egerter, Tabashir Sadegh-Nobari, and Craig Pollack. “Housing and Health.” Issue Brief #7: Exploring the Social Determinants of Health. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America, May 2011. https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2011/05/housing-and-health.html.
Donald, Ian P. “Housing and Health Care for Older People.” Age and Ageing 38, no. 4 (July 1, 2009): 364–67. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afp060.
Gibson, Marcia, Mark Petticrew, Clare Bambra, Amanda J. Sowden, Kath E. Wright, and Margaret Whitehead. “Housing and Health Inequalities: A Synthesis of Systematic Reviews of Interventions Aimed at Different Pathways Linking Housing and Health.” Health & Place 17, no. 1 (January 2011): 175–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.09.011.
Pollack, Craig, Susan Egerter, Tabashir Sadegh-Nobari, Mercedes Dekker, and Paula Braveman. “Where We Live Matters for Our Health: The Links Between Housing and Health.” Issue Brief 2: Housing and Health. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America, September 2008. http://www.commissiononhealth.org/PDF/e6244e9e-f630-4285-9ad7-16016dd7e493/Issue Brief 2 Sept 08 - Housing and Health.pdf.
Pollack, Craig Evan, Beth Ann Griffin, and Julia Lynch. “Housing Affordability and Health Among Homeowners and Renters.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 39, no. 6 (December 2010): 515–21.
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0749379710004551.
Sandel, Megan, and Matthew Desmond. “Investing in Housing for Health Improves Both Mission and Margin.” JAMA 318, no. 23 (December 19, 2017): 2291–92. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.15771.
Swope, Carolyn B., and Diana Hernández. “Housing as a Determinant of Health Equity: A Conceptual Model.” Social Science & Medicine 243 (December 2019): 112571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112571.
“The State of the Nation’s Housing 2022.” Cambridge, MA: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, 2022. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_State_Nations_Housing_2022.pdf.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.