A U.S. study found that homeownership was associated with a 0.36-year increase in life expectancy for Black American men born in the early 20th century, compared to 0.42 years for their white male counterparts.
Dr. Casey Breen, a senior postdoctoral research fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and the Department of Sociology at the University of Oxford, conducted the study, which was published today in Demography.
According to the study, expanding homeownership opportunities for ethnic minorities could help mitigate profound disparities in mortality in the U.S. The study also highlights significant differences in homeownership rates throughout the 20th century, with white Americans owning homes at nearly twice the rate of Black Americans. Due to systemic historical issues such as slavery and racism, Black Americans had far fewer opportunities to own a home by 1940: less than 10% owned a home between the ages of 18 and 25, and only 40% owned a home over the age of 65.
Using data from the 1920 and 1940 census records, linked to Social Security death records, and a sibling-based identification strategy, the study was able to analyze the differential outcomes in life expectancy for adult American men who owned a home between the ages of 24 and 35.
Although homeownership, as opposed to renting, can help build wealth and is associated with better health and longer life, the study found that home value has a very small impact on life expectancy. The study also discusses other reasons for this increase in life expectancy for homeowners, including a stronger social community, the psychological benefits of homeownership, and better living conditions.
https://read.dukeupress.edu/demography/advance-publication
