Quantifying the Sustainability, Livability, and Equity Performance of Urban and Suburban Places in California (original) (raw)

For years, researchers and practitioners have worked toward measuring urban form, but a gap still remains in the research to quantify how urban and suburban place-types affect economic, social, and environmental outcomes at small geographic scales. To provide such analysis, this paper describes the development of a place typology and sustainability performance measurement framework for all census tracts in California. This study found there were clear trade-offs between urban and suburban living. Compared with suburbs, the households in urban places benefited from a 57.9% reduction in annual vehicle miles traveled, 37.2% lower transport-related greenhouse gas emissions per capita, and saved more than US$2,675 in annual transportation costs, while consuming less electricity (39.9%) and water per capita (63.8%). However, the cost of urban homeownership was 40% higher, despite rents being 18.5% cheaper. And although obesity and cardiovascular disease rates were 10.3% and 8.9% lower in ...