Homes in Gayborhoods Cost More than the City’s Average, Study Finds

A new report from Zillow finds that living in a “gayborhood” can cost homeowners several times more than buying a house elsewhere in the city.

The real estate company compared the prices of homes in neighborhoods with high rates of same-sex households – data obtained from the American Community Survey – and the average price of houses across the city.

Zillow looked at 20 neighborhoods and found that 10 cities’ gayborhoods cost more than double the average cost in the city – these neighborhoods were found in New York, Philadelphia, Houston, Detroit, Riverside, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Indianapolis.

In some cities, the difference was staggeringly higher than just double. In the Riverside metro area, homes found in the gayborhood of West Palm Springs cost 233 percent more – $369,200 compared to $1,229,500. The Riverside neighborhood in Cleveland’s premium is even higher: 293.9 percent.

Zillow Director of Economic Research Skylar Olsen warned that these high prices in areas that are supposed to be inclusive and accepting are negatively affecting marginalized and intersectional communities – especially those kicked out of the area because of gentrification.

“While these neighborhoods still foster a sense of community and social acceptance, living within them often comes at a premium many may not be able to afford,” Olsen said. “This has a disproportionate effect on intersection LGBTQ people – not just gay, but a person of color, transgender, a woman – those who are disadvantaged when it comes to earning potential.”

Of the 20 cities, only five broke the trend, with gayborhood prices being lower than the average: San Antonio, Kansas City, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Virginia Beach.