Kent County has made modest progress in addressing its housing shortage, but still faces significant gaps for middle-income households, according to a new study from Housing Next.
The county’s population is expected to increase by 14% over the next 25 years, putting additional pressure on an already tight housing market.
“What we haven’t done very well over the last 20 years is build starter homes for middle-income families,” said Ryan Kilpatrick, lead consultant for Housing Next.
Since 2022, Kent County has added more than 6,000 housing units, which has slightly reduced the overall housing gap. However, Kilpatrick emphasized the need for specific types of development.
“What we really need are places that have infrastructure to allow smaller homes on smaller lots, and to allow two units or four units that are connected to each other, that can be sold or rented in the community,” he said…