The vast majority of people who live in Nashville say they can’t afford to buy a house in the city, according to a new poll from Vanderbilt University.
Why it matters: Affordability remains a deep concern across the city, the poll shows, and residents want to see leaders do more to ease the cost of housing.
By the numbers: 82% of poll respondents said they couldn’t afford to buy a house in Davidson County.
- A growing share of Nashvillians are pushing for progress on the issue, with 73% saying Mayor Freddie O’Connell should make affordable housing a priority. That issue was second only to education.
Yes, but: Residents have backed away from past support for multifamily housing complexes that would boost density and create new options for buyers. The issue has become a political hot potato as local leaders look for ways to address affordability.
- A slim majority of 53% say multifamily housing should only be allowed in dense areas, not in smaller neighborhoods. In last year’s poll, most residents thought multifamily housing should be allowed everywhere.
What they’re saying: Speaking to reporters on Friday, O’Connell said his office was working to build out the city’s affordable housing through the Unified Housing Strategy, which calls for a massive surge in supply.
- O’Connell’s last budget included $45 million for housing priorities.
State of play: In fiscal year 2025, city funding supported the construction of more than 106,000 affordable housing units, according to Metro housing data. That is a high-water mark since the city started tracking that number in 2016…