Home Matters

A new study by Robert D. Dietz from the Washington-based Homeownership Alliance, a coalition of organizations that includes Habitat for Humanity, has found that homeowners are happier, healthier, and participate more in their communities than renters. The story corroborates a 2001 Harvard Joint Center for Housing Policy report, which found that children of homeowners (versus renters) scored 9 percent higher on math tests, 7 percent higher on reading tests, and had reduced behavioral problems.