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Educational achievement gains afforded by moving to single-family rentals

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  • Mayock, Tom
  • Vosters, Kelly

Abstract

Changes in the supply and location of single-family rental homes have increased opportunities for renters’ children to attend high-performing public schools. In this paper, we use a unique database of linked administrative and housing records to show that when renter households take advantage of these new housing opportunities and move to neighborhoods zoned for better schools, their children realize significant gains in academic achievement. Importantly, we find that such gains are not limited to the children of high-income renters; rather, our results are even stronger when our analysis is limited to the population of economically disadvantaged children.

Suggested Citation

  • Mayock, Tom & Vosters, Kelly, 2026. "Educational achievement gains afforded by moving to single-family rentals," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhouse:v:71:y:2026:i:c:s1051137726000045
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhe.2026.102123
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy

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