Immigrant Residency and Happiness in New York City

• Activity Number: 28 - SPEED: Data Challenge Part 1
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, July 28, 2019 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Government Statistics Section
• Author(s): Alison Tuiyott* and Thomas J Fisher and Karsten Maurer
• Companies: Miami University of Ohio and Miami University and Miami University
• Keywords: Data Expo; Happiness Score; Immigrant Residency; New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey; Quality of Life

Abstract

We explore the quality of life of immigrants in New York City through housing and neighborhood conditions by creating a happiness metric to measure a households' quality of life. Utilizing data provided by: the New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS), the New York City Police Department, the New York City Department of Education, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, along with reports from Happy City and the New Economics Foundation (HCNEF), a happiness score was assigned to each sub-borough in New York City. This happiness score evaluated five main domains: work, place, community, education, and health. As a result of this analysis, we discovered higher happiness scores were associated with lower percentages of immigrant households.