Spatial equity in public rental housing based on commuting accessibility

Public rental housing (PRH) differs from general housing in its policy objectives and resident composition, as low-income households in PRH face financial constraints that limit their ability to afford high rents. In this context, this study assesses the spatial equity of PRH by comparing the commuting accessibility of PRH residents to that of general housing residents. Specifically, it investigates the following research questions: 1) Is there a significant difference in commute distance between PRH and general housing residents? 2) Is this difference attributable to income level? 3) Is there spatial autocorrelation between the density of households and workplaces by income group? The key findings are as follows: 1) The average straight-line commute distance for PRH residents was significantly longer than that for general housing residents. (2) PRH residents—except those in the lowest income group (income class 1)—had significantly longer commutes than their general housing counterparts. 3) The bivariate Global Moran’s I analysis indicated that PRH exhibited little to no spatial autocorrelation across all income classes, whereas general housing displayed relatively strong spatial clustering. Additionally, the bivariate LISA cluster map analysis revealed that PRH residents experienced a spatial separation between their residences and workplaces, whereas general housing residents exhibited a more balanced job-housing distribution. These findings indicate that PRH residents face inequitable commuting accessibility caused by a persistent job-housing imbalance • This study compares commuting accessibility between PRH residents and general housing residents. • PRH residents travel longer distances to work, and income level alone does not explain this commute gap. • Spatial analysis shows PRH sites lack clustering, unlike general housing areas which show strong spatial patterns. • Budget-based site selection and limited public input are key factors in poor accessibility for PRH residents. • Further studies should include transit and spatial factors and cover the entire Seoul Metropolitan Area.