Understanding demand for agriculturally integrated neighborhoods:

Characteristics, health behaviors, and design preferences among prospective homebuyers

Abstract

Agrihoods are residential communities intentionally designed around agriculture and green space to foster connections with food, nature, and neigh­bors. Despite their growing popularity, little is known about who is drawn to these developments or the amenities they value. This study examined the characteristics, health behaviors, and housing priorities of prospective agrihood homebuyers. From March to July 2024, adults interested in pur­chasing a home in a Fort Bend County, Texas, agri­hood (N = 128) completed an online survey dis­tributed through the developer’s marketing channels. Measures included sociodemographics, health behaviors (time spent in nature, amount of sleep, physical activity, fruit and vegetable con­sumption), housing priorities, and willingness to pay more or extend commutes for specific ameni­ties. Respond­ents were predominantly female, racially and ethnically diverse, middle-income, and highly edu­cated. Although many respondents reported health behaviors below national recom­mendations, they expressed interest in health-promoting amenities. Affordability, school quality, and proximity to im­portant places and people emerged as key housing priorities, while most respondents indicated they would be willing to pay more or extend their com­mutes to gain access to opportunities for physical activity, nature, fresh produce, social spaces, and agricultural features. These findings suggest that agrihoods may not only attract individuals already engaged in healthy life­styles but also those who view these environments as potential catalysts for positive behavior change. As such, agrihoods may represent a promising setting for embedding pre­ventive health promotion into residential develop­ment. Longitudinal research is needed to determine whether relocation to an agrihood translates into measurable improvements in health outcomes.