Draft housing needs assessment finds income inequality and rental cost pressure in Wellington; short‑term code changes planned

Town planning staff and consultants on Feb. 11 presented a draft Housing Needs and Affordability Assessment that identified a sharp split between high median household income and elevated poverty, a homeowner‑heavy housing stock, and substantial rental cost burdens for lower‑income households.

Planning Director Cody Byrd introduced Christian, project manager and senior research analyst from Matrix Design Group, and Lainey Corey, senior planner at Matrix. Christian said the American Community Survey (2018–2022) shows Wellington’s median household income at about $101,000 and a 7.4% poverty rate, a mix that he described as evidence of substantial income inequality. He reported an 84% homeownership rate and most of Wellington’s housing as single‑family detached units; the median home was noted as built in 2007.

Matrix’s market review used more…