Many Americans have guns at home. Electronic forms of control (sensors) are also used. Often in wealthy areas, mobile communications are jammed, which can prevent criminals from communicating with each other. Wealthy citizens can afford to install a special button to call the police or hire a security guard.
Until recently, cities were mainly inhabited by low-income or childless families, young professionals, pensioners, workers and the unemployed, students, as well as those who want to live in the city on principle.
However, at the beginning of the 21st century, the trend began to change. City apartments became popular again, and their prices began to rapidly creep up. The new generation of Americans no longer wants to live in quiet, peaceful suburbs, preferring the urban rhythm of life, wanting to visit small shops, use public transport, go to museums and exhibitions.
More than 66% of Americans own their own home, about 34% rent it. In the case of renting, all costs for maintenance and repair of the home are borne by the owner. Americans can live in a rented house for decades. Most often, apartments with one or two bedrooms are rented, less often – studios, that is, apartments with one room. In most cases, when renting a home, there will already be furniture and a refrigerator, inherited from the previous owners. And yet, for most Americans, renting is a temporary phenomenon rather than a natural one. Intending to live in an area for many years, an American is more likely to buy housing on credit. Basic requests regarding rental housing include the presence of a school, parking, policies for service personnel or a landlord. The contract even stipulates the possibility of decorating the exterior facades of the house.
As of 2009, 650 thousand people in the United States were considered homeless, 5 million lived in mobile homes, over 85 thousand – in caravans and yachts.
About 57% of houses in the United States use gas, over 30% – only electricity. Today, many Americans prefer to install solar panels on the roof.