Understanding demand for agriculturally integrated neighborhoods: Characteristics, health behaviors, and design preferences among prospective homebuyers

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 chan nels. 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.