What are the challenges in housing for families with children? Survey of 300 respondents

Top anxiety for families with children is "stairs, steps, and falls" at 44.3% (133 people) – Most helpful aspect is "proximity to stations and supermarkets" at 45.7% (137 people). Approximately 40% wish they could choose a different home.

AZWAY Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Representative Director: Azumi Iguchi) conducted an awareness survey regarding anxieties, difficulties, important factors, and aspects that were actually helpful when choosing a home for families with children.

Nearly half of respondents (48.7%, 146 people) felt that they "struggled" when searching for a home with children. The most common difficulty was "stairs, steps, and falls" at 44.3% (133 people), indicating a strong awareness of safety concerns.

On the other hand, "convenience such as proximity to stations and supermarkets" ranked first among helpful aspects at 45.7% (137 people), revealing a tendency for homes to be evaluated on both "safety" and "living convenience" during the child-rearing period.

Furthermore, when asked "Would you choose the same house again?", "I want to live in the same house with some ingenuity and improvements" (39.3%, 118 people) and "I want to choose a different house" (38.0%, 114 people) were almost equal, indicating that many people feel there is room for improvement in their homes.

Survey Overview Survey Theme: Questionnaire on Child-rearing Target Audience: Individuals with child-rearing experience, aged teens to 60s and above. Survey Period: January 17, 2026 - January 19, 2026 Survey Method: Internet survey Number of Respondents: 300

* For questions with multiple answers, the total may not be 100%.

Respondent Demographics Age: Teens 2.0% (6 people), 20s 21.3% (64 people), 30s 39.0% (117 people), 40s 25.0% (75 people), 50s 9.3% (28 people), 60s and above 3.3% (10 people),

Child-rearing Status: Currently raising children 74.0% (222 people), Have child-rearing experience (not currently) 26.0% (78 people)

Current Residence Type: Rental (Apartment/Condo) 37.7% (113 people), Owned (Detached House) 35.0% (105 people), Owned (Condominium) 16.0% (48 people), Living with parents 10.7% (32 people), Living with in-laws (1 person), Other (1 person)

Survey Results Summary ・48.7% (146 people) struggled with finding a home while raising children. ・Top anxiety/difficulty: "Stairs, steps, and falls" at 44.3%. ・Top priority in home selection: "Convenience of location (commute, school, etc.)" at 21.7% (65 people). ・Regarding choosing the current home again: "I want to live in it with improvements" (39.3%, 118 people) and "I want to choose a different home" (38.0%, 114 people) were almost equal. ・Top helpful aspect: "Convenience such as proximity to stations and supermarkets" at 45.7% (137 people). ・Top advice: "It's better to prioritize location" at 46.0% (138 people).

Both "safety concerns" and "evaluation of living convenience" ranked high, indicating that satisfaction with housing during the child-rearing period is influenced not only by location but also by indoor/outdoor safety design and stress reduction in daily routines.

[Result 1] Approximately Half Struggled with Home Search

When asked about the difficulty of finding a home while raising children, the total of "somewhat felt" and "strongly felt" was 48.7% (146 people), meaning about half experienced the burden.

1st Place: Did not feel much difficulty 39.3% (118 people) 2nd Place: Somewhat felt difficulty 37.0% (111 people) 3rd Place: Did not feel difficulty at all 12.0% (36 people) 4th Place: Strongly felt difficulty 11.7% (35 people)

This shows that many people feel burdened by information gathering, organizing conditions, and site inspections when choosing a home during the child-rearing phase. On the other hand, a similar number felt little difficulty, which may be influenced by family support situations and clear prioritization.

[Result 2] Top Anxiety/Difficulty: "Stairs, Steps, and Falls"

When asked about anxieties and difficulties related to housing for families with children (multiple choice), respondents selected an average of 4.2 items per person, with the following results:

1st Place: Stairs, steps, and falls 44.3% (133 people) 2nd Place: Lack of storage 41.7% (125 people) 3rd Place: Insufficient rooms/space 38.0% (114 people) 4th Place: Noise/neighbor disputes 33.3% (100 people) 5th Place: Layout not suitable for child-rearing 30.7% (92 people) 6th Place: Convenience of nursery/school access 26.7% (80 people) 7th Place: No/inconvenient stroller/bicycle parking 23.3% (70 people) 8th Place: Insufficient/inconvenient laundry drying space 21.7% (65 people) 9th Place: Kitchen usability 21.0% (63 people) 10th Place: Security concerns 19.0% (57 people) 11th Place: Difficulty receiving support due to distant parents 18.7% (56 people) 12th Place: Distant/difficult-to-use parking 18.0% (54 people) 13th Place: Dampness, mold, condensation 17.0% (51 people) 14th Place: Distant pediatrician/hospital 15.7% (47 people) 15th Place: Insulation/cold and heat issues 15.0% (45 people) 16th Place: Risk of falling from balconies/windows, etc. 10.3% (31 people) 17th Place: Limited local childcare environment (parks, support facilities, etc.) 10.0% (30 people) 18th Place: No/inconvenient elevator 8.7% (26 people) 19th Place: Inconvenient garbage disposal 8.3% (25 people) 20th Place: Other 1.7% (5 people) 21st Place: None in particular 1.0% (3 people)

The top items relate directly to daily safety, tidiness, and living stress, such as "stairs/steps," "storage," "space," and "noise." Designs that reduce accidents and stress in daily life are prioritized over luxurious facilities.

Among "Other" responses, though few, were comments like "inconvenient parking," "small garden," and "narrow and dangerous road in front." Complaints that are difficult to categorize in multiple-choice options include "site conditions" and "surrounding safety," suggesting that a checklist during property viewings could be useful.

[Result 3] Priority in Home Selection: "Location Convenience"

Respondents were asked about the most important factors when choosing a home for child-rearing.

1st Place: Convenience of location (commute, school, etc.) 21.7% (65 people) 2nd Place: Ease of child-rearing (environment, facilities, etc.) 17.0% (51 people) 3rd Place: Already lived here, so didn't specifically choose 15.7% (47 people) 4th Place: Cost (rent, purchase price, etc.) 15.3% (46 people) 5th Place: Ease of layout 12.3% (37 people) 6th Place: Distance from parents or reliable support 9.0% (27 people) 7th Place: Safety and security 7.0% (21 people) 8th Place: Other 2.0% (6 people)

While location convenience was the most frequent answer, "ease of child-rearing," "cost," and "layout" followed closely. This suggests that many people make decisions by balancing multiple factors rather than focusing on a single condition.

Additionally, a significant number indicated "already lived here," meaning many start or continue child-rearing without moving.

"Other" responses included "kitchen workflow," "earthquake resistance and ground stability," "disaster risk (hazard maps)," and "child's commute distance." Clarifying priorities during the condition-sorting phase seems to be a key to reducing future regrets.

[Result 4] Regarding Choosing the Current Home Again: "Want to Improve" and "Want a Different Home" are Nearly Equal

Respondents were asked if they would choose their current home again.

1st Place: I would want to live in the same house with some ingenuity and improvements 39.3% (118 people) 2nd Place: I would want to choose a different house 38.0% (114 people) 3rd Place: I would choose/want to choose a house with almost the same conditions again 22.7% (68 people)

"Want to improve" and "want to choose a different house" were almost equal.

This suggests that rather than a polarization of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, many people are making realistic evaluations like "this part is good, but this part needs fixing."

Specifically identifying points that can be improved, such as adding storage, fall prevention measures, or noise reduction, could serve as a basis for deciding whether to move.

[Result 5] Most Helpful Aspect: "Proximity to Stations and Supermarkets"

When asked about helpful aspects of their homes during child-rearing (multiple choice), respondents selected an average of 2.6 items per person.

1st Place: Convenience such as proximity to stations and supermarkets 45.7% (137 people) 2nd Place: Peace of mind with nearby nursery schools and schools 43.0% (129 people) 3rd Place: Received support from nearby parents 34.0% (102 people) 4th Place: Spacious rooms allowed children to relax and play 28.7% (86 people) 5th Place: Ample storage made tidying up easy 24.0% (72 people) 6th Place: Layout was child-rearing friendly (e.g., able to supervise) 22.0% (66 people) 7th Place: Easy-to-use kitchen 20.7% (62 people) 8th Place: Good kitchen-to-living area workflow reduced burden 19.7% (59 people) 9th Place: High soundproofing allowed for less worry 14.7% (44 people) 10th Place: High safety of balconies/windows, etc. 8.0% (24 people) 11th Place: Other 1.3% (4 people) 12th Place: None in particular 0.7% (2 people)

"Convenience" and "proximity to nursery schools/schools" ranked high, showing that reduced travel burden during child-rearing directly translates to a more relaxed life.

Also, "storage," "supervisable layout," and "kitchen workflow" ranked high, indicating that small differences in interior design significantly impact daily satisfaction.

"Other" responses included comments about the surrounding environment and community, such as "nearby parks and support centers," "snow removal service," and "a community understanding of child-rearing."

It appears that not only the conditions within the dwelling but also the child-friendliness of the neighborhood influence satisfaction. [Result 6] Advice for Future Parents: Prioritize Location

Respondents were asked for advice for people who will be raising children in the future (multiple choice). Respondents selected an average of 2.4 items per person.

1st Place: It's better to prioritize location 46.0% (138 people) 2nd Place: Child-rearing...