Low-rise residential areas with a high concentration of non-apartment housing tend to disproportionately accommodate socially and economically vulnerable populations. This is due to lower real estate liquidity and relatively limited standards and policy support for facilities compared with apartment complexes. Objective assessments of these areas are particularly challenging because of small parcel sizes, complex ownership structures, and the prevalence of informal space use. Traditional indicators such as housing age, demographic composition, and infrastructure quality alone cannot adequately capture residents’ perceived quality of life or explain regional disparities. Furthermore, given the diversity of residents - including youth, newlyweds, and single-person households - a single evaluative standard is insufficient to fully understand housing issues and changes in quality of life.

To address these limitations, this study developed a Residential Area Livability Index (RaLI) to objectively and quantitatively assess the characteristics and living conditions of low-rise residential areas. Additionally, a Youth Residential Area Livability Index (Y-RaLI) was designed to reflect the residential characteristics and needs of youth households. These indices aim to assess the current conditions of non-apartment residential areas with high youth populations and provide fundamental data for the development of tailored housing policies.