Spatial Distribution of the Immigrant Population in two Medium-Sized Cities: Alcalá de Henares and León and its Relationship to Housing Prices

Abstract

The number of immigrants in Spain is similar to the European countries with the longest tradition of immigration, this event has occurred in a very short time. The present crisis has slowed the increase in the number of immigrants. This fact has not occurred identically in all cities, nor in every neighbourhood within them. We will exemplify this in two very different medium cities, León and Alcalá de Henares. We will observe where and why in those cities there is a particular concentration of immigrants. We use census data of 2001 and 2009. We will also use the second hand housing prices from around 4000 real estate advertisements analysed for the same dates. Therefore we will contribute to scientific debate on foreign immigration in the cities and its relation with housing prices.