Abstract: The subject of this research is the housing stratification in cities of the region. Relevance of this topic is substantiated primarily by the social consequence that emerge as a result of housing differentiation. Due to the fact that housing ranks among the vital needs, its quality directly correlates with the quality of life, level of development of the region, and desire to either stay of migrate from the specific locality. Within the framework of this article, the author presents the results of empirical sociological study of housing inequality conducted in the three cities of Kirov Region: Kirov, Kirovo-Chepetsk and Vyatskiye Polyany. Methodology is based on consideration of the expert opinions of realtors, statistical data and representations of population on their housing status. The comparative analysis of housing quality in microdistricts of the three cities. Particular attention is given to self-reflection of the respondents with regards to assessment of their housing facilities.  The article provides classification and “portraits” of microdistricts of the cities in accordance with the actual (objective) indicators of housing quality and subjective (estimated) and situational indicators of housing relations. On the basis of classification, the author makes the charting of microdistricts of the cities under consideration by the indicators of housing inequality. The analysis of public opinion illustrated that certain central microdistricts of the cities of Kirov Region significantly yield in housing characteristics to the suburban microdistricts, due to the fact that the central city zone is mostly presented by housing development of the Soviet era deteriorating due to the lack of funding for full repair or reconstruction. The author determines the differences in objective indicators of housing quality and subjective assessments of the residents depending on microdistricts of the cities, which testify to the phenomenon of “housing patriotism” in poor microdistricts.

Abstract:  
The object of this work is the phenomenon of housing stratification in modern cities. Considering that the majority of Russian cities have a fairly long history, the housing differentiation within and between the city districts becomes evident. The article substantiated the stratifying function of housing space, which is yet insufficiently studied in the sociological field. The author examines the methodology of sociological research of inequality in housing sphere in the works of Russian and foreign sociologists. The criteria and empirical indicators for assessing housing stratification are analyzed. The article also provides the results of empirical research of the parameters of housing inequality through the method of structured semi-formalized observation in the three cities of Kirov Oblast: regional center Kirov, and two administrative centers – Kirovo-Chepetsk and Vyatskiye Polyany. A number of objective and subjective estimates of the quality of housing accessible to observation is determined. The conducted comparative analysis allows revealing the strong and weak sides of the housing complexes of various cities. It is demonstrated that at the microlevel of the building, occasionally one can observe the polarization between building entrances depending on the civic engagement and responsibility of the residents. At the mesolevel, within the residential neighborhood, housing stratification depends mostly on the year built, because the parameters of quality and state of the building directly correlate with its age, despite the capital repair.