The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze the differences in stated housing preferences and norms among farm, rural-nonfarm, and small-town households with some assurance that the differences, if any, are not produced by systematic measurement error. The theoretical basis of the research is the housing adjustment model (Morris and Winter, 1978) but the specific form of the analysis is different because the purpose is focused on measurement. The housing adjustment model is based on the idea that norms and preferences influence housing behavior and thereby housing conditions. The measurement-error model, in contrast, is based on the idea that apparent differences among groups in housing preferences and norms may be produced by correctable systematic reporting error;The data used in this analysis were gathered in personal interviews by the Iowa State University Statistical Laboratory during 1985. A multi-stage stratified area sampling procedure was utilized, and 506 usable interviews were collected;The analysis involves evaluating three sets of models using logit analysis: (1) one equation with current tenure and structure conditions as the dependent variable, (2) two equations with tenure and with tenure and structure norms as the dependent variable. The models are nested within these sets, which permits statistical comparison of the models in a set. The independent variables in the models are age of the household head, education of the household head, type of household, total household income, background of the household head, residential typology, and size of the household;Age of the household head and type of household have statistically significant effects in the model with housing conditions as the dependent variable. Current housing conditions have the greatest effect of all variables when housing preference is the dependent variable, type of household and residential typology are also statistically significant. Housing preferences has the greatest effect, and age is also statistically significant in the models with housing norms as the dependent variable.