UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

COMMERCE

NEWS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EDT, April 25, 2002

Linda B. Cavanaugh CB02-50

(301)457-3199

CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND

HOMEOWNERSHIP

National vacancy rates in the first quarter 2002 were 9.1 percent in rental housing and 1.7 percent in

homeowner housing, the Department of Commerce=s Census Bureau announced today. The Census Bureau said that

both the rental and homeowner vacancy rates increased from the corresponding rates last year. While the homeowner

vacancy rate decreased since last quarter, the rental vacancy rate did not change significantly during the same time

period.

Table 1. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates for the United States: 1984 to 2002 (in percent)

Rental vacancy rate Homeowner vacancy rate

Year

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter

↓ ↓

2002....

2001....

2000.....

1999.....

1998.....

1997.....

1996.....

1995.....

1994.....

1993r....

 1993.....

1992.....

1991.....

1990.....

1989r....

1989.....

1988.....

1987.....

1986.....

1985.....

1984.....

 9.1

8.2

7.9

8.2

7.7

7.5

7.9

7.4

7.5

7.8

7.9

7.4

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.3

8.0

7.4

6.9

6.3

5.6

 8.3

8.0

8.1

8.0

7.9

7.8

7.7

7.4

7.6

7.6

7.7

7.3

7.0

7.4

7.3

7.7

7.5

7.3

6.2

5.5

 8.4

8.2

8.2

8.2

7.9

8.0

7.7

7.2

7.0

7.1

7.3

7.6

7.2

7.6

7.3

7.8

8.1

7.5

6.8

6.0

8.8

7.8

7.9

7.8

7.7

7.7

7.7

7.4

6.9

6.9

7.1

7.3

7.2

7.1

6.8

7.3

7.8

7.7

6.7

6.3

 1.7

 1.5

 1.6

1.8

1.7

1.7

1.6

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.5

1.8

1.6

 1.8

 1.5

1.6

1.7

1.6

1.5

1.6

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.6

1.8

1.7

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.7

1.7

1.9

1.7

 1.9

 1.6

1.6

1.7

1.5

1.7

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.6

1.8

1.7

1.9

1.8

1.6

1.7

1.6

1.8

1.7

 1.8

 1.6

1.6

1.8

1.7

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.7

rRevised.

 BUREAU OF

 THE

 CENSUS
For rental housing, the vacancy rates outside metropolitan areas (MAs), 10.0 percent, and in central cities, 9.5

percent, were higher than the rate in the suburbs, 8.4 percent, which was also the lowest rate. The 10.0 percent and the

9.5 percent figures were not significantly different from each other. The rental vacancy rates in central cities, 9.5 percent

and in the suburbs, 8.4 percent, were higher than the respective rates last year, while the rate outside MAs did not change

significantly.

The homeowner vacancy rate was lowest in the suburbs, 1.4 percent. Only the homeowner vacancy rate in

the suburbs was higher than last year, while rates in other areas did not change significantly.

Among regions, the rental vacancy rate was highest in the South, 11.9 percent, and lowest in the Northeast,

5.8 percent. The Midwest, 10.3 percent, and the West, 7.0 percent, were higher than the corresponding rates last

year, while other regions were not significantly different.

The Northeast, 1.2 percent, had the lowest homeowner vacancy rate. The homeowner vacancy rate in the

Midwest, 1.8 percent, was higher than last year, while rates in other regions did not change significantly during the

same time period.

Table 2. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates by Area:

 First Quarter 2002 and 2001 (in percent)

Rental vacancy rates Homeowner vacancy rates

Area First

Quarter

2002

First

Quarter

2001

Standard

error on

2002

rate

Standard

error on

difference

First

Quarter

2002

First

Quarter

2001

Standard

error on

2002

rate

Standard

error on

difference

United States.......

 InsideMAs.........

 In central cities

 Not in central

 cities (suburbs)

 Outside MAs.....

 Northeast...........

 Midwest.............

 South.................

 West..................

9.1

9.0

9.5

8.4

10.0

5.8

 10.3

 11.9

7.0

8.2

7.8

8.3

7.3

10.2

5.1

8.9

 11.3

5.8

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.5

0.3

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.7

0.5

0.6

0.5

0.4

1.7

1.6

2.0

1.4

1.9

1.2

1.8

1.9

1.5

1.5

1.4

1.9

1.2

2.2

1.2

1.5

1.9

1.3

(z)

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.2

(z) Less than 0.05.
3

 There were an estimated 122.9 million housing units in the United States in the first quarter 2002.

Approximately 108.1 million housing units were occupied; 73.3 million by owners and 34.8 million by renters. While

the number of owner-occupied units increased, the number of renter-occupied units did not change significantly since

last year. Of the 14.8 million vacant housing units, 11.3 million were for year-round use. Approximately 3.5 million of

the year-round vacant units were for rent, 1.3 million were for sale only, and the remaining 6.5 million units were

vacant for a variety of reasons.

 Table 3. Estimates of the Total Housing Inventory for the United States:

 First Quarter 2002 and 2001

 (Estimates are in thousands and may not add to total, due to rounding)

 Type

First

 Quarter

2002

First

 Quarter

2001

Standard

error on

2002

Estimate

Standard

error on

difference

Percent of

total

(2002)

All housing units............

 Occupied......................

 Owner........................

 Renter........................

 Vacant..........................

 Year-round.................

 For rent...................

 For sale only............

 Other.......................

 Seasonal.....................

122,885

108,120

73,327

34,793

14,765

11,259

3,539

1,253

6,467

 3,506

121,148

106,794

72,131

34,663

14,354

10,813

3,135

 1,141

6,537

3,541

214

226

228

184

128

113

65

39

87

64

315

332

334

269

186

164

92

55

128

95

100

88

60

28

12

9

3

1

5

3
4

The first quarter 2002 homeownership rate, 67.8 percent, was not significantly different from

the rate of 67.5 percent last year or from 68.0 percent last quarter.

Table 4. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980 to 2002

 (in percent)

 Year

Homeownership Rates1

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter

↓

2002................................

2001................................

2000..........................................

1999..........................................

1998..........................................

1997..........................................

1996..........................................

1995..........................................

1994..........................................

1993r.........................................

1993..........................................

1992..........................................

1991..........................................

1990..........................................

1989r.........................................

1989.........................................

1988.........................................

1987.........................................

1986.........................................

1985.........................................

1984.........................................

1983.........................................

1982.........................................

1981.........................................

1980.........................................

67.8

67.5

67.1

66.7

65.9

65.4

65.1

64.2

63.8

63.7

64.2

64.0

63.9

64.0

63.9

63.9

63.7

63.8

63.6

64.1

64.6

64.7

64.8

65.6

65.5

67.7

67.2

66.6

66.0

 65.7

65.4

64.7

63.8

63.9

64.4

63.9

63.9

63.7

63.8

63.9

63.7

63.8

63.8

64.1

64.6

64.7

64.9

65.3

65.5

68.1

67.7

67.0

66.8

66.0

65.6

65.0

64.1

64.2

64.7

64.3

64.2

64.0

64.1

64.0

64.0

64.2

63.8

63.9

64.6

64.8

64.9

65.6

65.8

68.0

67.5

66.9

66.4

65.7

65.4

65.1

64.2

64.2

64.6

64.4

64.2

64.1

63.8

63.8

63.8

64.1

63.9

63.5

64.1

64.4

64.5

65.2

65.5

1

Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates for the United States generally are 0.2 percent.

rRevised.
5

Table 4SA shows the seasonally adjusted homeownership rates for the United States from 1980 to the present.

(Research has shown that seasonality for homeownership rates is present.) The seasonally adjusted homeownership rate,

67.9 percent, for the first quarter 2002, was not significantly different from the corresponding rates for last quarter or last

year.

Table 4SA. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980 to 2002

 Seasonally Adjusted (in percent)

 Year

Homeownership Rates2 (Seasonally Adjusted)

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter

2002................................

2001................................

2000..........................................

1999..........................................

1998..........................................

1997..........................................

1996..........................................

1995..........................................

1994..........................................

1993r.........................................

1993..........................................

1992..........................................

1991..........................................

1990..........................................

1989r.........................................

1989.........................................

1988.........................................

1987.........................................

1986.........................................

1985.........................................

1984.........................................

1983.........................................

1982.........................................

1981.........................................

1980.........................................

67.9

67.6

 67.2

66.8

66.0

65.5

65.2

64.4

64.0

63.8

(NA)

64.1

64.0

64.1

64.0

(NA)

63.8

63.9

63.7

64.1

64.6

64.7

64.8

65.6

65.5

67.8

67.3

66.7

66.1

65.8

65.4

64.8

63.9

64.0

(NA)

64.0

64.1

63.9

63.9

(NA)

63.8

63.9

63.8

64.1

64.6

64.7

64.9

65.4

65.6

67.9

67.5

66.8

66.6

65.8

65.4

64.8

63.9

64.0

(NA)

64.1

64.0

63.8

63.9

(NA)

63.9

64.1

63.7

63.8

64.5

64.6

64.7

65.4

65.6

68.0

67.5

r

66.9

66.5

65.7

65.4

65.1

64.1

64.1

(NA)

64.3

 64.1

64.0

63.7

(NA)

63.8

64.1

63.9

63.6

64.2

64.5

64.6

65.3

65.6

2

Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates for the United States generally are 0.2 percent.

(NA) Not Applicable, only the revised series for 1989 and 1993 were used in calculating the seasonality adjustment.

rRevised.
6

During the first quarter 2002, the homeownership rate was highest in the Midwest, 73.1 percent, and lowest in the

West, 62.2 percent. None of the homeownership rates by region changed significantly from the respective rates last year

or last quarter.

Table 5. Homeownership Rates for the United States and Regions:

 1998 to 2002 (in percent)

Homeownership Rates3

 Year/Quarter

United States Northeast Midwest South West

2002

First Quarter.............

2001

Fourth Quarter...........

Third Quarter............

Second Quarter..........

First Quarter.............

2000

Fourth Quarter..............

Third Quarter................

Second Quarter.............

First Quarter.................

1999

Fourth Quarter..............

Third Quarter................

Second Quarter.............

First Quarter..................

67.8

68.0

68.1

67.7

67.5

67.5

67.7

67.2

67.1

66.9

67.0

66.6

66.7

63.9

64.0

64.1

63.2

63.6

63.2

63.9

63.4

63.3

63.2

63.6

62.8

62.7

73.1

73.5

72.9

72.7

73.2

73.1

72.9

72.2

72.2

72.5

72.1

71.2

71.2

69.9

70.1

70.1

69.7

69.3

69.8

69.7

69.2

69.5

69.1

69.3

68.9

69.2

62.2

62.3

63.1

62.9

62.0

61.6

62.2

61.9

61.3

60.6

60.8

61.3

61.0

1998

Fourth Quarter..............

Third Quarter................

Second Quarter.............

First Quarter..................

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

62.0

63.4

62.7

62.4

71.5

71.7

70.3

70.6

69.0

68.8

68.4

68.2

60.4

61.1

60.3

60.1

 3Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by region generally are 0.5 percent.
7

The homeownership rates by age of householder ranged from 80.9 percent for the 65 years and over,

to 41.0 percent for the under 35 years age group for the first quarter 2002. None of the homeownership

rates for first quarter 2002 by age of householder changed significantly from the corresponding rates last year.

Table 6. Homeownership Rates by Age of Householder: 1998 to 2002 (in percent)

 Year/Quarter

Homeownership Rates4

United

States

Under

35 years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

2002

First Quarter.......

2001

Fourth Quarter.....

Third Quarter......

Second Quarter....

First Quarter.......

2000

Fourth Quarter......

Third Quarter........

Second Quarter.....

First Quarter.........

1999

Fourth Quarter......

Third Quarter........

Second Quarter.....

First Quarter.........

1998

Fourth Quarter.....

Third Quarter.......

Second Quarter....

First Quarter.........

 67.8

68.0

 68.1

 67.7

 67.5

 67.5

67.7

67.2

67.1

66.9

67.0

66.6

66.7

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

 41.0

42.2

 41.6

 40.8

 40.4

41.2

41.1

40.2

40.5

40.3

40.1

39.1

39.4

39.6

39.5

39.3

39.0

 68.6

 68.2

 68.6

 68.1

 68.1

 68.3

68.4

67.5

67.3

67.9

67.4

66.5

67.0

67.6

67.8

66.2

65.9

 76.0

76.2

 77.1

 77.2

 76.5

76.4

76.8

76.7

76.0

75.2

76.3

76.4

76.2

74.9

76.3

75.5

75.9

 80.8

 81.4

 81.6

 81.5

 80.8

80.2

80.1

80.3

80.8

81.3

80.7

80.8

81.1

81.7

81.1

80.4

80.3

 80.9

80.7

 80.3

 79.7

 80.7

80.4

80.7

80.3

80.1

79.6

80.8

80.4

79.8

79.2

79.7

79.2

79.1

4

Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by age of householder generally are 0.4 percent.
8

The rates for racial and ethnic homeownership for the first quarter 2002 ranged from 74.3 percent for White nonHispanic householders to 47.6 percent for Hispanic householders. The rate for Hispanic householders, 47.6 percent, was

higher than 46.1 percent shown in the first quarter 2001. The rates for other racial categories remained statistically

unchanged from their respective rates a year ago.

Table 7. Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity of Householder: 1998 to 2002 (in percent)

 Year/Quarter

Homeownership Rates5

U.S. Total White,

 total

 White,

 NonHispanic

 Black,

 total

 Other

Race, total

Hispanic6,

 total

2002

First Quarter.........

2001

Fourth Quarter......

Third Quarter.......

Second Quarter......

First Quarter.........

2000

Fourth Quarter.......

Third Quarter.........

Second Quarter......

First Quarter...........

1999

Fourth Quarter.......

Third Quarter.........

Second Quarter......

First Quarter..........

1998

Fourth Quarter.......

Third Quarter.........

Second Quarter......

First Quarter..........

 67.8

68.0

 68.1

 67.7

 67.5

 67.5

 67.7

 67.2

 67.1

 66.9

 67.0

 66.6

 66.7

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

 71.6

71.8

 71.9

 71.3

 71.3

 71.2

 71.5

 70.9

 70.7

 70.5

 70.7

 70.4

 70.3

 70.1

70.4

69.7

69.6

 74.3

74.4

74.6

74.1

74.0

73.9

74.3

73.7

73.4

73.3

73.5

73.2

72.8

72.6

73.1

72.5

72.1

 48.0

48.1

 47.5

 47.9

 47.5

47.8

46.8

46.7

47.4

46.8

46.6

45.3

46.3

45.9

46.6

44.7

45.2

53.7

53.2

54.4

55.2

53.9

52.4

53.9

54.4

53.6

54.3

54.5

53.2

52.8

52.7

53.6

53.5

52.3

 47.6

48.8

 48.1

 46.1

 46.1

 47.5

 46.7

 45.4

 45.7

 45.5

 45.5

 44.9

 46.2

45.7

44.9

43.9

44.4

5

Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by race and ethnicity of householder generally are 0.2 percent for White

and White non-Hispanic householders, 0.5 percent for Black householders, 1.0 percent for Other Race householders, and 0.7

percent for Hispanic householders.

6Hispanics may be of any race.
9

The homeownership rate for households with incomes greater than or equal to the median family income did not

change significantly since last year. The rate for households with incomes less than the median family income increased

from 51.6 percent to 52.3 percent, during the same time period.

Table 8. Homeownership Rates by Family Income: 1998 to 2002 (in percent)

Homeownership Rates7

 Year/Quarter United States

Households with family

income greater than or

equal to the median family

income8

Households with family

income less than the

median family income

2002

First Quarter............

2001

Fourth Quarter.........

Third Quarter...........

Second Quarter.........

First Quarter............

2000

Fourth Quarter.............

Third Quarter...............

Second Quarter............

First Quarter................

1999

Fourth Quarter.............

Third Quarter...............

Second Quarter............

First Quarter................

1998

Fourth Quarter.............

Third Quarter...............

Second Quarter............

First Quarter.................

 67.8

 68.0

 68.1

 67.7

 67.5

 67.5

67.7

67.2

67.1

 66.9

67.0

66.6

66.7

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

82.1

82.2

82.2

82.0

81.7

81.6

81.7

81.8

81.4

81.6

81.7

81.5

81.1

80.7

81.6

80.7

80.7

52.3

53.0

52.6

51.7

51.6

51.8

52.2

50.8

51.4

51.2

51.4

50.8

51.2

51.1

51.1

50.0

50.2

7

Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by family income generally are 0.3 percent.

8Based on families or primary individuals reporting income.
10

Note: This press release along with more detailed data are available on the Internet. Our Internet address is:

www.census.gov/hhes/www/hvs.html

The estimates in this release are based on a sample survey and therefore are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. Sampling error is a result of not surveying the entire population. Non-sampling error occurs because

accurate information cannot always be obtained. The standard errors provided in the tables are primarily measures of

sampling error.

Standard errors are used to: 1) measure the accuracy of the survey estimates, and 2) draw inferences from the

survey data. For example, the standard error on the estimated rental vacancy rate of 9.1 percent is 0.2 percentage points.

Consequently, the 90-percent confidence interval as shown by these data is from 8.8 percent to 9.4 percent; i.e., the

interval 9.1 + (1.6 x 0.2) percentage points. Thus, one can say with about 90-percent confidence that the average rental

vacancy rate derived from all possible samples is included in this confidence interval. Statements about differences are

made only when the 90-percent confidence interval on the estimated difference does not include zero.