UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 

COMMERCE 

NEWS 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230 

Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EST, April 22, 2004 

Linda B. Cavanaugh CB04-58 

(301) 763-3199 

CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND 

HOMEOWNERSHIP

National vacancy rates in the first quarter 2004 were 10.4 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 while the rental vacancy rate was higher than the rate last year (9.4 percent), it was not different from 

last quarter’s rate (10.2 percent). For homeowner vacancies, the current rate (1.7 percent) is not different 

from the rate last quarter (1.8 percent), or the rate a year ago (1.7 percent). 

Table 1. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates for the United States: 1990 to 2004 (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 

↓ ↓ 

 2004.... 

 2003.... 

 2002a .. 

 2002.... 

2001.... 

2000..... 

1999..... 

1998..... 

1997..... 

1996..... 

1995..... 

1994..... 

1993a

.... 

 1993.....

1992..... 

1991..... 

1990..... 

 10.4 

 9.4 

9.1 

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 

9.6 

8.4 

8.5 

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 

9.9 

9.0 

9.1 

 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 

 

 10.2 

9.3 

9.4 

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 

1.7 

1.7 

1.7 

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 

1.7 

1.7 

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 

 

 1.9 

1.7 

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 

 

 1.8 

1.7 

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 

 aRevised in 2002 to incorporate information collected in Census 2000, and in 1993 to reflect the results of the 1990 decennial census. 

 NOTE: The estimates in this report are based on responses from a sample of the population. As with all surveys, estimates may vary from the 

 actual values because of sampling variation or other factors. All comparisons made in this report have undergone statistical testing and 

 are significant at the 90-percent confidence level unless otherwise noted. The data in this report are from the monthly samples of the 

 Housing Vacancy Survey, which is a supplement to the Current Population Survey. The populations represented (the population 

 universe) are all housing units (vacancy rates) and the civilian noninstitutional population of the United States (homeownership rate). 

 

 

 

 BUREAU OF 

 THE 

 CENSUS 
 For rental housing, the suburbs (9.7 percent) had the lowest vacancy rate, while rates outside metropolitan 

areas (MAs) (11.0 percent) and in central cities (10.8 percent) were not different from each other. The rental 

vacancy rate in central cities was higher than last year’s rate, while current rates in the suburbs and outside MAs 

were not different from their previous corresponding rates. 

 Similarly, the homeowner vacancy rate was also lowest in the suburbs (1.4 percent) while rates outside 

MAs (1.9 percent) and in central cities (2.1 percent) were not different from each other. The homeowner 

vacancy rate in central cities was higher than the rate for first quarter 2003, while rates for outside MAs and in 

the suburbs were not different from their respective rates a year ago. 

Among regions, the rate for rental vacancies was higher in the South, 12.7 percent, than in the 

Northeast, 7.9 percent, or the West, 7.6 percent, (although the latter two were not different from each other) 

and was not different from the Midwest, 12.3 percent. In the Northeast and Midwest, the respective rates 

were higher than a year ago, while those in the South and West were statistically unchanged during the period. 

The regional homeowner vacancy rates were lowest in the Northeast (0.9 percent) and West 

(1.3 percent). The Midwest (2.1 percent) and the South (2.0 percent) were not different from each other. 

When compared to first quarter 2003, the current homeowner vacancy rates were /higher in the Midwest, 

lower in the West and not statistically changed in the Northeast and South. 

Table 2. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates by Area and Region: 

 First Quarter 2003 and 2004 (in percent) 

Rental vacancy rates Homeowner vacancy rates 

Area /Region First 

Quarter 

2003 

First 

Quarter 

2004

Standard 

error on 

2004 

rate 

Standard 

error on 

difference 

First 

Quarter 

2003 

First 

Quarter 

2004 

Standard

error on 

2004 

rate 

Standard

error on 

difference 

 

United States....... 

 Inside MAs......... 

 In central cities.. 

 Not in central 

 cities (suburbs).. 

 Outside MAs..... 

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

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

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

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

9.4 

9.3 

9.4 

9.2 

10.1 

6.0 

 10.2 

 12.4 

7.3 

10.4 

10.3 

10.8 

9.7 

11.0 

7.9 

12.3 

 12.7 

7.6 

0.2 

0.2 

0.3 

0.3 

0.5 

0.4 

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 

1.8 

1.5 

1.9 

1.1 

1.7 

2.0 

1.6 

1.7 

1.6 

2.1 

1.4 

1.9 

0.9 

2.1 

2.0 

1.3 

0.1 

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 

0.1 

0.1 

0.1 

0.1 

 2 
3

 

There were an estimated 121.6 million housing units in the United States in the first quarter 2004. 

Approximately 105.9 million housing units were occupied: 72.7 million by owners and 33.2 million by 

renters. The number of owner-occupied units increased and the number of renter-occupied units decreased 

from their first quarter 2003 estimates, respectively. Of the 15.8 million vacant housing units, 12.1 million 

were for year-round use. Approximately 3.9 million of the year-round vacant units were for rent, 1.3 million 

were for sale only, and the remaining 6.9 million units were vacant for a variety of other reasons. 

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

 First Quarter 2003 and 2004 

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

 Type 

First 

 Quarter 

2003 

First

 Quarter

2004

Standard

error on

2004

Estimate

Standard 

error on 

difference 

Percent of

total 

(2004)

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

120,249 

105,407 

71,645 

33,762 

14,842 

11,319 

3,553 

1,242 

6,524 

3,523 

121,633

105,870

72,666

33,204

15,763

12,067

3,904

1,273

6,890

 3,696

216

228

228

181

132

117

68

39

89

66

306 

322 

322 

256 

184 

162 

94 

55 

125 

92 

100

87

60

27

13

10

3

1

6

3

 NOTE: The Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey (CPS/HVS) estimates are now controlled to independent housing 

 unit counts. This should make the CPS/HVS estimates of housing units more comparable to other Census Bureau housing 

 surveys. Please see page 10 for additional information.
4

The homeownership rate (68.6 percent) for the current quarter was higher than the first 

quarter 2003 rate (68.0 percent), however it was not different from the rate last quarter (68.6 percent). 

Table 4. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980 to 2004 (in percent) 

 

 Year Homeownership Ratesa

 

First 

Quarter 

Second 

Quarter 

Third 

Quarter 

Fourth 

Quarter 

 ↓ 

2004................................ 

2003................................ 

2002b............................... 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1993b......................................... 

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

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

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

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

1989c......................................... 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

68.6 

68.0 

67.8 

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 

 

68.0 

67.6 

67.6 

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 

68.4 

68.0 

68.0 

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 

68.6 

68.3 

68.3 

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 a

Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates for the United States generally are 0.2 percent. bRevised in 2002 to incorporate information collected in Census 2000, and in 1993 to reflect the results of the 1990 decennial census. 

 c

Revised to reflect edit changes implemented in 1990. 
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.) When adjusted for 

seasonality, the current homeownership rate at 68.6 percent is higher than 68.0 percent shown a year ago and not 

different from the rate last quarter, 68.5 percent. 

Table 4SA. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980 to 2004

 Seasonally Adjusted (in percent) 

 Year 

Homeownership Ratesa

 (Seasonally Adjusted) 

 First 

Quarter 

Second 

Quarter 

Third 

Quarter 

Fourth 

Quarter 

↓ 

2004................................. 

2003................................ 

2002b

................................ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1993b......................................... 

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

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

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

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

1989c......................................... 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

68.6 

68.0d 

67.8d

(NA) 

67.5d

 67.1d

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 

 

68.2 

67.8 

(NA) 

67.9 

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 

68.3 

67.9d

(NA) 

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 

68.5 

68.2 

(NA) 

68.0d

67.5 

66.9 

66.4 

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

 bRevised in 2002 to incorporate information collected in Census 2000, and in 1993 to reflect the results of the 1990 decennial census. 

 c

Revised to reflect edit changes implemented in 1990. 

 d

Revised as a result of seasonality computation for this quarter. 

 (NA) Not Applicable; only the revised series for 1989, 1993, and 2002 were used in calculating the seasonality adjustment.
6

During the first quarter 2004, the homeownership rate by region was highest in the Midwest 

(73.5 percent), while the South (70.3 percent) ranked second, the Northeast (65.1 percent) was third and the 

West (63.7 percent) had the lowest rate. The Northeast and West increased from a year ago, while the other 

regions did not change during the same period. 

 Table 5. Homeownership Rates for the United States and Regions: 2000 to 2004 (in percent) 

 Homeownership Ratesa

 Year/Quarter 

United 

States Northeast Midwest South West 

2004 

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

2003 

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

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

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

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

2002b

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

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

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

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

2002 

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

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

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

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

2001 

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

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

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

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

2000 

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

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

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

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

68.6 

68.6 

68.4 

68.0 

68.0 

68.3 

68.0 

67.6 

67.8 

68.3 

68.0 

67.6 

67.8 

68.0 

68.1 

67.7 

67.5 

 67.5 

67.7 

67.2 

67.1 

65.1 

64.7 

64.4 

64.2 

64.2 

64.8 

64.6 

63.8 

63.8 

64.9 

64.7 

63.9 

63.9 

64.0 

64.1 

63.2 

63.6 

 63.2 

63.9 

63.4 

63.3 

73.5 

73.5 

73.5 

72.8 

72.9 

73.3 

73.2 

72.8 

73.2 

73.3 

73.2 

72.8 

73.1 

73.5 

72.9 

72.7 

73.2 

 73.1 

72.9 

72.2 

72.2 

70.3 

70.5 

70.0 

69.9 

69.9 

70.3 

69.5 

69.3 

69.8 

70.3 

69.5 

69.3 

69.9 

70.1 

70.1 

69.7 

69.3 

 69.8 

69.7 

69.2 

69.5 

63.7 

63.8 

63.8 

63.2 

62.8 

62.5 

62.7 

62.4 

62.1 

62.6 

62.8 

62.4 

62.2 

62.3 

63.1 

62.9 

62.0 

 61.6 

62.2 

61.9 

61.3 

 a

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

 b

Revised to incorporate information collected in Census 2000. 

 
7

For first quarter 2004, the homeownership rates by age of householder ranged from 42.3 percent for those 

under 35 years of age to 81.7 percent for those aged 55 to 64. The homeownership rate increased for those 

aged 35 to 44 (68.8 percent) from the first quarter 2003, while the rates for other age categories did not change 

from a year ago. 

Table 6. Homeownership Rates by Age of Householder: 2000 to 2004 (in percent) 

 Year/Quarter Homeownership Ratesa

 

United 

States 

Under 

35 years 

35 to 44 

years 

45 to 54 

years 

55 to 64 

years 

65 years 

and over 

2004 

First Quarter........ 

2003 

Fourth Quarter..... 

Third Quarter...... 

Second Quarter.... 

First Quarter........ 

2002b

Fourth Quarter..... 

Third Quarter...... 

Second Quarter.... 

First Quarter....... 

2002 

Fourth Quarter..... 

Third Quarter...... 

Second Quarter.... 

First Quarter....... 

2001 

Fourth Quarter..... 

Third Quarter...... 

Second Quarter.... 

First Quarter....... 

2000 

Fourth Quarter...... 

Third Quarter........ 

Second Quarter..... 

First Quarter......... 

68.6 

68.6 

68.4 

68.0 

68.0 

 

68.3 

68.0 

67.6 

67.8 

68.3 

68.0 

 67.6 

 67.8 

 68.0 

 68.1 

 67.7 

 67.5 

 

 67.5 

67.7 

67.2 

67.1 

42.3 

42.7 

42.5 

41.9 

41.7 

 

42.0 

41.5 

40.8 

41.0 

42.0 

41.4 

40.8 

 41.0 

 42.2 

 41.6 

 40.8 

 40.4 

41.2 

41.1 

40.2 

40.5 

68.8 

69.0 

68.8 

67.8 

67.8 

69.0 

68.6 

68.2 

68.6 

69.0 

68.6 

68.3 

68.6 

68.2 

68.6 

68.1 

68.1 

68.3 

68.4 

67.5 

67.3 

77.0 

77.2 

76.5 

76.3 

76.5 

 

76.4 

76.4 

76.3 

76.0 

76.4 

76.4 

 76.3 

 76.0 

 76.2 

 77.1 

 77.2 

 76.5 

76.4 

76.8 

76.7 

76.0 

81.7 

81.3 

81.1 

81.6 

81.4 

81.5 

81.3 

80.8 

80.9 

81.5 

81.3 

80.7 

80.8 

81.4 

81.6 

81.5 

80.8 

80.2 

80.1 

80.3 

80.8 

80.7 

80.8 

80.7 

80.2 

80.2 

 

80.8 

80.4 

80.1 

80.9 

80.8 

80.4 

 80.1 

 80.9 

 80.7 

 80.3 

 79.7 

 80.7 

80.4 

80.7 

80.3 

80.1 

 aStandard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by age of householder generally are 0.4 percent 

 bRevised to incorporate information collected in Census 2000. 
8

The first quarter 2004 homeownership rates for the race categories shown below were all higher than their 

corresponding rates a year ago. The homeownership rate for Hispanic or Latino householders, who can be of any 

race, was 47.3 percent, which is not different from the rate last year. 

Table 7. Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity of Householder: 2002 to 2004 (in percent) 

Year/Quarter Homeownership Ratesa

 U.S. NonHispanic 

White alone 

Black 

Aloneb

 

All 

Other 

Racesc

Hispanic 

or 

Latino 

(of any race) 

68.6 

68.6 

68.4 

68.0 

68.0 

 

75.5 

75.5 

75.7 

75.2 

75.0 

49.3 

49.4 

48.0 

47.3 

47.7 

58.2 

56.6*

56.2*

55.3*

55.7 

47.3 

47.7 

46.1 

46.2 

46.7 

NonHispanic 

White 

Black Other Races 

 

2004 

First Quarter......... 

2003 

Fourth Quarter...... 

Third Quarter....... 

Second Quarter..... 

First Quarter........ 

2002d 

Fourth Quarter...... 

Third Quarter....... 

Second Quarter..... 

First Quarter......... 

2002 

Fourth Quarter...... 

Third Quarter....... 

Second Quarter..... 

First Quarter......... 

68.3 

68.0 

67.6 

67.8 

68.3 

68.0 

67.6 

67.8 

75.0 

74.9 

74.5 

74.6 

74.8 

74.6 

74.2 

74.3 

47.7 

47.3 

46.5 

48.2 

47.5 

47.1 

46.3 

48.0 

55.2 

54.0 

55.3 

53.5 

55.4 

54.1 

55.4 

53.7 

48.3 

47.1 

46.1 

46.4 

49.5 

48.3 

47.2 

47.6 

 *Revised 4/22/04. aStandard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by race and ethnicity of householder generally are 0.2 percent for non-Hispanic White (single 

race) householders, 0.5 percent for Black (single race) householders, 1.0 percent for All other race householders, and 0.6 percent for Hispanic 

householders. 

 bThe homeownership rate for first quarter 2004 for householders who reported the single race of Black or Black in a combination of races was 

49.1 percent, compared with a rate of 49.3 percent for those who reported Black as a single race. cAsian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native (only one race reported) and Two or More Races. dRevised to incorporate information collected in Census 2000. 

 NOTE: Beginning in 2003, the question on race on the CPS was modified to comply with the revised standards for federal statistical agencies. 

 Respondents may now select more than one race, but small sample sizes preclude showing all race categories. The question on Hispanic or 

 Latino origin is asked separately, and is asked before the question on race. For further information on each major race group and the Two 

 or More Races populations, see reports from the Census 2000 Brief series (C2KBR/01), available on the Census 2000 Web site at 

 http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs.htm
9

For first quarter 2004, the homeownership rate for households with family incomes greater than or 

equal to the median family income (83.8 percent) was higher than the rate reported last year. But for those with 

incomes less than the median (51.5 percent) there was no difference from a year ago. 

Table 8. Homeownership Rates by Family Income: 2000 to 2004 (in percent) 

Homeownership Ratesa

 Year/Quarter United States 

Households with family 

income greater than or 

equal to the median 

family incomeb

Households with family 

income less than the 

median family income 

2004 

First 

Quarter............... 

2003 

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

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

Second Quarter......... 

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

2002c

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

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

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

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

2002 

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

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

Second Quarter......... 

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

2001 

Fourth Quarter......... 

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

Second Quarter......... 

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

2000 

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

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

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

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

68.6 

68.6 

68.4 

 68.0 

68.0 

 

68.3 

68.0 

67.6 

67.8 

68.3 

68.0 

67.6 

67.8 

68.0 

68.1 

67.7 

67.5 

67.5 

67.7 

67.2 

67.1 

83.8 

83.6 

83.7 

83.6 

83.3 

 

83.2 

83.0 

82.2 

82.0 

83.3 

 83.0 

 82.3 

 82.1 

82.2 

82.2 

82.0 

81.7 

81.6 

81.7 

81.8 

81.4 

51.5 

52.1 

52.1 

51.6 

51.3 

52.4 

51.9 

51.5 

52.4 

52.4 

51.9 

51.5 

52.3 

53.0 

52.6 

51.7 

51.6 

51.8 

52.2 

50.8 

51.4 

 aStandard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by family income generally are 0.2 percent. bBased on families or primary individuals reporting income. cRevised to incorporate information collected in Census 2000. 
10

Note: This press release, along with more detailed data, is 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 non-sampling 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 estimates from a sample survey, and 2) draw 

inferences from the survey data. For example, the standard error on the estimated rental vacancy rate of 

10.4 percent is 0.2 percentage points. Consequently, the 90-percent confidence interval as shown by these data is 

from 10.1 percent to 10.7 percent; i.e., the interval 10.4 + (1.645 x 0.2) percentage points. Thus, one can say with 

90-percent confidence that, were it feasible to draw all possible samples, the average rental vacancy rate would 

be included in this confidence interval. Statements about differences are made only when the 90-percent 

confidence interval indicates that a statistical difference exists. 

 Beginning with first quarter 2003, population controls that reflect the results of Census 2000 are 

used in the CPS/HVS estimation process. As a final additional step in the process, the estimates are 

controlled to independent housing counts used for the first time in order to produce a more accurate estimate of 

housing units. This new procedure should make the CPS/HVS estimates of housing units more consistent with 

other Census Bureau housing surveys. The new housing controls affect the estimate of vacant units in the 

sense that the estimates of total occupied and vacant units sum to the new control total. Vacancy rates and

homeownership rates are not affected by this change. 

The CPS/HVS also began computing first-stage factors (used for weighting purposes) based on 

year-round and seasonal counts of housing units from Census 2000. From 1980 to 2002, the CPS/HVS 

first-stage factors were based on year-round estimates only. The effect on the data is slight and the change should 

improve the counts of year-round and seasonal units. For more information on the effects of these changes, please 

see Source and Accuracy Statement at www.census.gov/hhes/www/hvs.html. 

The question on race on the CPS was modified beginning in the first quarter 2003 to comply with new 

standards for federal statistical agencies. Respondents may now select more than one race. The question on 

Hispanic or Latino origin is asked separately, and is asked before the question on race.