UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 

COMMERCE

NEWS 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230 

 

Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EDT, April 26, 2001

Linda B. Cavanaugh CB01-70

(301) 457-3199

CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND

HOMEOWNERSHIP

National vacancy rates in the first quarter 2001 were 8.2 percent in rental housing and 1.5 percent in

homeowner housing, the Department of Commerces Census Bureau announced today. The Census Bureau

said that neither the rental vacancy rate nor the homeowner vacancy rate was significantly different from its

corresponding rate in the first quarter of 2000 or from the rate last quarter.

Table 1. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates for the United States: 1982 to 2001 (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

 

 2001....

 2000.....

1999.....

1998.....

1997.....

1996.....

1995.....

1994.....

1993r

....

 1993.....

1992.....

1991.....

1990.....

1989r....

1989.....

1988.....

1987.....

1986.....

1985.....

1984.....

1983.....

1982.....

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

5.7

5.3

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

5.5

5.1

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

5.8

5.3

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

5.5

5.5

 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

1.4

1.4

 

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

1.5

1.6

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

1.6

1.5

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

1.6

1.6

r

Revised.

 

 BUREAU OF

 THE

 CENSUS
2

For rental housing, the vacancy rate was highest outside Metropolitan Areas (MAs), 10.2 percent,

and lowest in the suburbs, 7.3 percent. None of the rental vacancy rates for areas changed significantly

from their corresponding first quarter 2000 rates.

The homeowner vacancy rate was highest outside MAs, 2.2 percent, and lowest in the suburbs, 

1.2 percent. For homeowner vacancy rates in central cities, in the suburbs, and outside MAs, there were no

 significant changes in their respective rates since first quarter 2000.

Among regions, the South, 11.3 percent, had the highest rental vacancy rate, which increased from

10.2 percent in the first quarter 2000. The other regions did not change significantly from their respective

rates last year.

The homeowner vacancy rate was highest in the South, 1.9 percent. The homeowner vacancy rate in

the West, 1.3 percent, dropped from 1.8 percent in first quarter 2000, while the other regions did not change

significantly during the same time period.

Table 2. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates By Area:

 First Quarter 2001 and 2000 (in percent)

Rental vacancy rates Homeowner vacancy rates

Area First

Quarter

2001

First

Quarter

2000

Standard

error on

2001

rate

Standard

error on

difference

First

Quarter

2001

First

Quarter

2000

Standard

error on

2001

rate

Standard

error on

difference

United States........

 Inside MAs.........

 In central cities

 Not in central

 cities (suburbs)

 Outside MAs......

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

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

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

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

8.2

7.8

8.3

7.3

10.2

5.1

8.9

11.3

5.8

7.9

7.7

8.1

7.1

9.1

5.6

8.5

10.2

6.0

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.5

0.4

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.7

0.5

0.6

0.5

0.5

1.5

1.4

1.9

1.2

2.2

1.2

1.5

1.9

1.3

1.6

1.5

2.0

1.3

1.9

1.2

1.4

1.8

1.8

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

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.2
3

There were an estimated 121.1 million housing units in the United States in the first quarter of 2001.

 Approximately 106.8 million housing units were occupied, 72.1 million by owners and 34.7 million by

renters. While the number of owner-occupied units increased, the number of renter-occupied units did not

change significantly from that reported one year ago. Of the 14.4 million vacant housing units, 10.8 million

were for year-round use. Approximately 3.1 million of the year-round vacant units were for-rent, 1.1

million were for-sale-only, and the remaining 6.5 million were vacant for a variety of reasons. 

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

 First Quarter 2001 and 2000

 (Numbers in Thousands)

Type

First

 Quarter

2001

First

Quarter

2000

Standard

error on

2001

Estimate

Standard

error on

difference

Percent of

total

(2001)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

121,148

106,794

72,131

34,663

14,354

10,813

3,135

1,141

6,537

 3,541

119,105

105,293

70,701

34,592

13,812

10,306

2,989

 1,161

6,156

3,506

232

243

244

197

135

119

65

40

94

69

329

345

345

278

190

166

91

56

130

98

100

88

60

29

12

9

3

1

5

3
4

During the first quarter 2001, the homeownership rate was 67.5 percent. The homeownership rate

did not change significantly from the rate for the first quarter 2000 or from the rate last quarter. 

Table 4. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980 to 2001

 (in percent)

Homeownership Rates1

Year

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1993r

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

67.5

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

67.2

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

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

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.

r

Revised.
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 first quarter 2001 homeownership rate, 67.6 percent, was not significantly different from the rate a

year ago or from the rate last quarter.

Table 4SA. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980 to 2001

 Seasonally Adjusted (in percent)

Homeownership Rates2

 (Seasonally Adjusted)

Year

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1993r

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

67.6

 r

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

67.3

66.7

66.1

r

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

67.5

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

67.6

67.0

66.5

r

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.

r

Revised.
6

During the first quarter 2001, the homeownership rate in the Midwest, 73.2 percent, was the highest

and the West, 62.0 percent, was the lowest. The homeownership rate for the Midwest was higher than the

first quarter 2000 rate, while rates in the Northeast, South, and West were not significantly different from a

year ago.

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

 1997 to 2001 (in percent)

Homeownership Rates3

Year/Quarter

United

States

Northeast Midwest South West

2001

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

2000

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

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

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

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

1999

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

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

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

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

67.5

67.5

67.7

67.2

67.1

66.9

67.0

66.6

66.7

63.6

63.2

63.9

63.4

63.3

63.2

63.6

62.8

62.7

73.2

73.1

72.9

72.2

72.2

72.5

72.1

71.2

71.2

69.3

69.8

69.7

69.2

69.5

69.1

69.3

68.9

69.2

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

1997

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

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

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

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

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

65.7

66.0

65.7

65.4

62.0

63.4

62.7

62.4

62.7

63.0

62.4

61.6

71.5

71.7

70.3

70.6

70.4

70.7

70.3

70.6

69.0

68.8

68.4

68.2

67.8

68.2

68.1

67.8

60.4

61.1

60.3

60.1

59.8

59.8

59.9

59.0

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

The homeownership rate for first quarter 2001 for householders 35 to 44 years old increased from

one year ago, while the rates for all other age groups did not change significantly during the same period.

The homeownership rates by age of householder ranged from 40.4 percent for Under 35 years old, to

80.8 percent for the 55 to 64 years, and 80.7 percent for the 65 years and over age groups, respectively.

Table 6. Homeownership Rates by Age of Householder: 1997 to 2001

 (in percent)

Homeownership Rates4

Year/Quarter United

States

Under

35 years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

2001

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.........

1997

Fourth Quarter......

Third Quarter........

Second Quarter.....

First Quarter.........

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

65.7

66.0

65.7

65.4

 

 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

38.7

38.9

38.6

38.6

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

65.9

66.5

66.3

65.5

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

75.7

76.3

75.6

75.5

 

 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

80.3

80.1

80.3

79.6

 

 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

79.1

79.2

79.1

79.2

4

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

The homeownership rates for White householders, 71.3 percent, and White non-Hispanic

householders, 74.0 percent, were higher than the respective rates for the first quarter 2000. The rates for

Black householders, Other Race householders, and Hispanic householders did not change significantly 

from one year ago.

Table 7. Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity of Householder: 1997 to 2001

 (in percent)

Homeownership Rates5

Year/Quarter U.S. Total White,

 total

White,

 Non- 

 Hispanic

Black,

 total

 Other 

 Race, 

total

Hispanic6,

 total

2001

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..........

1997

Fourth Quarter.......

Third Quarter.........

Second Quarter......

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

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

65.7

66.0

65.7

65.4

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

69.3

69.5

69.4

69.0

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

71.9

72.3

72.1

71.6

 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

45.1

45.3

44.4

44.5

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

52.5

53.1

52.7

51.8

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

44.0

43.0

43.3

42.6

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.

6

Hispanics may be of any race.
9

Both the homeownership rates for households with incomes greater than or equal to the median

family income, and for households with incomes less than the median family income, were statistically

unchanged from the first quarter 2000 rates.

Table 8. Homeownership Rates by Family Income: 1997 to 2001 (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

2001

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

1997

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

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

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

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

 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

65.7

66.0

65.7

65.4

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

80.5

80.9

80.8

79.7

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

50.0

50.2

50.0

49.9

7

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

8

Based 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 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 the survey estimates, and 2) draw inferences

from the survey data. For example, the standard error on the estimated rental vacancy rate of 8.2 percent is

0.2 percentage points. Consequently, the 90-percent confidence interval as shown by these data is from 7.9

percent to 8.5 percent; i.e., the interval 8.2 + (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.