UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 

COMMERCE 

NEWS 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230 

Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EST, July 29, 2004

Linda B. Cavanaugh CB04-114 

(301) 763-3199 

CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND 

HOMEOWNERSHIP

National vacancy rates in the second quarter 2004 were 10.2 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 (9.6 percent), it was not different from 

last quarter’s rate (10.4 percent). For homeowner vacancies, the current rate (1.7 percent) was not different 

from the rate last quarter or the rate a year ago (1.7 percent each). The homeownership rate (69.2 percent) for 

the current quarter was higher than the second quarter 2003 rate (68.0 percent) and the rate last quarter 

(68.6 percent). 

Table 1. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates for the United States: 1992 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..... 

 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 

10.2 

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 

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 

 

 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 

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 

1.8 

1.5 

1.6 

1.7 

1.6 

1.5 

1.6 

1.4 

1.4 

1.4 

1.6 

 

 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 

1.7 

1.8 

1.6 

1.6 

1.8 

1.7 

1.7 

1.6 

1.6 

1.4 

1.4 

1.5 

 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 (9.0 percent) had the lowest vacancy rate, while rates outside metropolitan 

areas (MAs) (10.5 percent) and in central cities (11.2 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. 

 The homeowner vacancy rates were highest in central cities (2.3 percent) followed by outside MAs 

(1.7 percent), with rates in the suburbs (1.4 percent) ranking the lowest. The homeowner vacancy rate outside 

MAs was lower than one year ago, while rates in central cities and in the suburbs showed no statistical 

change. 

Among regions, the rate for rental vacancies was highest in the South (13.0 percent), followed by the 

Midwest (11.7 percent), the West (7.7 percent) and the Northeast (7.0 percent). Rates in the Northeast and 

West were not significantly different from each other. In the Midwest, the rental vacancy rate was higher than 

a year ago, while the rates in the other regions were statistically unchanged from their corresponding rates last 

year. 

The regional homeowner vacancy rates ranged from the highest in the South (2.0 percent) to the 

Midwest (1.7 percent), the West (1.4 percent) and the lowest in the Northeast (1.1 percent). When compared 

to second quarter 2003, the respective homeowner vacancy rates were not different from a year ago. 

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

 Second Quarter 2003 and 2004 (in percent) 

Rental vacancy rates Homeowner vacancy rates 

Area /Region Second 

Quarter 

2003 

Second 

Quarter 

2004

Standard 

error on 

2004 

rate 

Standard 

error on 

difference 

Second 

Quarter 

2003 

Second 

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

9.6 

9.4 

9.8 

8.9 

10.9 

6.8 

 10.6 

 12.3 

7.2 

10.2 

10.2 

11.2 

9.0 

10.5 

7.0 

11.7 

 13.0 

7.7 

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 

2.2 

1.4 

2.0 

1.3 

1.7 

2.1 

1.4 

1.7 

1.7 

2.3 

1.4 

1.7 

1.1 

1.7 

2.0 

1.4 

(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 

0.1 

0.1 

0.1 

(z) Less than 0.05. 

 2 
3

 

There were an estimated 122.0 million housing units in the United States in the second quarter 2004. 

Approximately 106.1 million housing units were occupied: 73.4 million by owners and 32.6 million by 

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

from their second quarter 2003 estimates, respectively. Of the 15.9 million vacant housing units, 11.9 million 

were for year-round use. Approximately 3.8 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: 

 Second Quarter 2003 and 2004 

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

 Type 

Second 

 Quarter 

2003 

Second

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

120,643 

105,475 

71,740 

33,735 

15,168 

11,603 

3,627 

1,249 

6,727 

3,565 

122,002

106,066

73,449

32,617

15,936

11,947

3,775

1,261

6,911

 3,989

215

227

228

179

132

116

67

39

90

69

305 

322 

322 

255 

185 

163 

94 

55 

126 

95 

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 (69.2 percent) for the current quarter was higher than the second 

quarter 2003 rate (68.0 percent), and also higher than 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 

 69.2 

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 69.3 percent was higher than 68.1 percent shown a year ago and 

also higher than the rate last quarter, 68.7 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......................................... 

68.7 d

68.1d 

67.9d

(NA) 

67.6d

 67.2d

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 

 69.3 

68.1 d

67.7 d

(NA) 

67.8 d

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 

67.8d

(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) 

67.9d

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 second quarter 2004, the homeownership rates by region were highest in the Midwest 

(74.2 percent), while the South (70.9 percent) ranked second, the Northeast (65.4 percent) was third and the 

West (64.5 percent) had the lowest rate. The homeownership rates for all regions were higher than their 

respective rates a year ago. 

 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 

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

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

69.2 

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 

65.4 

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 

74.2 

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 

70.9 

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 

64.5 

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 second quarter 2004, the homeownership rates by age of householder ranged from 43.6 percent 

for those under 35 years of age to 82.4 percent for those aged 55 to 64. All age categories shown had higher 

rates of homeownership than their respective rates a year ago, except for the group aged 45 to 54. 

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 

Second Quarter.... 

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......... 

69.2 

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 

43.6 

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 

69.4 

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 

77.0 

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 

82.4 

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 

81.1 

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

For the racial categories shown below, the homeownership rate for non-Hispanic White householders 

reporting a single race was highest (76.2 percent), while the category of single-race Black householders had the 

lowest rate (49.7 percent) in the current quarter. The rate for Hispanic householders (who can be of any race) was 

47.4 percent. All of the rates by race were higher than their corresponding rates a year ago; the rate for Hispanics 

was 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 

(of any race) 

69.2 

68.6 

68.6 

68.4 

68.0 

68.0 

 

76.2 

75.5 

75.5 

75.7 

75.2 

75.0 

49.7 

49.3 

49.4 

48.0 

47.3 

47.7 

58.7 

58.2 

56.6*

56.2*

55.3*

55.7 

47.4 

47.3 

47.7 

46.1 

46.2 

46.7 

NonHispanic 

White 

Black Other Races 

 

2004 

Second Quarter...... 

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 second quarter 2004 for householders who reported the single race of Black or Black in a combination of races was 

49.5 percent, compared with a rate of 49.7 percent for those who reported only Black. c Includes people who reported Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or American Indian or Alaska Native regardless of whether they 

reported any other race, as well as all other combinations of 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 report more than one race, but small sample sizes preclude showing all race categories. The question on Hispanic 

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

equal to the median family income (83.9 percent) was not different from the rate reported last year. For those 

with incomes less than the median (53.1 percent), the rate was higher than 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 

Second Quarter......... 

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

69.2 

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 

83.9 

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 

53.1 

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 

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

from 9.9 percent to 10.5 percent; i.e., the interval 10.2 + (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 statistically significant 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 for the first quarter 2003. 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 report more than one race. The question on 

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

First stage factors for year-round vacant units have been corrected as of the second quarter 2004. Research 

has shown that this correction had no significant effect on the vacancy rates or homeownership rates.