UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 

COMMERCE 

NEWS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EST, October 28, 2003

Linda B. Cavanaugh CB03-163 

(301)763-3199 

CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND 

HOMEOWNERSHIP

National vacancy rates in the third quarter 2003 were 9.9 percent in rental housing and 1.9 percent in 

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

while the rental vacancy rate increased from the revised rate last year (9.0 percent), it was not different from last 

quarter’s rate (9.6 percent). For homeowner vacancies, the current rate (1.9 percent) is higher than both the revised 

third quarter 2002 rate and the rate last quarter.

Table 1. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates for the United States: 1990 to 2003 (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

↓ ↓

 2003....

 2002r...

 2002....

2001.... 

2000.....

1999.....

1998.....

1997.....

1996.....

1995.....

1994.....

1993r....

 1993.....

1992.....

1991.....

1990.....

 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

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

1.5

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

 

1.7

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

 

rRevised, please see page 10 for additional information.

 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 noninstitutionalized population of the United States (homeownership rate).

 

 

 BUREAU OF

 THE

 CENSUS
For rental housing, the vacancy rate was highest outside metropolitan areas (MAs) (10.9 percent) and in central 

cities (10.2 percent) (the 10.9 percent and the 10.2 percent were not different from each other); the suburbs (9.2 percent) 

had the lowest rate. The rental vacancy rates in central cities and in the suburbs were higher than their corresponding rates 

in revised third quarter 2002; however, no changes occurred outside MAs for the same time period.

The homeowner vacancy rates were highest outside MAs (2.4 percent) and in central cities 

(2.2 percent) (the 2.4 percent and the 2.2 percent were not different from each other) and lowest in the suburbs (1.6 

percent). The homeowner vacancy rates for outside MAs and the suburbs were higher than their respective revised 

third quarter 2002 rates.

Among regions, the rental vacancy rate was highest in the South (12.4 percent) and lowest in the Northeast 

(6.6 percent). The rental vacancy rates for the South and the West (8.1 percent) were higher than a year ago, while 

the other regions were statistically unchanged during that time period.

The homeowner vacancy rate by region was highest in the South (2.3 percent) and lowest in the Northeast 

(1.4 percent). In the South, the homeowner vacancy rate increased from 1.9 percent in revised third quarter 2002 to 

2.3 percent currently. No changes occurred for the other regions during the same time period.

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

 Third Quarter 2002 and 2003 (in percent)

Rental vacancy rates Homeowner vacancy rates

Area /Region Third

Quarter

2002r

Third

Quarter

2003

Standard

error on

2003

rate

Standard

error on

difference

Third

Quarter

2002r

Third

Quarter

2003

Standard

error on

2003

rate

Standard

error on

difference

United States.......

 Inside MAs.........

 In central cities..

 Not in central

 cities (suburbs)..

 Outside MAs.....

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

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

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

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

9.0

8.7

9.4

7.8

10.6

6.0

 10.3

 11.4

6.8

9.9

9.7

10.2

9.2

10.9

6.6

11.0

 12.4

8.1

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.5

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.7

0.5

0.6

0.5

0.4

1.7

1.6

2.2

1.3

2.0

1.2

1.7

1.9

1.6

1.9

1.8

2.2

1.6

2.4

1.4

1.8

2.3

1.7

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

0.1

0.1

0.2

rRevised.

 2
3

There were an estimated 121.0 million housing units in the United States in the third quarter 2003. 

Approximately 105.5 million housing units were occupied: 72.2 million by owners and 33.3 million by renters. The 

number of owner-occupied units increased from the revised third quarter 2002 estimate, while the number of renteroccupied units did not change. Of the 15.5 million vacant housing units, 11.8 million were for year-round use. 

Approximately 3.7 million of the year-round vacant units were for rent, 1.4 million were for sale only, and the 

remaining 6.7 million units were vacant for a variety of other reasons. 

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

 Third Quarter 2002 and 2003

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

 Type

Third

 Quarter

2002r

Third

 Quarter

2003

Standard

error on

2003

Estimate

Standard

error on

difference

Percent of

total 

(2003)

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

119,491

105,157

71,465

33,692

14,334

10,711

3,364

1,214

6,133

3,623

121,030

105,499

72,178

33,321

15,531

11,796

3,713

1,411

6,672

 3,735

216

228

228

181

131

115

66

41

88

66

307

322

322

256

182

160

92

56

122

93

100

87

60

28

13

10

3

1

6

3

 

rRevised.

 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 counts of housing units more comparable to other Census Bureau housing surveys. 

 Please see page 10 for additional information.
4

The third quarter 2003 homeownership rate (68.4 percent) was higher than the 

revised third quarter 2002 rate (68.0 percent) and the rate last quarter (68.0 percent).

Table 4. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980 to 2003

 (in percent)

 Year Homeownership Rates1

First 

Quarter

Second 

Quarter

Third 

Quarter

Fourth 

Quarter

 ↓

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

2002r...............................

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

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

68.3

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

 1Standard 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 (68.2 percent) for the third quarter 2003, was higher than

the revised 2002 third quarter rate (67.8 percent), but not different from the rate last quarter (68.2 percent).

Table 4SA. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980 to 2003

 Seasonally Adjusted (in percent)

 Year

Homeownership Rates2 (Seasonally Adjusted)

First 

Quarter

Second 

Quarter

Third 

Quarter

Fourth 

Quarter

↓

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

2002r................................

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

68.1

67.9

(NA)

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

 68.2

67.8

(NA)

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

68.2

67.8

(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

68.2

(NA)

68.0

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

 2Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates for the United States generally are 0.2 percent.

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

 rRevised.
6

 During the third quarter 2003, the homeownership rate by region was highest in the Midwest 

(73.5 percent), while the South ranked second with a rate of 70.0 percent. Rates for the Northeast (64.4 percent) and 

West (63.8 percent) were not different from each other. The homeownership rate for the West (63.8 percent) increased 

from 62.7 percent last year, while the rates for the other regions did not change from a year ago. 

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

 1999 to 2003 (in percent)

Homeownership Rates3

 Year/Quarter United States Northeast Midwest South West

2003

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

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

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

2002r

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

1999

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

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

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

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

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

66.9

67.0

66.6

66.7

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

63.2

63.6

62.8

62.7

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

72.5

72.1

71.2

71.2

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

69.1

69.3

68.9

69.2

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

60.6

60.8

61.3

61.0

 3

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

 

r

Revised.
7

 For third quarter 2003, the homeownership rates by age of householder ranged from 42.5 percent for those under 

35 years of age to 81.1 percent for those aged 55 to 64. The former represents a full percentage point increase from a 

year ago for the under-35 age group. The rates for other age categories did not change from their respective rates a year 

ago.

Table 6. Homeownership Rates by Age of Householder: 1999 to 2003 (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

2003

Third Quarter......

Second Quarter....

First Quarter........

2002

r

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.........

1999

Fourth Quarter......

Third Quarter........

Second Quarter.....

First Quarter.........

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

66.9

67.0

66.6

66.7

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

40.3

40.1

39.1

39.4

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

67.9

67.4

66.5

67.0

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

75.2

76.3

76.4

76.2

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

81.3

80.7

80.8

81.1

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

79.6

80.8

80.4

79.8

 4Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by age of householder generally are 0.4 percent

 

 rRevised.
8

The third quarter 2003 homeownership rates, when tabulated by race and ethnicity, were 75.7 percent for nonHispanic White (single race) householders, 48.0 percent for those who indicated that they were Black (and 

no other race), and 55.9 percent for householders who were of any of the other races (see note below). The 

homeownership rate for Hispanic or Latino householders, who can be of any race, was 46.1 percent.

Table 7. Homeownership Rates by Race5 and Ethnicity of Householder: 2001 to 2003 (in percent)

Year/Quarter Homeownership Rates6

U.S. Non-Hispanic

White alone

Black

Alone7

All

Other

Races8

Hispanic

or

Latino

(of any race)

68.4

68.0

68.0

 

75.7

75.2

75.0

48.0

47.3

47.7

56.2* 

55.3* 

55.7

46.1

46.2

46.7

NonHispanic

White

Black Other Races

2003

Third Quarter.......

Second Quarter.....

First Quarter........

2002r

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.........

68.3

68.0

67.6

67.8

68.3

68.0

67.6

67.8

68.0

68.1

67.7

67.5

75.0

74.9

74.5

74.6

74.8

74.6

74.2

74.3

74.4

74.6

74.1

74.0

47.7

47.3

46.5

48.2

47.5

47.1

46.3

48.0

48.1

47.5

47.9

47.5

55.2

54.0

55.3

53.5

55.4

54.1

55.4

53.7

53.2

54.4

55.2

53.9

48.3

47.1

46.1

46.4

49.5

48.3

47.2

47.6

48.8

48.1

46.1

46.1

 5For 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

 6Standard 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.

 7The homeownership rate for third quarter 2003 for householders who reported the single race of Black or Black in a combination of races was 

47.9 percent, compared with a rate of 48.0 percent for those who reported Black as a single race.

 8Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native (only one race reported) and Two or more races.

 

 rRevised. *Revised (April 22, 2004)

 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.
9

 For third quarter 2003, the homeownership rate for households with family incomes greater than or 

equal to the median family income (83.7 percent) increased from the revised third quarter 2002 rate 

(83.0 percent), while the rate for those with incomes less than the median (52.1 percent) was not statistically 

different from the rate a year ago (51.9 percent).

Table 8. Homeownership Rates by Family Income: 1999 to 2003 (in percent)

Homeownership Rates9

 Year/Quarter United States

Households with family 

income greater than or 

equal to the median family 

income10

Households with family 

income less than the 

median family income

2003

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

Second Quarter.........

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

2002r

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

1999

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

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

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

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

 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

66.9

67.0

66.6

66.7

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

81.6

81.7

81.5

81.1

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

51.2

51.4

50.8

51.2

 9Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by family income generally are 0.2 percent.

 10Based on families or primary individuals reporting income.

 rRevised.
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 

9.9 percent is 0.2 percentage points. Consequently, the 90-percent confidence interval as shown by these data is from 9.6 

percent to 10.2 percent; i.e., the interval 9.9 + (1.6 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 count 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.