UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

COMMERCE

NEWS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EDT, October 28, 2002

Linda B. Cavanaugh CB02-130

(301)763-3199

CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND

HOMEOWNERSHIP

National vacancy rates in the third quarter were 9.1 percent in rental housing and 1.7 percent in homeowner

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

vacancy rate was higher than last year (8.4 percent) and higher than last quarter (8.5 percent). The homeowner

vacancy rate was lower than last year (1.9 percent), but showed no change from last quarter

(1.7 percent).

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

Rental vacancy rate Homeowner vacancy rate

Year

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter

↓ ↓

2002....

2001....

2000.....

1999.....

1998.....

1997.....

1996.....

1995.....

1994.....

1993r....

 1993.....

1992.....

1991.....

1990.....

1989r....

1989.....

1988.....

1987.....

1986.....

1985.....

1984.....

 9.1

8.2

7.9

8.2

7.7

7.5

7.9

7.4

7.5

7.8

7.9

7.4

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.3

8.0

7.4

6.9

6.3

5.6

8.5

 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

7.4

7.3

7.7

7.5

7.3

6.2

5.5

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

7.6

7.3

7.8

8.1

7.5

6.8

6.0

8.8

7.8

7.9

7.8

7.7

7.7

7.7

7.4

6.9

6.9

7.1

7.3

7.2

7.1

6.8

7.3

7.8

7.7

6.7

6.3

 1.7

 1.5

 1.6

1.8

1.7

1.7

1.6

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.5

1.8

1.6

 1.7

 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

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.7

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

1.9

1.8

1.6

1.7

1.6

1.8

1.7

 1.8

 1.6

1.6

1.8

1.7

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.7

rRevised.

 BUREAU OF

 THE

 CENSUS
For rental housing, the vacancy rate was highest outside metropolitan areas (MAs), 11.0 percent, and

lowest in the suburbs, 7.8 percent. The rental vacancy rates in all areas except outside MAs were significantly higher than

the respective rates last year.

The homeowner vacancy rates were highest in the central cities (2.2 percent) and outside MAs

(2.0 percent) though not significantly different from each other, and lowest in the suburbs (1.3 percent). The

homeowner vacancy rates were significantly lower in all areas except in central cities when compared with last year.

Among regions, the rental vacancy rates were highest in the South (11.6 percent) and lowest in the Northeast

(6.0 percent). The rental vacancy rate in the South was higher than the corresponding rate last year, while rates in

other regions were not significantly different from those shown a year ago.

The homeowner vacancy rates by region were also highest in the South (1.9 percent) and lowest in the

Northeast (1.2 percent). The homeowner vacancy rate in the South was lower than last year’s rate, while rates in

other regions showed no significant change during the same time period.

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

 Third Quarter 2002 and 2001 (in percent)

Rental vacancy rates Homeowner vacancy rates

Area /Region Third

Quarter

2002

Third

Quarter

2001

Standard

error on

2002

rate

Standard

error on

difference

Third

Quarter

2002

Third

Quarter

2001

Standard

error on

2002

rate

Standard

error on

difference

United States.......

 Inside MAs.........

 In central cities

 Not in central

 cities (suburbs)

 Outside MAs.....

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

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

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

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

9.1

8.7

9.5

7.8

11.0

6.0

 10.3

 11.6

6.9

8.4

8.0

8.8

7.1

10.4

5.5

9.3

 10.8

6.6

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.5

0.3

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.7

0.5

0.6

0.5

0.5

1.7

1.6

2.2

1.3

2.0

1.2

1.7

1.9

1.6

1.9

1.7

2.3

1.5

2.4

1.3

1.8

2.3

1.7

(z)

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.2

(z) Less than 0.05.
3

There were an estimated 123.4 million housing units in the United States in the third quarter 2002.

Approximately 108.7 million housing units were occupied; 73.9 million by owners and 34.8 million by renters. Both

the number of owner-occupied units and the number of renter-occupied units increased since

last year. Of the 14.8 million vacant housing units, 11.2 million were for year-round use. Approximately

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

6.4 million units were vacant for a variety of reasons.

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

 Third Quarter 2002 and 2001

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

 Type

 Third

 Quarter

2002

Third

 Quarter

2001

Standard

error on

2002

Estimate

Standard

error on

difference

Percent of

total

(2002)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

123,425

108,656

73,854

34,802

14,769

11,209

3,516

1,270

6,423

 3,560

121,195

106,847

72,774

34,073

14,348

10,857

3,164

 1,410

6,283

3,491

214

226

228

184

128

113

65

39

87

65

315

332

335

269

186

164

92

59

126

95

100

88

60

28

12

9

3

1

5

3
4

The third quarter 2002 homeownership rate, 68.0 percent, was higher than the rate of

67.6 percent last quarter, but was not significantly different from 68.1 percent last year.

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

 (in percent)

 Year

Homeownership Rates1

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter

↓

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

67.8

67.5

67.1

66.7

65.9

65.4

65.1

64.2

63.8

63.7

64.2

64.0

63.9

64.0

63.9

63.9

63.7

63.8

63.6

64.1

64.6

64.7

64.8

65.6

65.5

 67.6

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

68.0

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

68.0

67.5

66.9

66.4

65.7

65.4

65.1

64.2

64.2

64.6

64.4

64.2

64.1

63.8

63.8

63.8

64.1

63.9

63.5

64.1

64.4

64.5

65.2

65.5

1

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

rRevised.
5

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

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

(67.8 percent) for the third quarter 2002, was not significantly different from the corresponding rates for last quarter or last

year.

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

 Seasonally Adjusted (in percent)

 Year

Homeownership Rates2 (Seasonally Adjusted)

First

Quarter

Second

Quarter

Third

Quarter

Fourth

Quarter

↓

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

67.9

67.6

 67.2

66.8

66.0

65.5

65.2

64.4

64.0

63.8

(NA)

64.1

64.0

64.1

64.0

(NA)

63.8

63.9

63.7

64.1

64.6

64.7

64.8

65.6

65.5

 67.7

67.8

67.3

66.7

66.1

65.8

65.4

64.8

63.9

64.0

(NA)

64.0

64.1

63.9

63.9

(NA)

63.8

63.9

63.8

64.1

64.6

64.7

64.9

65.4

65.6

67.8

67.9

67.5

66.8

66.6

65.8

65.4

64.8

63.9

64.0

(NA)

64.1

64.0

63.8

63.9

(NA)

63.9

64.1

63.7

63.8

64.5

64.6

64.7

65.4

65.6

68.0

67.5

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

2

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

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

rRevised
6

 During the third quarter 2002, the homeownership rate was highest in the Midwest (73.2 percent)

and lowest in the West (62.8 percent). The homeownership rate in the South (69.5 percent) decreased since

last year, while the rates in other regions were statistically unchanged.

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

 1998 to 2002 (in percent)

Homeownership Rates3

 Year/Quarter

United States Northeast Midwest South West

2002

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

68.0

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

64.7

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

73.2

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

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

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

1998

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

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

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

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

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

62.0

63.4

62.7

62.4

71.5

71.7

70.3

70.6

69.0

68.8

68.4

68.2

60.4

61.1

60.3

60.1

 3Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by region generally are 0.3 percent.
7

The homeownership rates by age of householder ranged from 81.3 percent for the 55 to 64 years age group

to 41.4 percent for the under 35 years age group for the third quarter 2002. There were no significant changes in the

homeownership rates by age of householder from their respective rates last year.

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

 Year/Quarter

Homeownership Rates4

United

States

Under

35 years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

2002

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.........

1998

Fourth Quarter.....

Third Quarter.......

Second Quarter....

First Quarter.........

 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

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

 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

39.6

39.5

39.3

39.0

 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

67.6

67.8

66.2

65.9

 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

74.9

76.3

75.5

75.9

 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

81.7

81.1

80.4

80.3

 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

79.2

79.7

79.2

79.1

4

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

The third quarter 2002 homeownership rates, when tabulated by race and ethnicity, ranged from 74.6 percent for

non-Hispanic White householders to 47.1 percent for Black householders. The rates for householders in all of the racial

categories and Hispanics remained statistically unchanged from their respective rates a year ago.

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

 Year/Quarter

Homeownership Rates5

U.S. Total White,

 total

 White,

 NonHispanic

 Black,

 total

 Other

Race, total

Hispanic6,

 total

2002

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..........

1998

Fourth Quarter.......

Third Quarter.........

Second Quarter......

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

 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

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

 71.9

 71.4

 71.6

71.8

 71.9

 71.3

 71.3

 71.2

 71.5

 70.9

 70.7

 70.5

 70.7

 70.4

 70.3

 70.1

70.4

69.7

69.6

 74.6

 74.2

 74.3

74.4

74.6

74.1

74.0

73.9

74.3

73.7

73.4

73.3

73.5

73.2

72.8

72.6

73.1

72.5

72.1

 47.1

 46.3

 48.0

48.1

 47.5

 47.9

 47.5

47.8

46.8

46.7

47.4

46.8

46.6

45.3

46.3

45.9

46.6

44.7

45.2

54.1

55.4

 53.7

53.2

54.4

55.2

53.9

52.4

53.9

54.4

53.6

54.3

54.5

53.2

52.8

52.7

53.6

53.5

52.3

 48.3

 47.2

 47.6

48.8

 48.1

 46.1

 46.1

 47.5

 46.7

 45.4

 45.7

 45.5

 45.5

 44.9

 46.2

45.7

44.9

43.9

44.4

5

Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by race and ethnicity of householder generally are 0.2 percent for White and nonHispanic White householders, 0.5 percent for Black householders, 0.8 percent for Other Race householders, and 0.6 percent for Hispanic

householders.

6Hispanics may be of any race.
9

The homeownership rate for households with family income greater than or equal to the median family income

increased since last year, while the rate for households with family income less than the median family income decreased

during the same time period.

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

Homeownership Rates7

 Year/Quarter United States

Households with family

income greater than or

equal to the median family

income8

Households with family

income less than the

median family income

2002

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

1998

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

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

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

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

 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

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

 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

80.7

81.6

80.7

80.7

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

51.1

51.1

50.0

50.2

7

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

8Based on families or primary individuals reporting income.
10

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

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

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

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

sampling error.

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

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

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

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

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

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