UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

COMMERCE

NEWS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EST, January 27, 2003

Linda B. Cavanaugh CB03-06

(301)763-3199

CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND

HOMEOWNERSHIP

National vacancy rates in the fourth quarter were 9.4 percent in rental housing and 1.7 percent in

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

said the rental vacancy rate was higher than last year (8.8 percent), but not significantly different from last

quarter (9.1 percent). The homeowner vacancy rate did not change significantly from last year (1.8 percent)

or last quarter (1.7 percent).

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

 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

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

9.1

 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

9.4

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

 1.5

 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

 1.8

 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

 1.9

 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

1.6

1.7

r

Revised.

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 rates were highest outside metropolitan areas (MAs) (11.0 percent) and

lowest in central cities (9.3 percent) and the suburbs (8.9 percent), though not significantly different from each

other. While the rental vacancy rate in the suburbs was higher than the rate last year, no significant change

occurred for other areas.

The homeowner vacancy rates were highest outside MAs (2.1 percent) and lowest in central cities

(1.7 percent) and in the suburbs (1.5 percent), though not significantly different from each other. The

homeowner vacancy rate in central cities was lower than the rate last year, while other areas did not change

significantly.

Among regions, the rental vacancy rates were highest in the South (12.9 percent) and Midwest

(10.2 percent) and lowest in the Northeast (5.6 percent) and West (7.0 percent). The rental vacancy rate in the

South was higher than the 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 lowest in the Northeast (1.0 percent), while rates in the

other regions were not significantly different from each other. The homeowner vacancy rates in the Northeast

and South (1.9 percent) were lower than last year’s rates respectively, 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:

 Fourth Quarter 2002 and 2001 (in percent)

Rental vacancy rates Homeowner vacancy rates

Area /Region Fourth

Quarter

2002

Fourth

Quarter

2001

Standard

error on

2002

rate

Standard

error on

difference

Fourth

Quarter

2002

Fourth

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

9.4

9.1

9.3

8.9

11.0

5.6

 10.2

 12.9

7.0

8.8

8.4

9.0

7.8

10.5

5.4

10.3

 11.5

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

0.4

1.7

1.6

1.7

1.5

2.1

1.0

1.9

1.9

1.8

1.8

1.7

2.0

1.6

2.1

1.2

1.7

2.2

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

0.2

0.1

0.2
3

There were an estimated 124.0 million housing units in the United States in the fourth quarter 2002.

Approximately 109.0 million housing units were occupied; 74.4 million by owners and 34.6 million by

renters. The number of owner-occupied units increased since last year, while the number of renter-occupied

units did not change significantly. Of the 15.0 million vacant housing units, 11.5 million were for year-round

use. Approximately 3.6 million of the year-round vacant units were for rent, 1.3 million were for sale only,

and the remaining 6.6 million units were vacant for a variety of reasons.

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

 Fourth Quarter 2002 and 2001

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

 Type

Fourth

 Quarter

2002

Fourth

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

124,009

108,999

74,418

34,581

15,010

11,531

3,638

1,308

6,585

 3,479

121,963

107,633

73,215

34,418

14,330

10,912

3,336

 1,353

6,223

3,418

213

226

229

183

129

114

66

40

88

64

314

332

335

269

187

165

94

59

127

94

100

88

60

28

12

9

3

1

5

3
4

The fourth quarter 2002 homeownership rate (68.3 percent) was not significantly different

from the rate last quarter (68.0 percent) or the rate last year (68.0 percent).

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

68.3

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

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 homeownership rate (68.2 percent) for the fourth quarter 2002, was not significantly different than

the rate a year ago (68.0 percent), but was higher than the rate last quarter (67.8 percent).

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

 r67.8

r

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

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

68.2

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. r

Revised
6

 During the fourth quarter 2002, the homeownership rate by region was highest in the Midwest

(73.3 percent) and lowest in the West (62.6 percent). For the Northeast (64.9 percent), the homeownership

rate was higher than the rate a year ago (64.0 percent) while the rates in other regions remained statistically

unchanged for the same time period.

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

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

68.3

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

64.9

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

73.3

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

70.3

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

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

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 81.5 percent for the 55 to 64 years age

group to 42.0 percent for the under 35 years age group for the fourth quarter 2002. The homeownership rate

for the age group 35 to 44 years (69.0 percent) was higher than last year (68.2 percent), while the rates for the

other age groups did not change significantly from their respective rates a year ago.

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

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.........

1998

Fourth Quarter.....

Third Quarter.......

Second Quarter....

First Quarter.........

 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

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

 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

39.6

39.5

39.3

39.0

 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

67.6

67.8

66.2

65.9

 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

74.9

76.3

75.5

75.9

 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

81.7

81.1

80.4

80.3

 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

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 fourth quarter 2002 homeownership rates, when tabulated by race and ethnicity, ranged from 74.8

percent for non-Hispanic White householders to 47.5 percent for Black householders. The rates for non-Hispanic

White householders (74.8 percent) and Other race householders (55.4 percent) were higher than their respective

rates last year, while there were no significant changes in the other racial categories.

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

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..........

1998

Fourth Quarter.......

Third Quarter.........

Second Quarter......

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

 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

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

 72.1

 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

 74.8

 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

 47.5

 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

55.4

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

 49.5

 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 non-Hispanic White householders, 0.5 percent for Black householders, 0.8 percent for Other Race householders, and 0.6

percent for Hispanic householders.

6

Hispanics may be of any race.
9

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

income (83.3 percent) increased since last year (82.2 percent), while the rate for households with family income

less than the median family income did not change significantly 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

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

1998

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

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

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

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

 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

66.4

66.8

66.0

65.9

 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

80.7

81.6

80.7

80.7

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

51.1

51.1

50.0

50.2

7

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

8

Based on families or primary individuals reporting income.
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

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

from 9.1 percent to 9.7 percent; i.e., the interval 9.4 + (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 will be

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

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 will affect the count of vacant units in the

sense that the estimates of total occupied and vacant units will sum to the new control total. Therefore, vacancy

rates and homeownership rates should not be affected by this change.

The CPS/HVS will also begin 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 will likely be slight, but it

should improve the counts of year-round and seasonal units.

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 now asked before the question on race.