UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

COMMERCE

NEWS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EST, April 24, 2003

Linda B. Cavanaugh CB03-67

(301)763-3199

CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND

HOMEOWNERSHIP

National vacancy rates in the first quarter 2003 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 neither the rental vacancy rate nor the homeowner vacancy rate differed from the respective revised first

quarter 2002 rate or the revised rate for 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

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

9.0

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

1.8

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

1.7

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 rates inside central cities, in the suburbs, and outside metropolitan

areas (MAs) were not different from each other for the first quarter 2003. The rental vacancy rate in the

suburbs (9.2 percent) was higher than the revised first quarter 2002 rate (8.3 percent); however, no changes

occurred in other areas.

The homeowner vacancy rates were highest outside MAs (1.9 percent) and in central cities

(1.8 percent), though not different from each other, and lowest in the suburbs (1.5 percent). The homeowner

vacancy rates for all areas did not change from the revised first quarter 2002 rates.

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

Northeast (6.0 percent). The rental vacancy rates for all regions were not different from the revised first

quarter 2002 rates.

The homeowner vacancy rate by region was highest in the South (2.0 percent) and lowest in the

Northeast (1.1 percent), while rates in the other regions were not different from each other. When compared

with the homeowner vacancy rates for first quarter 2002, there were no differences in the respective first

quarter 2003 rates by region.

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

 First Quarter 2003 and 2002 (in percent)

Rental vacancy rates Homeowner vacancy rates

Area /Region First

Quarter

2003

First

Quarter

2002r

Standard

error on

2003

rate

Standard

error on

difference

First

Quarter

2003

First

Quarter

2002r

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

9.4

9.3

9.4

9.2

10.1

6.0

 10.2

 12.4

7.3

9.1

9.0

9.5

8.3

9.8

5.8

10.3

 11.8

7.0

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.5

0.3

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

1.8

1.5

1.9

1.1

1.7

2.0

1.6

1.7

1.6

2.0

1.4

1.9

1.2

1.7

1.9

1.5

(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 percent.

r

Revised.

 2
3

There were an estimated 120.2 million housing units in the United States in the first quarter 2003.

Approximately 105.4 million housing units were occupied, 71.6 million by owners and 33.8 million by renters.

The number of owner-occupied units increased from the revised first quarter 2002 estimate, while the number

of renter-occupied units did not change. Of the 14.8 million vacant housing units, 11.3 million were for yearround use. Approximately 3.6 million of the year-round vacant units were for rent, 1.2 million were for sale

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

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

 First Quarter 2003 and 2002

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

 Type

First

 Quarter

2003

First

 Quarter

2002r

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

120,249

105,407

71,645

33,762

14,842

11,319

3,553

1,242

6,524

 3,523

118,721

104,421

70,811

33,610

14,300

10,755

3,393

 1,197

6,165

3,545

217

228

227

182

128

113

65

39

87

65

319

334

333

266

186

164

94

56

126

95

100

88

60

28

12

9

3

1

5

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 first quarter 2003 homeownership rate (68.0 percent) was not different from the

revised first quarter 2002 rate (67.8 percent) or the revised fourth quarter 2002 rate (68.3 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

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

68.0

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 (68.1 percent) for the first quarter 2003, was not different from

the revised first quarter rate in 2002 or the revised fourth quarter 2002 rate.

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

r

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

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 first quarter 2003, the homeownership rate by region was highest in the Midwest (72.9 percent)

and lowest in the West (62.8 percent). None of the regional homeownership rates for first quarter 2003 were

different from their respective revised first quarter 2002 rates.

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

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

68.0

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

64.2

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

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

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

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 first quarter 2003, the homeownership rates by age of householder ranged from 41.7 percent for those

under 35 years of age to 81.4 percent for those aged 55 to 64. The homeownership rate for those aged 65 years

and over (80.2 percent) was lower than the revised first quarter 2002 rate (80.9 percent), while

the rates for the other age groups 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

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.........

68.0

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

 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

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

76.4

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

81.4

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

 80.2

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 first quarter 2003 homeownership rates, when tabulated by race and ethnicity, were 75.0 percent for

non-Hispanic White (single race) householders, 47.7 percent for those who indicated that they were Black (and

no other race), and 55.7 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 46.7 percent.

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

Year/Quarter Homeownership Rates6

U.S. NonHispanic

White alone

Black

Alone7

All

Other

Races8

Hispanic

or

Latino

(of any race)

68.0 75.0 47.7 55.7 46.7

NonHispanic

White

Black Other Race

2003

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

 5

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 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 first quarter 2003 for householders who reported the single race of Black or Black in a combination of races was

47.5 percent, compared with a rate of 47.7 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.

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

equal to the median family income increased from the revised first quarter 2002 rate, while the rate for those

with incomes less than the median decreased during the same time period.

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

Homeownership Rates8

 Year/Quarter United States

Households with family

income greater than or

equal to the median

family income9

Households with family

income less than the

median family income

2003

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

 68.0

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

83.3

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

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

 8Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by family income generally are 0.2 percent. 9Based 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

9.4 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 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.