Table 1. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates by Area: 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, and 1980 to 1996 Rental units 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1981 1982 1983 Area United States.............. 8.1 8.3 5.3 6.0 5.4 5.0 5.3 5.7 Inside Metropolitan Areas NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA In central cities/1.... NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Not in central cities/1 (suburbs).............. NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Outside Metropolitan Areas NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Northeast................ 4.9 5.6 2.7 4.1 4.2 3.7 3.7 4.0 Midwest.................. 8.3 7.2 5.8 5.7 6.0 5.9 6.3 6.1 South.................... 9.5 9.0 7.2 7.7 6.0 5.4 5.8 6.9 West..................... 11.0 11.9 5.6 6.2 5.2 5.1 5.4 5.2 Rental units 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1989/r 1990 United States.............. 5.9 6.5 7.3 7.7 7.7 7.1 7.4 7.2 Inside Metropolitan Areas NA NA 7.2 7.7 7.8 7.2 7.4 7.1 In central cities/1.... NA NA 7.6 8.3 8.4 7.9 7.9 7.8 Not in central cities/1 (suburbs).............. NA NA 6.6 6.9 7.0 6.3 6.6 6.3 Outside Metropolitan Areas NA NA 8.2 7.8 7.3 6.6 7.7 7.6 Northeast................ 3.7 3.5 3.9 4.1 4.8 4.7 4.7 6.1 Midwest.................. 5.9 5.9 6.9 6.8 6.9 6.5 6.8 6.4 South.................... 7.9 9.1 10.1 10.9 10.1 9.1 9.7 8.8 West..................... 5.2 6.2 7.1 7.3 7.7 6.9 7.1 6.6 Rental units 1991 1992 1993 1993/r 1994 1995 1996 United States.............. 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.3 7.4 7.6 7.8 Inside Metropolitan Areas 7.5 7.4 7.6 7.5 7.3 7.6 7.7 In central cities/1.... 8.0 8.3 8.3 8.2 8.2 8.4 8.2 Not in central cities/1 (suburbs).............. 6.8 6.4 6.7 6.6 6.3 6.6 7.0 Outside Metropolitan Areas 7.3 7.0 6.4 6.5 7.7 7.9 8.7 Northeast................ 6.9 6.9 7.1 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.4 Midwest.................. 6.7 6.7 6.6 6.6 6.8 7.2 7.9 South.................... 8.9 8.2 8.0 7.9 8.0 8.3 8.6 West..................... 6.5 7.1 7.5 7.4 7.1 7.5 7.2 Homeowner Units Area 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1981 1982 1983 United States.............. 1.3 1.5 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 Inside Metropolitan Areas NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA In central cities/1.... NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Not in central cities/1 (suburbs).............. NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Outside Metropolitan Areas NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Northeast................ 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 Midwest.................. 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.5 South.................... 1.6 2.0 1.2 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.8 West..................... 1.4 1.9 1.1 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.9 1.8 Homeowner Units 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1989/r 1990 United States.............. 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.7 Inside Metropolitan Areas NA NA 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7 In central cities/1.... NA NA 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.2 Not in central cities/1 (suburbs).............. NA NA 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 Outside Metropolitan Areas NA NA 1.8 1.9 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.8 Northeast................ 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.6 Midwest.................. 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.3 South.................... 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.1 West..................... 2.0 2.1 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.8 Homeowner Units 1991 1992 1993 1993/r 1994 1995 1996 United States.............. 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 Inside Metropolitan Areas 1.7 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 In central cities/1.... 2.2 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.9 2.1 1.9 Not in central cities/1 (suburbs).............. 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 Outside Metropolitan Areas 1.8 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.7 Northeast................ 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.6 Midwest.................. 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.3 South.................... 2.2 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 West..................... 1.7 1.9 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.7 Data from 1986 to 1994 are based on 1980 metropolitan/nonmetropolitan definitions, while 1995 and later data are based on 1990 metropolitan/nonmetropolitan definitions. See Source and Accuracy section for explanation. rRevised. 1Rates for 1986 to 1994 are not comparable to earlier or later years. Rates for 1995 and later are not directly comparable to earlier years. See Source and Accuracy section for explanation. NA Not available.