UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
NEWSWASHINGTON, D.C. 20230
Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EDT, April 26, 2000 Linda B. Cavanaugh CB00-61 (301) 763-3199CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND HOMEOWNERSHIP
National vacancy rates in the first quarter 2000 were 7.9 percent in rental housing and 1.6 percent in homeowner housing, the Department of Commerce's Census Bureau announced today. The Census Bureau said that while the homeowner vacancy rate was lower than its corresponding rate in the first quarter of 1999, the rental vacancy rate did not change significantly. Neither rate was significantly different from its corresponding rate last quarter.Table 1. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates for the United States: 1982 to 2000 (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 |
2000..... 1999..... 1998..... 1997..... 1996..... 1995..... 1994..... 1993r.... 1993..... 1992..... 1991..... 1990..... 1989r.... 1989..... 1988..... 1987..... 1986..... 1985..... 1984..... 1983..... 1982..... |
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 5.7 5.3 |
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 5.5 5.1 |
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 5.8 5.3 |
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 5.5 5.5 |
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 1.4 1.4 |
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 1.5 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 1.6 1.5 |
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 1.6 1.6 |
For rental housing, the vacancy rates were highest outside Metropolitan Areas (MAs), 9.1 percent and lowest in the suburbs, 7.1 percent. The rental vacancy rates in all areas were not significantly different from their respective first quarter 1999 rates. The homeowner vacancy rate in the suburbs, 1.3 percent, was lower than the respective rate for the first quarter of 1999, while rates in the central cities and outside MAs did not change significantly. Among regions, the rental vacancy rate was highest in the South at 10.2 percent. The rate in the Northeast, 5.6 percent, decreased from that reported in the first quarter of 1999. The rates in other regions did not change significantly from their respective rates last year. The homeowner vacancy rate for the South, 1.8 percent, was lower than the corresponding rate for the first quarter of 1999. The other regions did not change significantly from their respective rates last year.
Table 2. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates By Area:
First Quarter 2000 and 1999 (in percent)
Rental vacancy rates | Homeowner vacancy rates | |||||||
Area |
First Quarter 2000 |
First Quarter 1999 |
Standard error on 2000 rate |
Standard error on differ- ence |
First Quarter 2000 |
First Quarter 1999 |
Standard error on 2000 rate |
Standard error on differ- ence |
United States........ Inside MAs......... In central cities Not in central cities (suburbs) Outside MAs...... Northeast........... Midwest............. South................. West.................. |
7.9 7.7 8.1 7.1 9.1 5.6 8.5 10.2 6.0 |
8.2 8.0 8.4 7.6 9.0 6.5 8.4 10.4 6.3 |
0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 |
0.3
0.3 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 |
1.6
1.5 2.0 1.3 1.9 1.2 1.4 1.8 1.8 |
1.8
1.8 2.1 2.0 1.4 1.4 2.4 1.8 |
0.1
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 |
0.1
0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 |
There were an estimated 119.1 million housing units in the United States in the first quarter of 2000. Approximately 105.3 million housing units were occupied, 70.7 million by owners and 34.6 million by renters. The number of owner-occupied units was higher than one year ago, while there was no significant change in renter-occupied units from one year ago. Of the 13.8 million vacant housing units, 10.3 million were for year-round use. Approximately 3.0 million of the year-round vacant units were for-rent, 1.2 million were for-sale-only, and the remaining 6.2 million were vacant for a variety of reasons.
Table 3. Estimates of the Total Housing Inventory for the United States:
First Quarter 2000 and 1999
(Numbers in Thousands)
Type |
First Quarter 2000 |
First Quarter 1999 |
Standard error on 2000 Estimate |
Standard error on difference |
Percent of total (2000) |
All housing units............ Occupied...................... Owner........................ Renter........................ Vacant.......................... Year-round................. For rent................... For sale only............ Other....................... Seasonal..................... |
119,105 105,293 70,701 34,592 13,812 10,306 2,989 1,161 6,156 3,506 |
118,445 104,461 69,638 34,823 13,984 10,897 3,132 1,296 6,469 3,087 |
234 244 243 197 133 116 64 40 91 69 |
331 346 344 279 189 166 91 58 130 95 |
100 88 59 29 12 9 3 1 5 3 |
During the first quarter of 2000, the homeownership rate was 67.1 percent. The homeownership rate was higher than the rate for the first quarter of 1999, but was not significantly different from the rate last quarter.
Table 4. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980
to 2000
(in percent)
Year | Homeownership Rates1 | |||
First Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Fourth Quarter | |
2000..........................................
1999.......................................... 1998.......................................... 1997.......................................... 1996.......................................... 1995.......................................... 1994.......................................... 1993r......................................... 1993.......................................... 1992.......................................... 1991.......................................... 1990.......................................... 1989r......................................... 1989......................................... 1988......................................... 1987......................................... 1986......................................... 1985......................................... 1984......................................... 1983......................................... 1982......................................... 1981......................................... 1980......................................... |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 first quarter homeownership rate, 67.1 percent, was not significantly different from the rate for the first quarter of 1999, nor from the rate last quarter.
Table 4SA. Homeownership Rates for the United States:
1980 to 2000
Seasonally Adjusted (in percent)
Year | Homeownership Ratesr (Seasonally Adjusted) | |||
First Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Fourth Quarter | |
2000..........................................
1999..........................................
1998..........................................
1997.......................................... 1996.......................................... 1995.......................................... 1994.......................................... 1993r.........................................
1993.......................................... 1992.......................................... 1991.......................................... 1990.......................................... 1989r.........................................
1989......................................... 1988......................................... 1987......................................... 1986......................................... 1985.........................................
1984......................................... 1983......................................... 1982......................................... 1981......................................... 1980......................................... |
67.1
r66.7
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 |
66.7 66.1 r65.7 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 |
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 |
67.0 66.5 65.8 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 |
rStandard errors for quarterly homeownership rates
for the United States generally are 0.2 percent.
rRevised.
(NA) Not Applicable. Only the revised series for 1989 and 1993
were used in calculating the seasonality adjustment.
Homeownership rates in the first quarter of 2000 were highest in the Midwest at 72.2 percent and lowest in the West at 61.3 percent. Only the rate for the Midwest was significantly higher than the 1999 rate for the first quarter. None of the homeownership rates changed significantly from the rates shown in the fourth quarter of 1999.
Table 5. Homeownership Rates for the United States and Regions:
1996 to 2000 (in percent)
Homeownership Rates3 | |||||
Year/Quarter |
United States |
Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
2000 First Quarter............... 1999 1998 Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. |
67.1 66.9 67.0 66.6 66.766.4 66.8 66.0 65.9 |
63.3 63.2 63.6 62.8 62.7 62.0 63.4 62.7 62.4 |
72.2 72.5 72.1 71.2 71.271.5 71.7 70.3 70.6 |
69.5 69.1 69.3 68.9 69.269.0 68.8 68.4 68.2 |
61.3 60.6 60.8 61.3 61.060.4 61.1 60.3 60.1 |
1997 Fourth Quarter.............. Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1996 Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1995 Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. |
65.7 66.0 65.7 65.4 65.4 65.6 65.4 65.1 65.1 65.0 64.7 64.2 |
62.7 63.0 62.4 61.6 62.3 62.8 62.3 61.4 61.6 62.2 62.3 61.9 |
70.4 70.7 70.3 70.6 70.8 70.7 70.5 70.4 70.1 70.1 68.5 67.9 |
67.8 68.2 68.1 67.8 67.6 67.5 67.2 67.5 67.5 66.6 66.5 66.1 |
59.8 59.8 59.9 59.0 58.9 59.2 59.8 58.9 59.0 59.1 59.8 58.9 |
Homeownership rates by age of householder ranged from 40.5 percent for householders less than 35 years old to 80.8 percent for householders 55 to 64 years old in the first quarter of 2000. The rate for householders less than 35 years old was higher than the corresponding rate reported during the first quarter of 1999, while the rates for the other age groups were not significantly different.
Table 6. Homeownership Rates by Age of Householder:
1996 to 2000
(in percent)
Year/Quarter | Homeownership Rates4 | |||||
United States |
Less than 35 years |
35 to 44 years |
45 to 54 years |
55 to 64 years |
65 years and over | |
2000 1999 1998 Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... |
67.1 66.9 67.0 66.6 66.7 66.4 66.8 66.0 65.9 |
40.5 40.3 40.1 39.1 39.439.6 39.5 39.3 39.0 |
67.3 67.9
67.4 66.5 67.067.6 67.8 66.2 65.9 |
76.0 75.2
76.3 76.4 76.274.9 76.3 75.5 75.9 |
80.8 81.3 80.7 80.8 81.181.7 81.1 80.4 80.3 |
80.1 79.6
80.8 80.4 79.879.2 79.7 79.2 79.1 |
1997 Fourth Quarter...... Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... 1996 Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... 1995 Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... |
65.7 66.0 65.7 65.4 65.4 65.6 65.4 65.1 65.1 65.0 64.7 64.2 |
38.7 38.9 38.6 38.6 39.1 39.0 39.3 38.8 39.1 39.1 38.7 37.7 |
65.9 66.5 66.3 65.5 65.5 66.3 65.5 64.6 65.5 65.4 65.1 64.9 |
75.7 76.3 75.6 75.5 75.6 75.9 75.5 75.5 75.2 75.4 75.2 74.9 |
80.3 80.1 80.3 79.6 80.1 79.7 80.0 80.2 79.5 79.3 79.9 79.4 |
79.1 79.2 79.1 79.2 79.2 78.6 78.9 79.1 78.7 78.1 78.1 77.5 |
4Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by age of householder generally are 0.4 percent.
The homeownership rates by race and ethnicity of householder ranged from 45.7 percent for Hispanic householders to 73.4 percent for White non-Hispanic householders. Only the rate for White non-Hispanic householders was higher than the respective rate for the first quarter of 1999.
Table 7. Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity of
Householder: 1996 to 2000
(in percent)
|
U.S. Total |
White, |
non- Hispanic |
total |
Other |
total |
2000 First Quarter......... 1999 Fourth Quarter......... Third Quarter.......... Second Quarter......... First Quarter.......... 1998 Third Quarter......... Second Quarter...... First Quarter.......... 1997 Third Quarter......... Second Quarter...... First Quarter.......... 1996 Third Quarter......... Second Quarter...... First Quarter.......... 1995 Third Quarter......... Second Quarter...... First Quarter.......... |
67.1 66.9
67.0 66.6 66.766.4 66.8 66.0 65.9 65.7 66.0 65.7 65.4 65.4 65.6 65.4 65.1 65.1 65.0 64.7 64.2 |
70.7 70.5 70.7 70.4 70.370.1
70.4 69.7 69.6 69.3 69.5 69.4 69.0 69.1 69.2 69.2 68.7 68.8 69.0 68.7 68.2 |
73.4 73.3 73.5 73.2 72.872.6 73.1 72.5 72.1 71.9 72.3 72.1 71.6 71.8 71.8 71.7 71.4 71.2 71.1 70.9 70.4 |
47.4 46.8 46.6 45.3 46.3 45.9 46.6 44.7 45.2 45.1 45.3 44.4 44.5 44.4 44.5 43.7 43.8 44.3 43.0 42.2 41.2 |
53.6 54.3 54.5 53.2 52.852.7 53.6 53.5 52.3 52.5 53.1 52.7 51.8 51.4 51.5 50.0 50.9 48.4 46.5 46.7 47.2 |
45.7 45.5 45.5 44.9 46.245.7 44.9 43.9 44.4 44.0 43.0 43.3 42.6 42.3 43.5 43.9 41.4 41.1 42.5 42.8 41.8 |
5Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by
race and ethnicity of householder generally are 0.2 percent for White
and White non-Hispanic householders, 0.5 percent for Black
householders, 1.0 percent for Other Race householders, and 0.7
percent for Hispanic householders.
6Hispanics may be of any race.
The homeownership rate for households with incomes less than the median family income in the first quarter of 2000 was 51.4 percent, while the rate for households with incomes greater than or equal to the median family income was 81.4 percent. Both rates were statistically unchanged from the corresponding first quarter 1999 rates.
Table 8. Homeownership Rates by Family Income: 1996 to 2000(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 |
2000 First Quarter................ 1999 Fourth Quarter................ Third Quarter................. Second Quarter................ First Quarter................. 1998 Third Quarter............... Second Quarter............ First Quarter................. |
67.1 66.9 67.0 66.6 66.766.4 66.8 66.0 65.9 |
81.4 81.6 81.7 81.5 81.180.7 81.6 80.7 80.7 |
51.4 51.2 51.4 50.8 51.251.1 51.1 50.0 50.2 |
1997 Fourth Quarter.............. Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1996 Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1995 Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. |
65.7 66.0 65.7 65.4 65.4 65.6 65.4 65.1 65.1 65.0 64.7 64.2 |
80.5 80.9 80.8 79.7 80.1 80.5 80.3 79.7 79.8 79.6 79.5 79.1 |
50.0 50.2 50.0 49.9 49.8 49.4 49.2 49.4 49.4 49.0 48.6 48.1 |
7Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates by family income generally are 0.3 percent.
8Based on families or primary individuals reporting income.
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 |