UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
NEWSWASHINGTON, D.C. 20230
Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EDT, January 27, 2000 Linda B. Cavanaugh CB00-09 (301) 763-3199CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND HOMEOWNERSHIP
National vacancy rates in the fourth quarter 1999 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 neither the rental vacancy rate nor the homeowner vacancy rate was significantly different from its corresponding rate in the fourth quarter of 1998 or from the rate last quarter.Table 1. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates for the United States: 1982 to 1999 (in percent)
Rental vacancy rate |
Homeowner vacancy rate | |||||||
Year |
First Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Fourth Quarter |
First Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Fourth Quarter |
1999..... 1998..... 1997..... 1996..... 1995..... 1994..... 1993r.... 1993..... 1992..... 1991..... 1990..... 1989r.... 1989..... 1988..... 1987..... 1986..... 1985..... 1984..... 1983..... 1982..... |
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 |
1.8 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), 9.6 percent and lowest in the suburbs, 7.1 percent. The rental vacancy rates in all areas were not significantly different from their respective fourth quarter 1998 rates. The homeowner vacancy rate in central cities, 1.8 percent, was lower than the rate for the fourth quarter of 1998, while rates in the suburbs and outside MAs did not change significantly. Among regions, the rental vacancy rate was highest in the South, 10.2 percent, and lowest in the Northeast 5.3 percent. None of the rental vacancy rates for the regions changed significantly from those reported in the fourth quarter of 1998. The homeowner vacancy rate for the Midwest, 1.0 percent was significantly lower than the other regions and was also lower than the corresponding rate for the fourth quarter of 1998. The other regions did not change significantly from their respective rates last year.
Table 2. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates By Area:
Fourth Quarter 1999 and 1998 (in percent)
Rental vacancy rates | Homeowner vacancy rates | |||||||
Area |
Fourth Quarter 1999 |
Fourth Quarter 1998 |
Standard error on 1999 rate |
Standard error on differ- ence |
Fourth Quarter 1999 |
Fourth Quarter 1998 |
Standard error on 1999 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 8.2 7.1 9.6 5.3 9.0 10.2 6.1 |
7.8 7.5 8.0 6.9 9.3 6.1 8.0 9.5 6.6 |
0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.3 |
0.3
0.3 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 |
1.6
1.5 1.8 1.4 2.0 1.5 1.0 2.0 1.8 |
1.8
1.7 2.3 1.9 1.3 1.5 2.1 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 |
Table 3. Estimates of the Total Housing Inventory for the United States:
Fourth Quarter 1999 and 1998
(Numbers in Thousands)
Type |
Fourth Quarter 1999 |
Fourth Quarter 1998 |
Standard error on 1999 Estimate |
Standard error on difference |
Percent of total (1999) |
All housing units............ Occupied...................... Owner........................ Renter........................ Vacant.......................... Year-round................. For rent................... For sale only............ Other....................... Seasonal..................... |
118,827 105,286 70,455 34,831 13,541 10,428 3,046 1,181 6,201 3,113 |
117,589 104,035 69,097 34,938 13,554 10,514 2,978 1,242 6,294 3,040 |
234 244 243 197 132 117 64 40 91 65 |
332 346 343 279 186 165 91 58 129 92 |
100 89 59 29 11 9 3 1 5 3 |
Table 4. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980
to 1999
(in percent)
Year | Homeownership Rates1 | |||
First Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Fourth Quarter | |
1999..........................................
1998.......................................... 1997.......................................... 1996.......................................... 1995.......................................... 1994.......................................... 1993r......................................... 1993.......................................... 1992.......................................... 1991.......................................... 1990.......................................... 1989r......................................... 1989......................................... 1988......................................... 1987......................................... 1986......................................... 1985......................................... 1984......................................... 1983......................................... 1982......................................... 1981......................................... 1980......................................... |
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 fourth quarter homeownership rate, 67.0 percent, was higher than the rate for the fourth quarter of 1998, but not significantly different from the rate last quarter.
Table 4SA. Homeownership Rates for the United States:
1980 to 1999
Seasonally Adjusted (in percent)
Year | Homeownership Rates2 (Seasonally Adjusted) | |||
First Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Fourth Quarter | |
1999..........................................
1998..........................................
1997.......................................... 1996.......................................... 1995.......................................... 1994.......................................... 1993r.........................................
1993.......................................... 1992.......................................... 1991.......................................... 1990.......................................... 1989r.........................................
1989......................................... 1988......................................... 1987......................................... 1986......................................... 1985.........................................
1984......................................... 1983......................................... 1982......................................... 1981......................................... 1980......................................... |
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 |
66.7 66.1 r65.8 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 |
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 |
2Standard 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.
Table 5. Homeownership Rates for the United States and Regions:
1995 to 1999 (in percent)
Homeownership Rates3 | |||||
Year/Quarter |
United States |
Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
1999
Fourth Quarter...............
Third Quarter................
Second Quarter................
First Quarter................. 1998 Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. |
66.9 67.0 66.6 66.766.4 66.8 66.0 65.9 |
63.2 63.6 62.8 62.7 62.0 63.4 62.7 62.4 |
72.5 72.1 71.2 71.271.5 71.7 70.3 70.6 |
69.1 69.3 68.9 69.269.0 68.8 68.4 68.2 |
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 |
Table 6. Homeownership Rates by Age of Householder:
1995 to 1999
(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 | |
1999 1998 Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... |
66.9 67.0 66.6 66.766.4 66.8 66.0 65.9 |
40.3 40.1 39.1 39.439.6 39.5 39.3 39.0 |
67.9 67.4 66.5 67.067.6 67.8 66.2 65.9 |
75.2 76.3 76.4 76.274.9 76.3 75.5 75.9 |
81.3 80.7 80.8 81.181.7 81.1 80.4 80.3 |
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 45.5 percent for Hispanic householders to 73.3 percent for White non-Hispanic householders. The rates for both White and White non-Hispanic householders were higher than the respective rates for the fourth quarter of 1998.Table 7. Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity of Householder: 1995 to 1999
(in percent)
|
U.S. Total |
White, |
non- Hispanic |
total |
Other |
total |
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.......... |
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 |
70.5 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 |
73.3 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 |
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 |
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 |
45.5 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 fourth quarter of 1999 was 51.2 percent, while the rate for households with incomes greater than or equal to the median family income was 81.6 percent. The former rate was statistically unchanged from the corresponding fourth quarter 1998 rate, while the latter was significantly higher.Table 8. Homeownership Rates by Family Income: 1995 to 1999 (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 |
1999 Fourth Quarter................ Third Quarter................. Second Quarter................ First Quarter................. 1998 Third Quarter............... Second Quarter............ First Quarter................. |
66.9 67.0 66.6 66.766.4 66.8 66.0 65.9 |
81.6 81.7 81.5 81.180.7 81.6 80.7 80.7 |
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 |
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 the survey estimates, and 2) draw inferences from the survey data. For example, the standard error on the estimated rental vacancy rate of 7.9 percent is 0.2 percentage points. Consequently, the 90-percent confidence interval as shown by these data is from 7.6 to 8.2 percent; i.e., the interval 7.9 + (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.