This report presents data from the American Housing Survey (AHS). The survey is sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The AHS is the most comprehensive national housing survey in the United States. It provides data on a wide range of housing subjects, including single-family homes, apartments, manufactured housing, vacant units, family composition, income, housing and neighborhood quality, housing costs, equipment, fuel type, and recent moves. National data are collected every 2 years from a sample of housing units. The national survey, which began in 1973, has sampled the same units since 1985; it also samples new construction to ensure continuity and timeliness of the data. Metropolitan area surveys began in 1974, and these areas are generally surveyed every 4 to 6 years.

The AHS is a household survey conducted using a laptop survey questionnaire. Most units in sample were interviewed between April and November 2009. Data are collected by census enumerators by telephone or personal visit. For unoccupied units, data are collected from landlords, rental agents, or neighbors.