FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                         FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2002

Robert Bernstein                                                   CB02-166
Public Information Office                                             
(301) 763-3030/457-3670 (fax)                                     
(301) 457-1037 (TDD)                                 
e-mail: pio@census.gov             

                    Nation's Housing Count Up 2 Million;
                      Biggest State Increase in Texas
                                
  Over the 15 months between Census Day, April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2001,
the number of U.S. housing units increased by 1.9 million to 117.8
million. Texas had the largest numeric gain among states, nearly 200,000,
according to 2001 housing unit estimates for states and counties released
today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau.

  The South had both the largest numerical and percentage gains in housing
units among regions, followed by the West. Also, for the first time, the
Census Bureau released estimates of housing units for counties.

  Among counties, Douglas County, Colo., outside Denver, experienced the
most rapid growth in housing units, at 12.4 percent. Other counties
experiencing double-digit growth were Loudoun County, Va., near
Washington, D.C.; four counties in the Atlanta area (Paulding, Henry,
Forsyth and Newton); and Williamson County, Texas, north of Austin.