U.S. Census Bureau
 Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS)




First Quarter 2006 


Table 2.  Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates, by Area:  First Quarter 2005 and 2006
                 (in percent)


                                    Rental vacancy rates


                           First        First           90-Percent
         Area             quarter      quarter      Confidence Interval (±)a
                           2005         2006     of 2006 rate of difference


United States..........        10.1          9.5          0.4          0.5

  Inside Core-Based
     Statistical Areas.        10.1          9.4          0.5          0.5
    In central cities..        10.4         10.0          0.6          0.6
    Not in central cities
    (suburbs)..........         9.7          8.7          0.7          0.8
  Outside Core-Based
    Statistical Areas...        9.7         10.4          1.5          1.6

 Northeast.............         7.2          7.3          0.7          0.8
 Midwest...............        12.2         12.6          0.9          1.0
 South.................        12.2         10.9          0.8          1.0
 West..................         7.5          6.7          0.7          0.9



                                    Homeowner vacancy rates


                           First        First         90-Percent
         Area             quarter      quarter     Confidence Interval (±)a
                           2005         2006     of 2006 rate of difference

United States..........         1.8          2.1          0.1          0.2

  Inside Core-Based
     Statistical Areas.         1.8          2.0          0.2          0.2
    In central cities..         2.0          2.5          0.3          0.3
    Not in central cities
    (suburbs)..........         1.7          1.8          0.2          0.2
  Outside Core-Based
    Statistical Areas..         1.9          2.2          0.3          0.3

 Northeast.............         1.8          1.5          0.2          0.3
 Midwest...............         2.3          2.4          0.3          0.3
 South.................         1.9          2.3          0.2          0.3
 West..................         1.2          1.7          0.2          0.3
 
    aA 90-percent confidence interval is a measure of an estimate's reliability.  The larger the 
	confidence interval is, in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate.
Note:  Core-Based Statistical Area data for 2005 and later are not comparable to earlier data.  
Beginning in first quarter 2005, the Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey is using the 
new metropolitan and micropolitan statistical definitions which were announced by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in June 2003, and were based on the application of the 2000 standards 
to Census 2000 data.  OMB announced updates as of December 2003, based on application of the
2000 standards to more recent Census Bureau estimates.  The December 2003 definitions are available at:
http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metrodef.html.

Go to Housing Vacancies and Homeownership: First Quarter 2006
Contact Bob Callis or Linda Cavanaugh at (301)763-3199 or visit ask.census.gov for further information on the Housing Vacancy Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division