U.S. Census Bureau
 Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS)
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Fourth Quarter 2005 


Table 2.  Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates, by Area:  Fourth Quarter 2004 and 2005
                 (in percent)


                                    Rental vacancy rates


                          Fourth       Fourth          90-Percent
         Area             quarter      quarter   Confidence Interval (±)a
                           2004         2005     of 2005 rate of difference


United States..........        10.0          9.6          0.4          0.5

  Inside Core-Based
     Statistical Areas…        NA            9.4          0.5           NA
    In central cities..        NA            9.4          0.6           NA
    Not in central cities
    (suburbs)..........        NA            9.3          0.7           NA
  Outside Core-Based
    Statistical Areas..        NA           10.9          1.6           NA

 Northeast.............         6.8          6.7          0.7          0.8
 Midwest...............        12.4         12.3          0.9          1.0
 South.................        12.5         11.4          0.9          1.0
 West..................         7.2          7.0          0.8          0.9



                                    Homeowner vacancy rates


                          Fourth       Fourth              90-Percent
         Area             quarter      quarter   Confidence Interval (±)a
                           2004         2005     of 2005 rate of difference

United States..........         1.8          2.0          0.1          0.2

  Inside Core-Based
     Statistical Areas…        NA            2.0          0.2           NA
    In central cities..        NA            2.7          0.3           NA
    Not in central cities
    (suburbs)..........        NA            1.7          0.1           NA
  Outside Core-Based
    Statistical Areas……        NA            2.1          0.3           NA

 Northeast.............         1.2          1.6          0.3          0.3
 Midwest...............         2.2          2.4          0.3          0.3
 South.................         2.0          2.2          0.2          0.3
 West..................         1.5          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.
NA Not available.  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: Fourth Quarter 2005
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
Last Revised: January 31, 2006