UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NEWSWASHINGTON, D.C. 20230 Robert R. Callis For Release 10:00 AM EDT, July 21, 1998 Linda B. Cavanaugh CB98-118 (301) 763-3199
CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND HOMEOWNERSHIP
(The numbers in parentheses denote the 90-percent confidence intervals.)
National vacancy rates in the second quarter 1998 were 8.0 (+ 0.3) percent in rental housing and 1.7 (+ 0.1) percent in homeowner housing, the Department of Commerce's Census Bureau announced today. The Census Bureau said that the rental vacancy rate was not significantly different from the rate last quarter or from the rate in the second quarter of 1997. The homeowner vacancy rate also showed no significant change from the rate last quarter or from the rate in the second quarter of 1997.
Table 1. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates for the United States: 1982 to 1998 (in percent)
Rental vacancy rate |
Homeowner vacancy rate | |||||||
Year |
First Quarter |
Second Quarter |
Third Quarter | Fourth Quarter | First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Fourth Quarter |
1998.....
1997..... 1996..... 1995..... 1994..... 1993r.... 1993..... 1992..... 1991..... 1990..... 1989r.... 1989..... 1988..... 1987..... 1986..... 1985..... 1984..... 1983..... 1982..... |
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 |
8.0
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 |
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 |
7.7 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 |
1.7
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 |
1.7
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 |
1.5 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 |
1.7 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 |
rRevised.
For rental housing, the vacancy rates in central cities and outside Metropolitan Areas (MAs), 8.3 and 9.1 percent respectively, were higher than in the suburbs, 7.3 percent. (The 8.3 percent and the 9.1 percent were not significantly different from each other.) The rental vacancy rates in central cities, in the suburbs, and outside MAs were not significantly different from one year ago.
For homeowner housing, the vacancy rates in central cities and outside MAs, 1.9 percent and 2.0 percent respectively, were higher than in the suburbs, 1.5 percent, though not significantly different from each other. The homeowner vacancy rates in central cities, in the suburbs and outside MAs were not significantly different from one year ago.
Among regions, the rental vacancy rate was highest in the South at 10.0 percent The rental vacancy rate in the Midwest showed a significant change from one year ago, dropping from 8.2 percent to 7.3 percent, while the other regions did not change significantly.
The homeowner vacancy rate in the South was 1.9 percent, compared to 1.4 percent in the Midwest. The homeowner vacancy rate in the Midwest increased from 1.1 percent a year ago to 1.4 percent in the second quarter of 1998. In the West, the homeowner vacancy rate was lower than the rate one year ago, dropping from 1.9 percent to 1.5 percent, while the rates in other regions did not change significantly.
Table 2. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates By Area:
Second Quarter 1998 and 1997 (in percent)
Rental vacancy rates | Homeowner vacancy rates | |||||||
Area |
Second Quarter 1998 |
Second Quarter 1997 |
Standard error on 1998 rate |
Standard error on differ- ence |
Second Quarter 1998 |
Second Quarter 1997 |
Standard error on 1998 rate |
Standard error on differ- ence |
United States........
Inside MAs......... In central cities Not in central Outside MAs...... Northeast........... Midwest............. South................. West.................. |
8.0
7.8 8.3 7.3 9.1 7.2 7.3 10.0 6.6 |
7.9
7.8 8.2 7.3 8.7 6.7 8.2 9.3 6.8 |
0.2
0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 |
0.3
0.3 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 |
1.7
1.6 1.9 1.5 2.0 1.7 1.4 1.9 1.5 |
1.6
1.6 1.9 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.1 1.9 1.9 |
0.1
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 |
0.1
0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 |
There were an estimated 117.4 million housing units in the United States in the second quarter of 1998. Approximately 103.5 million housing units were occupied, 68.3 million by owners and 35.2 million by renters. The number of owner-occupied units was higher than one year ago, while the number of renter-occupied units was not significantly different from a year ago. Of the 13.9 million vacant housing units, 10.7 million were for year-round use. Approximately 3.1 million of the year-round vacant units were for-rent, 1.2 million were for-sale-only, and the remaining 6.4 million were vacant for a variety of reasons.
Table 3. Estimates of the Total Housing Inventory for the United States:
Second Quarter 1998 and 1997
(Numbers in Thousands)
Type | Second Quarter 1998 |
Second Quarter 1997 |
Standard error on 1998 Estimate |
Standard error on difference |
Percent of total (1998) |
All housing units.............
Occupied...................... Owner........................ Renter........................ Vacant.......................... Year-round................. For rent................... For sale only............ Other....................... Seasonal..................... |
117,401
103,521 68,347 35,174 13,880 10,672 3,112 1,167 6,393 3,208 |
115,722
102,046 67,094 34,952 13,676 10,356 3,043 1,107 6,206 3,320 |
235
245 242 198 133 118 65 40 93 66 |
334
347 341 280 188 166 92 56 130 94 |
100
88 58 30 12 9 3 1 5 3 |
During the second quarter of 1998, the homeownership rate was 66.0
(+0.3) percent. The homeownership rate was not significantly different
from the rate last quarter or the rate one year ago.
Table 4. Homeownership Rates for the United States: 1980 to 1998
(in percent)
Year | Homeownership Rates1 | |||
First Quarter |
Second Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Fourth Quarter | |
1998..........................................
1997.......................................... 1996.......................................... 1995.......................................... 1994.......................................... 1993r......................................... 1993.......................................... 1992.......................................... 1991.......................................... 1990.......................................... 1989r......................................... 1989......................................... 1988......................................... 1987......................................... 1986......................................... 1985......................................... 1984......................................... 1983......................................... 1982......................................... 1981......................................... 1980......................................... |
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 |
66.0
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 |
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 |
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 |
1Standard errors for quarterly homeownership rates for the United States generally are 0.2 percent.
rRevised
Homeownership rates in the second quarter of 1998 were highest in the Midwest, 70.3 percent, and lowest in the West, 60.3 percent. None of the regional homeownership rates showed any significant change from the rates last quarter or the rates one year ago.
Table 5. Homeownership Rates for the United States and Regions: 1994 to 1998 (in percent)
Homeownership Rates2 | |||||
Year/Quarter | United States | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
1998
Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. |
66.0 |
62.7 62.4 |
70.3 70.6 |
68.4 68.2 |
60.3 60.1 |
1997
Fourth Quarter.............. Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1996 Fourth Quarter.............. Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1995 Fourth Quarter.............. Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1994 Fourth Quarter.............. 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 64.2 64.1 63.8 63.8 |
62.7 63.0 62.4 61.6 62.3 62.8 62.3 61.4 61.6 62.2 62.3 61.9 61.4 61.4 61.3 61.7 |
70.4 70.7 70.3 70.6 70.8 70.7 70.5 70.4 70.1 70.1 68.5 67.9 68.6 67.9 67.5 66.8 |
67.8 68.2 68.1 67.8 67.6 67.5 67.2 67.5 67.5 66.6 66.5 66.1 65.7 66.0 65.2 65.6 |
59.8 59.8 59.9 59.0 58.9 59.2 59.8 58.9 59.0 59.1 59.8 58.9 59.6 59.0 59.7 59.5 |
Homeownership rates by age of householder ranged from 39.3 percent for householders less than 35 years old to 80.4 percent for householders 55 to 64 years old in the second quarter of 1998. None of the age categories showed any significant change from one year ago.
Table 6. Homeownership Rates by Age of Householder: 1994 to 1998 (in percent)
Year/Quarter |
Homeownership Rates3 | |||||
United States | Less than 35 years |
35 to 44 years |
45 to 54 years |
55 to 64 years |
65 years and over | |
1998 Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. |
66.0 65.9 |
39.3 39.0 |
66.2 65.9 |
75.5 75.9 |
80.4 80.3 |
79.2 79.1 |
1997 Fourth Quarter...... Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... 1996 Fourth Quarter...... Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... 1995 Fourth Quarter...... Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... 1994 Fourth Quarter...... 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 64.2 64.1 63.8 63.8 |
38.7 38.9 38.6 38.6 39.1 39.0 39.3 38.8 39.1 39.1 38.7 37.7 38.0 37.5 36.8 37.1 |
65.9 66.5 66.3 65.5 65.5 66.3 65.5 64.6 65.5 65.4 65.1 64.9 64.7 64.3 64.6 64.4 |
75.7 76.3 75.6 75.5 75.6 75.9 75.5 75.5 75.2 75.4 75.2 74.9 74.9 75.5 75.2 75.0 |
80.3 80.1 80.3 79.6 80.1 79.7 80.0 80.2 79.5 79.3 79.9 79.4 79.2 79.4 79.1 79.3 |
79.1 79.2 79.1 79.2 79.2 78.6 78.9 79.1 78.7 78.1 78.1 77.5 77.7 77.2 77.2 77.4 |
Homeownership Rates4 | ||||||
Year/Quarter |
U.S total |
White, total |
White non- Hispanic |
Black, total |
Other Race, total |
Hispanic5, total |
1998
Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. |
66.0 65.9 |
69.7 69.6 |
72.5 72.1 |
44.7 45.2 |
53.5 52.3 |
43.9 44.4 |
1997 Fourth Quarter...... Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... 1996 Fourth Quarter...... Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... 1995 Fourth Quarter...... Third Quarter........ Second Quarter..... First Quarter......... 1994 Fourth Quarter...... 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 64.2 64.1 63.8 63.8 |
69.3 69.5 69.4 69.0 69.1 69.2 69.2 68.7 68.8 69.0 68.7 68.2 68.0 67.8 67.6 67.4 |
71.9 72.3 72.1 71.6 71.8 71.8 71.7 71.4 71.2 71.1 70.9 70.4 70.2 70.0 69.9 69.8 |
45.1 45.3 44.4 44.5 44.4 44.5 43.7 43.8 44.3 43.0 42.2 41.2 42.6 42.7 41.8 42.1 |
52.5 53.1 52.7 51.8 51.4 51.5 50.0 50.9 48.4 46.5 46.7 47.2 47.6 46.9 46.3 50.1 |
44.0 43.0 43.3 42.6 42.3 43.5 43.9 41.4 41.1 42.5 42.8 41.8 42.2 41.4 41.1 40.3 |
4Standard 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 for Black householders, 1.0 percent for Other Race householders, and 0.7 for Hispanic householders.
5Hispanics may be of any race.
The homeownership rate for households with incomes less than the median family income in the second quarter of 1998 was 50.0 percent, compared with 80.7 percent for households with incomes greater than or equal to the median family income. Neither rate was significantly different from the rate one year ago.
Table 8. Homeownership Rates by Family Income: 1994 to 1998 (in percent)
Homeownership Rates6 | |||
Year/Quarter |
United States | Households with family income greater than or equal to the median family income7 |
Households with family income less than the median family income7 |
1998
Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. |
66.0 65.9 |
80.7 80.7 |
50.0 50.2 |
1997
Fourth Quarter.............. Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1996 Fourth Quarter.............. Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1995 Fourth Quarter.............. Third Quarter................ Second Quarter............. First Quarter.................. 1994 Fourth Quarter.............. 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 64.2 64.1 63.8 63.8 |
80.5 80.9 80.8 79.7 80.1 80.5 80.3 79.7 79.8 79.6 79.5 79.1 78.8 78.3 78.4 78.5 |
50.0 50.2 50.0 49.9 49.8 49.4 49.2 49.4 49.4 49.0 48.6 48.1 48.6 48.9 48.0 48.1 |
Note: This press release along with more detailed data are available on the Internet. Our Internet address is: http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/ |
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 8.0 percent is 0.2 percentage points.
Consequently, the 90-percent confidence interval as shown by these data is from
7.7 to 8.3; i.e., the interval 8.0 + (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.
Go to Housing Vacancies and Homeownership: Second Quarter 1998