Housing Vacancy Rate
Definition
The percentage of total housing units that are vacant (unoccupied). Includes seasonal homes, units for sale, units for rent, and other vacant units.
Why It Matters
Vacancy rates indicate housing market tightness. Very low vacancy drives up prices; very high vacancy may signal economic decline. A moderate rate (10-12%) indicates a healthy market with options for movers.
How It's Measured
The Census Bureau classifies each housing unit as occupied or vacant during the ACS survey. Vacant units are further classified by reason for vacancy.
Related Ranking
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Frequently Asked Questions
The percentage of total housing units that are vacant (unoccupied). Includes seasonal homes, units for sale, units for rent, and other vacant units.
Vacancy rates indicate housing market tightness. Very low vacancy drives up prices; very high vacancy may signal economic decline. A moderate rate (10-12%) indicates a healthy market with options for movers.
The Census Bureau classifies each housing unit as occupied or vacant during the ACS survey. Vacant units are further classified by reason for vacancy.
this entity is one of the U.S. population demographics concepts that recurs across this site. The definition above is the technical answer; the paragraphs below add the practical context for how the concept connects to the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data behind every per-entity page on the site.
In the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.