Census ACS 5-Year · 52 states
States With Highest Homeownership Rates
Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream and the primary wealth-building tool for most families. States in the upper Midwest and rural South tend to have the highest homeownership rates, West Virginia, Minnesota, and Michigan frequently lead, driven by affordable housing, stable communities, and cultural norms that favor ownership over renting. Homeownership creates a cascade of economic benefits: homeowners build equity, have more stable housing costs, and invest more in their communities. Higher homeownership rates are associated with better school performance, lower crime, and stronger civic engagement. However, the national homeownership rate has declined from its pre-2008 peak as younger generations face student debt, rising prices, and stricter lending standards. States that maintain high homeownership rates generally do so through a combination of affordable prices and strong local employment.
Key Findings
- 1West Virginia leads with a homeownership rate of 74.3%, followed by Maine (74.0%) and Michigan (72.9%).
- 2The gap between #1 West Virginia and #52 District of Columbia (41.1%) is 33.2 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 67.2% (Virginia at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: West Virginia, Maine, Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Idaho, Delaware, Wyoming, Iowa.
Full Ranking: States With Highest Homeownership Rates
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Homeownership | Median Home | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 71.9% | $285,100 | $74,815 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 67.9% | $247,400 | $75,670 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 74.3% | $155,600 | $57,917 |
| 4 | Washington | 63.9% | $519,800 | $94,952 |
| 5 | Virginia | 67.2% | $360,700 | $90,974 |
| 6 | Vermont | 72.8% | $290,500 | $78,024 |
| 7 | Utah | 70.6% | $455,000 | $91,750 |
| 8 | Texas | 62.6% | $260,400 | $76,292 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 67.0% | $256,800 | $67,097 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 68.6% | $236,800 | $72,421 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 71.4% | $236,700 | $66,818 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 63.3% | $368,800 | $86,372 |
| 13 | Puerto Rico | 68.1% | $124,600 | $25,096 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 69.3% | $240,500 | $76,081 |
| 15 | Oregon | 63.4% | $454,200 | $80,426 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 65.8% | $185,900 | $63,603 |
| 17 | Ohio | 67.0% | $199,200 | $69,680 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 63.4% | $241,100 | $75,949 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 66.4% | $259,400 | $69,904 |
| 20 | New York | 54.3% | $403,000 | $84,578 |
| 21 | New Mexico | 69.3% | $232,200 | $62,125 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 63.7% | $427,600 | $101,050 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 72.5% | $367,200 | $95,628 |
| 24 | Nevada | 59.3% | $406,100 | $75,561 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 66.5% | $223,800 | $74,985 |
| 26 | Montana | 69.4% | $338,100 | $69,922 |
| 27 | Missouri | 67.9% | $215,600 | $68,920 |
| 28 | Mississippi | 69.5% | $161,400 | $54,915 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 72.4% | $305,500 | $87,556 |
| 30 | Michigan | 72.9% | $217,600 | $71,149 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 62.6% | $525,800 | $101,341 |
| 32 | Maryland | 67.5% | $397,700 | $101,652 |
| 33 | Maine | 74.0% | $266,400 | $71,773 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 67.3% | $208,700 | $60,023 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 68.3% | $192,300 | $62,417 |
| 36 | Kansas | 66.9% | $203,400 | $72,639 |
| 37 | Iowa | 71.5% | $195,900 | $73,147 |
| 38 | Indiana | 70.4% | $201,600 | $70,051 |
| 39 | Illinois | 66.8% | $250,500 | $81,702 |
| 40 | Idaho | 72.4% | $376,000 | $74,636 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 62.6% | $808,200 | $98,317 |
| 42 | Georgia | 65.4% | $272,900 | $74,664 |
| 43 | Florida | 67.3% | $325,000 | $71,711 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | 41.1% | $724,600 | $106,287 |
| 45 | Delaware | 72.3% | $326,800 | $82,855 |
| 46 | Connecticut | 66.2% | $343,200 | $93,760 |
| 47 | Colorado | 66.3% | $502,200 | $92,470 |
| 48 | California | 55.8% | $695,400 | $96,334 |
| 49 | Arkansas | 66.1% | $175,300 | $58,773 |
| 50 | Arizona | 67.0% | $358,900 | $76,872 |
| 51 | Alaska | 66.6% | $333,300 | $89,336 |
| 52 | Alabama | 69.9% | $195,100 | $62,027 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
West Virginia has the highest homeownership rate at 74.3%, according to latest Census ACS data. Maine and Michigan round out the top three.
District of Columbia has the lowest homeownership rate at 41.1%. New York is second-lowest at 54.3%.
The median across all 52 states is 67.2%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.