Census ACS 2023 · 51 states
States With Highest Housing Vacancy Rates
Housing vacancy rates reveal where the supply of homes exceeds demand — but the reasons vary dramatically. Vermont and Maine have high vacancy rates largely because of seasonal vacation homes that sit empty much of the year. West Virginia and Mississippi have high rates driven by population decline and economic distress, with abandoned homes in struggling communities. Florida's vacancy rate includes a large stock of snowbird condos and vacation rentals. A moderate vacancy rate (around 10-12%) is actually healthy for a housing market, providing enough options for buyers and renters to move without facing extreme competition. Very low vacancy rates, like those in high-demand markets, drive up prices and reduce mobility. Very high rates can signal economic decline, neighborhood blight, and falling property values that trap remaining homeowners.
Key Findings
- 1Maine leads with a vacancy rate of 21.1%, followed by Vermont (20.1%) and Alaska (18.2%).
- 2The gap between #1 Maine and #51 Washington (7.4%) is 13.7 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 10.7% (Idaho at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Maine, Vermont, Alaska, West Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Arkansas.
Full Ranking: States With Highest Housing Vacancy Rates
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Vacancy Rate | Median Home | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 13.4% | $285,100 | 579,761 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 11.1% | $247,400 | 5,892,023 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 16.1% | $155,600 | 1,784,462 |
| 4 | Washington | 7.4% | $519,800 | 7,740,984 |
| 5 | Virginia | 9.0% | $360,700 | 8,657,499 |
| 6 | Vermont | 20.1% | $290,500 | 645,254 |
| 7 | Utah | 8.2% | $455,000 | 3,331,187 |
| 8 | Texas | 9.6% | $260,400 | 29,640,343 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 10.6% | $256,800 | 6,986,082 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 10.9% | $236,800 | 899,194 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 13.8% | $236,700 | 5,212,774 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 9.8% | $368,800 | 1,095,371 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 9.4% | $240,500 | 12,986,518 |
| 14 | Oregon | 7.5% | $454,200 | 4,238,714 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 12.5% | $185,900 | 3,995,260 |
| 16 | Ohio | 8.4% | $199,200 | 11,780,046 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 13.3% | $241,100 | 779,361 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 13.0% | $259,400 | 10,584,340 |
| 19 | New York | 10.2% | $403,000 | 19,872,319 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 13.1% | $232,200 | 2,114,768 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 7.9% | $427,600 | 9,267,014 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 14.4% | $367,200 | 1,387,834 |
| 23 | Nevada | 9.5% | $406,100 | 3,141,000 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 8.0% | $223,800 | 1,965,926 |
| 25 | Montana | 13.4% | $338,100 | 1,105,072 |
| 26 | Missouri | 11.6% | $215,600 | 6,168,181 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 15.1% | $161,400 | 2,951,438 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 9.4% | $305,500 | 5,713,716 |
| 29 | Michigan | 12.2% | $217,600 | 10,051,595 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 8.4% | $525,800 | 6,992,395 |
| 31 | Maryland | 8.1% | $397,700 | 6,170,738 |
| 32 | Maine | 21.1% | $266,400 | 1,377,400 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 14.8% | $208,700 | 4,621,025 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 10.9% | $192,300 | 4,510,725 |
| 35 | Kansas | 9.7% | $203,400 | 2,937,569 |
| 36 | Iowa | 8.6% | $195,900 | 3,195,937 |
| 37 | Indiana | 9.2% | $201,600 | 6,811,752 |
| 38 | Illinois | 8.1% | $250,500 | 12,692,653 |
| 39 | Idaho | 10.7% | $376,000 | 1,893,296 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 13.4% | $808,200 | 1,445,635 |
| 41 | Georgia | 10.6% | $272,900 | 10,822,590 |
| 42 | Florida | 15.2% | $325,000 | 21,928,881 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 9.7% | $724,600 | 672,079 |
| 44 | Delaware | 13.5% | $326,800 | 1,005,872 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 7.5% | $343,200 | 3,598,348 |
| 46 | Colorado | 8.6% | $502,200 | 5,810,774 |
| 47 | California | 7.6% | $695,400 | 39,242,785 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 14.0% | $175,300 | 3,032,651 |
| 49 | Arizona | 11.0% | $358,900 | 7,268,175 |
| 50 | Alaska | 18.2% | $333,300 | 733,971 |
| 51 | Alabama | 15.0% | $195,100 | 5,054,253 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 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
Maine has the highest vacancy rate at 21.1%, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Vermont and Alaska round out the top three.
Washington has the lowest vacancy rate at 7.4%. Connecticut is second-lowest at 7.5%.
The median across all 51 states is 10.7%. 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) 2023 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 data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 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.