Census ACS 5-Year · 52 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
- 1Puerto Rico leads with a vacancy rate of 21.3%, followed by Maine (21.1%) and Vermont (20.1%).
- 2The gap between #1 Puerto Rico and #52 Washington (7.4%) is 13.9 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 10.7% (Idaho at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Puerto Rico, Maine, Vermont, Alaska, West Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, New Hampshire.
Full Ranking: States With Highest Housing Vacancy Rates
Source: Census ACS 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 | Puerto Rico | 21.3% | $124,600 | 3,254,885 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 9.4% | $240,500 | 12,986,518 |
| 15 | Oregon | 7.5% | $454,200 | 4,238,714 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 12.5% | $185,900 | 3,995,260 |
| 17 | Ohio | 8.4% | $199,200 | 11,780,046 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 13.3% | $241,100 | 779,361 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 13.0% | $259,400 | 10,584,340 |
| 20 | New York | 10.2% | $403,000 | 19,872,319 |
| 21 | New Mexico | 13.1% | $232,200 | 2,114,768 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 7.9% | $427,600 | 9,267,014 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 14.4% | $367,200 | 1,387,834 |
| 24 | Nevada | 9.5% | $406,100 | 3,141,000 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 8.0% | $223,800 | 1,965,926 |
| 26 | Montana | 13.4% | $338,100 | 1,105,072 |
| 27 | Missouri | 11.6% | $215,600 | 6,168,181 |
| 28 | Mississippi | 15.1% | $161,400 | 2,951,438 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 9.4% | $305,500 | 5,713,716 |
| 30 | Michigan | 12.2% | $217,600 | 10,051,595 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 8.4% | $525,800 | 6,992,395 |
| 32 | Maryland | 8.1% | $397,700 | 6,170,738 |
| 33 | Maine | 21.1% | $266,400 | 1,377,400 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 14.8% | $208,700 | 4,621,025 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 10.9% | $192,300 | 4,510,725 |
| 36 | Kansas | 9.7% | $203,400 | 2,937,569 |
| 37 | Iowa | 8.6% | $195,900 | 3,195,937 |
| 38 | Indiana | 9.2% | $201,600 | 6,811,752 |
| 39 | Illinois | 8.1% | $250,500 | 12,692,653 |
| 40 | Idaho | 10.7% | $376,000 | 1,893,296 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 13.4% | $808,200 | 1,445,635 |
| 42 | Georgia | 10.6% | $272,900 | 10,822,590 |
| 43 | Florida | 15.2% | $325,000 | 21,928,881 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | 9.7% | $724,600 | 672,079 |
| 45 | Delaware | 13.5% | $326,800 | 1,005,872 |
| 46 | Connecticut | 7.5% | $343,200 | 3,598,348 |
| 47 | Colorado | 8.6% | $502,200 | 5,810,774 |
| 48 | California | 7.6% | $695,400 | 39,242,785 |
| 49 | Arkansas | 14.0% | $175,300 | 3,032,651 |
| 50 | Arizona | 11.0% | $358,900 | 7,268,175 |
| 51 | Alaska | 18.2% | $333,300 | 733,971 |
| 52 | Alabama | 15.0% | $195,100 | 5,054,253 |
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.
More Housing Rankings
Explore Other Rankings
Related Rankings & Top Entities
Frequently Asked Questions
Puerto Rico has the highest vacancy rate at 21.3%, according to latest Census ACS data. Maine and Vermont 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 52 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) 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.