What does this renters ranking show?

It orders states by Share of occupied homes that are rented. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table B25003 supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Rankings · Housing

Highest renters by state

Share of occupied homes that are rented.

This measure has no better end. The order describes the states, it does not rank them — see the other direction.

Of the homes people actually live in, the share occupied by renters rather than owners. Vacant homes are excluded, so this is not affected by the second-home share. It shapes a lot of local character: how much turnover there is, how much of the housing stock is maintained by landlords, and how exposed the place is to rent rather than to mortgage rates.

How to read this ranking

District of Columbia has the highest published renters in this comparison, at 58.5%. The next states shown are New York (45.5%) and California (44.0%).

The table orders 51 states by share of occupied homes that are rented. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Of the homes people actually live in, the share occupied by renters rather than owners. Vacant homes are excluded, so this is not affected by the second-home share. It shapes a lot of local character: how much turnover there is, how much of the housing stock is maintained by landlords, and how exposed the place is to rent rather than to mortgage rates.

1District of Columbia58.5%
2New York45.5%
3California44.0%
4Nevada40.0%
5Texas37.3%
6Massachusetts37.1%
7Hawaii36.7%
8North Dakota36.7%
9Oregon36.5%
10Rhode Island36.1%
11Washington36.1%
12New Jersey35.8%
13Georgia34.4%
14Oklahoma34.0%
15Colorado33.6%
16Connecticut33.5%
17Arkansas33.4%
18Nebraska33.2%
19Illinois33.0%
20North Carolina33.0%
21Tennessee33.0%
22Alaska32.9%
23Ohio32.8%
24Kansas32.7%
25Louisiana32.7%
26Virginia32.6%
27Arizona32.5%
28Maryland32.4%
29Florida32.1%
30Missouri31.8%
31Kentucky31.5%
32Wisconsin31.5%
33South Dakota31.3%
34Montana30.6%
35Pennsylvania30.6%
36Mississippi30.1%
37New Mexico29.8%
38Alabama29.7%
39Utah29.5%
40Indiana29.4%
41Iowa28.2%
42Wyoming28.2%
43South Carolina28.1%
44Idaho27.6%
45Minnesota27.5%
46New Hampshire26.8%
47Michigan26.4%
48Delaware26.3%
49Vermont26.3%
50Maine25.3%
51West Virginia25.0%

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Share of occupied homes that are rented. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table B25003. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table B25003. · How this is built

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