What does this vacancy rate ranking show?

It orders states by Share of homes that are vacant. 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 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 vacancy rate by state

Share of homes that are vacant.

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

Every housing unit is counted as occupied or vacant, and this is the vacant share. It reads two opposite ways: economic decline, or a tourist economy where houses stand empty most of the year. The second-home share beside it separates the two — a dying town and a ski town both post high vacancy. From Census table B25002.

How to read this ranking

Maine has the highest published vacancy rate in this comparison, at 20.6%. The next states shown are Vermont (19.4%) and Alaska (17.7%).

The table orders 51 states by share of homes that are vacant. 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. Every housing unit is counted as occupied or vacant, and this is the vacant share. It reads two opposite ways: economic decline, or a tourist economy where houses stand empty most of the year. The second-home share beside it separates the two — a dying town and a ski town both post high vacancy. From Census table B25002.

1Maine20.6%
2Vermont19.4%
3Alaska17.7%
4West Virginia15.4%
5Florida14.7%
6Alabama14.6%
7Mississippi14.6%
8Louisiana14.4%
9New Hampshire14.3%
10Arkansas13.5%
11Delaware13.4%
12Hawaii13.3%
13South Carolina13.3%
14Montana13.2%
15North Carolina12.5%
16New Mexico12.5%
17North Dakota12.2%
18Wyoming12.2%
19Oklahoma12.0%
20Michigan11.8%
21Missouri11.2%
22Wisconsin10.8%
23Arizona10.6%
24South Dakota10.5%
25Georgia10.3%
26Idaho10.3%
27Kentucky10.3%
28Tennessee10.2%
29District of Columbia10.1%
30New York10.0%
31Texas9.4%
32Minnesota9.3%
33Nevada9.3%
34Kansas9.2%
35Pennsylvania9.2%
36Rhode Island9.1%
37Indiana8.8%
38Virginia8.7%
39Iowa8.5%
40Colorado8.3%
41Massachusetts8.1%
42Ohio8.1%
43Utah8.1%
44Illinois7.7%
45Maryland7.7%
46Nebraska7.6%
47California7.5%
48New Jersey7.5%
49Oregon7.5%
50Washington7.3%
51Connecticut7.0%

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Share of homes that are vacant. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau. 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. · How this is built

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