In 2023, owner-occupied housing made up 65.6% of US units, while renter-occupied homes accounted for 34.4%. Median gross rent reached $1,255 in 2023, and 45.4% of renter households spent 30% or more of income on housing in 2022. The rest of the picture connects homeownership, vacancy at a 6.1% rate, construction, and housing quality.
Key Takeaways
- Share of housing that is owner-occupied in the United States is 65.6% (2023).
- Share of housing that is renter-occupied in the United States is 34.4% (2023).
- Homeownership rate in the United States is 65.8% (Q4 2023).
- Housing units that are vacant are 12.3 million (2023).
- Vacancy rate is 6.1% (2023).
- Rental vacancy rate is 6.3% (2023).
- Median age of housing stock is 46 years for renter-occupied units (2019).
- Median age of housing stock is 40 years for owner-occupied units (2019).
- Share of housing units built before 1960 is 43% (2019).
- Median household size in renter-occupied housing units is 2.3 (2022).
- Median household size in owner-occupied housing units is 2.5 (2022).
- Number of households in the United States is 131.9 million (2023).
- Number of households experiencing homelessness on a single night is 150,000 (point-in-time, 2023).
- Number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night is 653,104 (2023 point-in-time).
- Percentage of homeless people who are unsheltered is 19% (2023).
In 2023, most Americans owned their homes, while renters faced far higher cost burdens.
Related reading
01 · Category
Ownership and Tenure30 stats
01
Share of housing that is owner-occupied in the United States is 65.6% (2023).
02
Share of housing that is renter-occupied in the United States is 34.4% (2023).
03
Homeownership rate in the United States is 65.8% (Q4 2023).
04
Homeownership rate among households in the United States is 65.1% (2022).
05
Housing units with a mortgage in the United States are 47.0% (2022).
06
Housing units without a mortgage in the United States are 53.0% (2022).
07
Median age of the housing stock in the United States is 41 years (2019).
08
Percentage of housing units that are single-family detached in the United States is 55% (2019).
09
Percentage of housing units that are single-family attached in the United States is 6% (2019).
10
Percentage of housing units that are two- to four-unit in the United States is 14% (2019).
11
Percentage of housing units that are five-plus-unit in the United States is 19% (2019).
12
Owner-occupied housing unit median value (US) is $390,500(2022).
13
Renter-occupied housing unit median gross rent (US) is $1,192(2022).
14
Median value of owner-occupied housing units in the United States is $397,900(2023).
15
Median gross rent in the United States is $1,255(2023).
16
Percentage of households that are homeowners without a mortgage is 36.0% (Q1 2024).
17
Percentage of households that are homeowners with a mortgage is 29.7% (Q1 2024).
18
Percentage of households that are renters is 34.3% (Q1 2024).
19
Number of owner-occupied housing units in the United States is 90,214,000 (Q3 2023).
20
Number of renter-occupied housing units in the United States is 45,791,000 (Q3 2023).
21
Total housing units in the United States is 136,005,000 (Q3 2023).
22
Share of households spending 30% or more of income on housing in the United States is 32.2% (2022).
23
Share of renters spending 30% or more of income on housing is 45.4% (2022).
24
Share of homeowners spending 30% or more of income on housing is 22.7% (2022).
25
Share of households experiencing severe housing cost burden (50%+ of income) is 12.6% (2022).
26
Share of renters experiencing severe housing cost burden (50%+ of income) is 22.8% (2022).
27
Share of homeowners experiencing severe housing cost burden (50%+ of income) is 6.4% (2022).
28
Percentage of households that are cost-burdened renters is 37.4% (2022).
29
Percentage of households that are severely cost-burdened renters is 22.8% (2022).
30
Percentage of households that are cost-burdened homeowners is 18.4% (2022).
Interpretation
Ownership and Tenure Interpretation
In the United States, about two thirds of housing is owned and most owners are doing at least okay financially, but renters and low income households are much more likely to be squeezed by housing costs, with nearly half of renters paying 30 percent or more of their income and over a fifth facing severe burdens, all while home values keep climbing and the youngest households remain far less likely to buy than seniors.
02 · Category
Housing Supply and Vacancy30 stats
01
Housing units that are vacant are 12.3 million (2023).
02
Vacancy rate is 6.1% (2023).
03
Rental vacancy rate is 6.3% (2023).
04
Owner vacancy rate is 6.0% (2023).
05
New housing units authorized by building permits in the United States (annual total) is 1,507,000 (2023).
06
Housing starts in the United States are 1,400,000 (2023).
07
Housing completions in the United States are 1,300,000 (2023).
08
Existing home sales in the United States are 4.09 million (2023).
09
Median new home sales price in the United States is $410,800(2023).
10
Median existing home price in the United States is $363,200(2023).
11
Housing starts seasonally adjusted annual rate is 1,200,000 (April 2024).
12
Building permits seasonally adjusted annual rate is 1,300,000 (April 2024).
13
Housing starts in the Northeast region in 2023 is 150,000.
14
Housing starts in the Midwest region in 2023 is 180,000.
15
Housing starts in the South region in 2023 is 590,000.
16
Housing starts in the West region in 2023 is 430,000.
17
New privately-owned housing units started is 1,202,000 (2023).
18
New privately-owned housing units completed is 1,213,000 (2023).
19
Number of new housing units built in the United States is 1,590,000 (2023).
20
Home construction spending in the United States is $1.7 trillion (Q4 2023).
21
New residential construction spending in the United States is $1,180,000 million (2023).
22
Total residential investment in the United States is $2.6 trillion (Q4 2023).
23
Housing inventory (months supply) is 3.5 months (March 2024).
24
Listing inventory of houses for sale is 1.17 million (March 2024).
25
Share of vacant units that are for rent is 39.8% (2023).
26
Share of vacant units that are rented but not occupied is 20.1% (2023).
27
Share of vacant units that are “for sale only” is 13.0% (2023).
28
Share of vacant units that are “for seasonal/recreational use” is 9.6% (2023).
29
Total housing permits (all areas) is 1,527,000 (2023).
30
Starts of single-family housing units are 820,000 (2023).
Interpretation
Housing Supply and Vacancy Interpretation
In 2023 the United States effectively had a roughly six percent housing vacancy cushion and just over 1.5 million new units authorized, but with monthly supply around 3.5 months, median existing homes still lagging new prices, and hundreds of thousands of starts and completions pointing to steady construction spending, the bigger story is that supply is moving, yet the market remains tight and many vacancies are tied up in rentals, timing, or seasonal use rather than fully solving for demand.
03 · Category
Housing Stock and Quality30 stats
01
Median age of housing stock is 46 years for renter-occupied units (2019).
02
Median age of housing stock is 40 years for owner-occupied units (2019).
03
Share of housing units built before 1960 is 43% (2019).
04
Share of housing units built 1960-1979 is 25% (2019).
05
Share of housing units built 1980-1999 is 20% (2019).
06
Share of housing units built 2000-2019 is 12% (2019).
07
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities is 0.9% (2022).
08
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities is 1.0% (2022).
09
Housing units without central air conditioning is 39.2% (2022).
10
Housing units without heating fuel adequate or with problems is 1.6% (2022).
11
Share of homes with structural problems is 6.6% (2022).
12
Share of homes with plumbing problems is 1.8% (2022).
13
Share of homes with heating problems is 3.2% (2022).
14
Share of homes with electrical problems is 1.1% (2022).
15
Share of households living in housing with overcrowding (more than 1 person per room) is 2.5% (2022).
16
Share of households living in overcrowded conditions is 2.5% (2022).
17
Share of households in severe overcrowding (more than 1.5 persons per room) is 0.7% (2022).
18
Share of households reporting housing lacks a working smoke alarm is 4.6% (2021).
19
Share of households reporting housing lacks a working carbon monoxide alarm is 20.8% (2021).
20
Share of housing units with lead-based paint risk is 87% for pre-1940 homes (2019).
21
Proportion of occupied housing units with lead-based paint risk is 37% (2019).
22
Share of housing units with mold is 7.9% (2021).
23
Share of households living in dwellings with pest problems is 2.3% (2022).
24
Share of households living in dwellings without hot water is 0.4% (2022).
25
Share of households with no telephone service is 0.3% (2022).
26
Share of housing units with damage from water leaks is 3.7% (2022).
27
Share of housing units with peeling paint is 4.1% (2022).
28
Share of housing units with broken windows is 2.6% (2022).
29
Share of housing units with incomplete kitchen facilities is 1.0% (2022).
30
Share of housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities is 0.9% (2022).
Interpretation
Housing Stock and Quality Interpretation
In 2019 the nation lived mostly in midlife housing, with renters in nearly 46 year old stock and owners in about 40 year old stock, yet today’s mostly small homes still carry modern day gaps and risks: almost half of the housing was built before 1960, lead paint risk lingers for 87% of pre 1940 units, 39.2% lack central air, and while serious hazards are uncommon, small fractions still lack basic essentials like complete plumbing, hot water, or working carbon monoxide alarms, leaving a property landscape that is sturdy enough to house the country but imperfect enough to keep inspectors busy and residents occasionally stressed.
More related reading
04 · Category
Demographics and Households30 stats
01
Median household size in renter-occupied housing units is 2.3 (2022).
02
Median household size in owner-occupied housing units is 2.5 (2022).
03
Number of households in the United States is 131.9 million (2023).
04
Number of renter households in the United States is 44.9 million (2023).
05
Number of owner households in the United States is 90.5 million (2023).
06
Share of households with children under 18 living in them is 32.0% (2023).
07
Percentage of households that are single-person households is 28.0% (2023).
08
Percentage of households that are two-person households is 31.0% (2023).
09
Share of households headed by someone aged 65+ is 28.3% (2023).
10
Share of households headed by someone aged under 35 is 26.2% (2023).
11
Homeownership rate for households with a head of age 65+ is 78.0% (2023).
12
Homeownership rate for households with a head of age under 35 is 34.0% (2023).
13
Homeownership rate for Black households is 44.1% (2023).
14
Homeownership rate for Hispanic households is 49.3% (2023).
15
Homeownership rate for White non-Hispanic households is 73.7% (2023).
16
Homeownership rate for Asian households is 59.8% (2023).
17
Median gross rent for renters is $1,192(2022).
18
Median gross rent for renters is $1,255(2023).
19
Median value of owner-occupied housing units is $390,500(2022).
20
Median value of owner-occupied housing units is $397,900(2023).
21
Share of households that are multigenerational (living with grandparents/other) is 4.4% (2022).
22
Percent of households that are extended-family households is 5.0% (2022).
23
Percent of households living in households without a high school diploma is 22.6% (2022).
24
Percent of households living below poverty level is 12.6% (2022).
25
Share of households with incomes below $35,000is 26.4% (2022).
26
Share of households with incomes $100,000+ is 27.1% (2022).
27
Median household income is $74,580(2022).
28
Median household income is $80,610(2023).
29
Share of renters paying 30%+ of income for housing is 45.4% (2022).
30
Share of renters paying 50%+ of income for housing is 22.8% (2022).
Interpretation
Demographics and Households Interpretation
In 2023 the typical American household still depends on a house that costs more to rent than anyone wants to admit, since renters average $1,255 in gross rent, 45.4% spend 30% or more of their income on housing and 22.8% spend 50% or more, while owners meanwhile carry a much lighter burden at 22.7% and 6.4% respectively, and despite a rising median household income from $74,580 in 2022 to $80,610 in 2023, homeownership remains sharply split by age and race, with a 78.0% rate for heads 65 plus versus 34.0% for heads under 35, and with White non Hispanic households at 73.7% compared to Black households at 44.1% and Hispanic households at 49.3%, all while the country’s 131.9 million households average 2.3 people for renters and 2.5 for owners, and an aging, smaller household mix is underway with 28.0% single person households and 28.3% headed by someone 65 plus.
05 · Category
Housing Assistance, Costs and Affordability30 stats
01
Number of households experiencing homelessness on a single night is 150,000 (point-in-time, 2023).
02
Number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night is 653,104 (2023 point-in-time).
03
Percentage of homeless people who are unsheltered is 19% (2023).
04
Percentage of homeless people who are sheltered is 81% (2023).
05
Average cost of an FHA mortgage insurance premium (annual MIP) is 0.55% (base annual rate, varies by term/LTV).
06
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher average monthly subsidy is $1,706(2023).
07
Number of households receiving Housing Choice Vouchers is 2,490,000 (2023).
08
Number of public housing units is 870,000 (2023).
09
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) single-family mortgage insurance for new endorsements is $1,044 billion (FY 2023).
10
Average contract rent for public housing is $1,300(2023).
11
Median rent affordability: share of renter households paying 30%+ is 45.4% (2022).
12
CPI rent index (CUSR0000SEHA) increased by 4.2% over 12 months (Mar 2024).
13
CPI rent index level for rent of primary residence (CUSR0000SEHA) is 315.8 (Mar 2024).
14
Shelter CPI index (CPI-U shelter) is 348.5 (Mar 2024).
15
30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.63% (April 2024 weekly).
16
15-year fixed mortgage rate is 5.74% (April 2024 weekly).
17
5/1 ARM rate is 6.33% (April 2024 weekly).
18
Average interest rate on new mortgages (US) is 6.67% (2024 week).
19
Mortgage delinquency rate is 3.3% (Q1 2024).
20
Mortgage foreclosure starts (US) are 46,000 (2023 monthly average).
21
Share of mortgage loans in foreclosure is 0.07% (2024).
22
Median mortgage payment as share of median household income is 24.1% (Q4 2023).
23
Housing affordability index (US) is 99.0 (Q4 2023).
24
National Association of Realtors median existing home sale price is $363,200(2023).
25
Price-to-income ratio for housing (US) is 25.6 (Q4 2023).
26
Rent-to-income ratio (US) is 0.27 (Q4 2023).
27
Real house price index is 147.9 (base 2012=100, Mar 2024).
28
US house price index is 356.0 (Feb 2024, SA).
29
Home price growth (YoY) is 5.6% (Feb 2024).
30
Housing cost burden (30%+ of income) for renters is 45.4% (2022).
Interpretation
Housing Assistance, Costs and Affordability Interpretation
With 653,104 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2023 and nearly two thirds of renter households spending 30 percent or more of their income on rent, today’s housing “solution” is a patchwork of long waiting lists for vouchers, pricey mortgages and rents, and affordability that keeps sliding just as interest rates and costs rise.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Housing Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/housing-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Housing Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/housing-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Housing Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/housing-statistics.
Sources & references
72 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+64 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)