Homeowner Vacancy Rate by State: 2026 Rankings and What It Means for Buyers

The U.S. homeowner vacancy rate remained exceptionally low in 2026, holding at 1.2 percent in the second quarter, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That near-record-low level signals a persistently tight market for owner-occupied housing, even as the rental vacancy rate stayed much higher at 7.3 percent. For buyers, the gap between the two rates underscores a fundamental imbalance: there are very few vacant, for-sale homes available, while rental options provide a modest pressure valve. This article explains what the homeowner vacancy rate measures, how it is calculated, and what the latest national data mean for households, markets, and policymakers.

Key Numbers

• National homeowner vacancy rate (Q2 2026): 1.2%
• Rental vacancy rate (Q2 2026): 7.3%
• Homeownership rate (Q2 2026): 65.0%
• Overall residential vacancy rate (Q3 2026, ATTOM): 1.3%
• Zombie foreclosure rate (Q3 2026): 3.3% of foreclosures
• Total U.S. residential properties (Q3 2026): 104.6 million
• Properties in foreclosure (Q3 2026): 259,666
• Zombie properties (Q3 2026): 8,482

Explanation

The homeowner vacancy rate is the share of homeowner housing units that are vacant and offered for sale. It is a key indicator of supply in the owner-occupied market. A low rate means few homes are sitting empty waiting for a buyer, which typically translates into faster sales, higher prices, and more competition among purchasers. By contrast, the rental vacancy rate measures the share of rental units that are vacant and offered for rent. In the second quarter of 2026, the rental vacancy rate was 7.3 percent, more than six times the homeowner rate. That difference reflects both stronger demand for owner-occupied housing and a larger inventory of available rental units.

For buyers, a homeowner vacancy rate near 1 percent means that the for-sale market is operating with very little slack. Most owner-occupied homes are occupied; those that are vacant and listed for sale represent a small fraction of the housing stock. This tightness has been a defining feature of the U.S. housing market since the pandemic-era buying boom and has persisted even as mortgage rates and home prices have strained affordability.

The Census Bureau’s quarterly Housing Vacancy Survey is the primary source for these rates. It is based on a sample of housing units and asks whether each unit is occupied, vacant for rent, vacant for sale, or held off the market. The homeowner vacancy rate is calculated by dividing the number of vacant year-round units for sale by the sum of owner-occupied units and vacant units for sale. The rental vacancy rate is calculated similarly for rental units.

Definition

The homeowner vacancy rate is the proportion of the homeowner housing inventory that is vacant and for sale. It is expressed as a percentage. A unit is considered vacant if no one is living in it at the time of the survey, and it is considered for sale if the owner is actively trying to sell it. The rate excludes seasonal, migratory, and second homes that are not on the market. It is a narrower measure than the overall vacancy rate, which includes all vacant residential properties regardless of tenure or sale status.

In the second quarter of 2026, the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2 percent. That means roughly 1.2 out of every 100 homeowner housing units were vacant and offered for sale. The rental vacancy rate, by comparison, was 7.3 percent, meaning 7.3 out of every 100 rental units were vacant and offered for rent.

How the Statistic Is Calculated

The U.S. Census Bureau calculates the homeowner vacancy rate using data from the Housing Vacancy Survey, which is part of the Current Population Survey. The formula is:

• Homeowner vacancy rate = (Vacant year-round units for sale) / (Owner-occupied units + Vacant year-round units for sale) × 100

The denominator includes all homeowner housing units that are either occupied by their owners or vacant and for sale. It excludes vacant units that are rented or sold but not yet occupied, seasonal units, and units held off the market for personal reasons. The rental vacancy rate uses a parallel formula with renter-occupied units and vacant units for rent.

Because the survey is sample-based, the rates are estimates with margins of error. The Census Bureau reports whether changes are statistically significant. In the second quarter of 2026, the homeowner vacancy rate of 1.2 percent was not statistically different from the 1.1 percent rate in both the first quarter of 2026 and the second quarter of 2025.

National Comparison

Nationally, the homeowner vacancy rate has been stuck in a narrow band near historic lows. The second quarter 2026 rate of 1.2 percent was virtually unchanged from a year earlier and from the previous quarter. The rental vacancy rate, at 7.3 percent, was also not statistically different from the 7.0 percent rate in the second quarter of 2025 and the 7.3 percent rate in the first quarter of 2026.

The stability in both rates suggests that the housing market’s supply-demand balance has not shifted dramatically over the past year. However, the homeowner rate remains far below the rental rate, indicating that the owner-occupied segment is much tighter than the rental segment.

Historical Data

Longer-term context helps explain why the current homeowner vacancy rate is notable. Before the 2008 housing crash, the homeowner vacancy rate often hovered between 1.5 and 2.0 percent. During the foreclosure crisis, it spiked above 2.5 percent as many homes sat empty and for sale. Since the mid-2010s, the rate has trended downward, reaching historically low levels during the pandemic-era housing boom. The 1.2 percent rate in 2026 is consistent with that post-2020 pattern of extremely tight owner-occupied supply.

ATTOM’s separate measure of overall residential vacancy, which includes all vacant properties regardless of tenure, was 1.3 percent in the third quarter of 2026. That was the same as the previous quarter and the third quarter of 2025. ATTOM also reported that 3.3 percent of properties in foreclosure were zombie homes—abandoned before the foreclosure process was complete. The number of zombie properties fell slightly to 8,482.

Year-over-Year Change

The year-over-year change in the homeowner vacancy rate was minimal. The rate rose from 1.1 percent in the second quarter of 2025 to 1.2 percent in the second quarter of 2026, but the Census Bureau said the difference was not statistically significant. Similarly, the rental vacancy rate increased from 7.0 percent to 7.3 percent over the same period, also not statistically significant. The homeownership rate was 65.0 percent in the second quarter of 2026, virtually the same as the 65.0 percent rate a year earlier.

This stability contrasts with earlier periods of rapid change. For example, the homeowner vacancy rate fell sharply from 2020 to 2022 as demand surged and inventory shrank. The current plateau suggests that the market has settled into a new equilibrium of low vacancy and constrained supply.

Factors Behind the Trend

Several forces are keeping the homeowner vacancy rate low. First, the supply of homes for sale remains limited. Many existing homeowners are reluctant to sell because they hold low-rate mortgages and would face higher borrowing costs if they moved. This ‘lock-in’ effect reduces the number of homes that become vacant and listed for sale. Second, new construction has not fully closed the gap between housing demand and supply, especially for entry-level and mid-priced homes. Third, investor purchases of single-family homes have absorbed some inventory that might otherwise have been listed for sale.

Affordability pressures also play a role. Realtor.com senior economist Hannah Jones noted that the homeownership rate ‘continues to plateau in a narrow low- to mid-65% band, with affordability pressures and limited supply showing little sign of easing their grip on the market.’ That plateau reflects both high home prices and elevated mortgage rates, which have pushed some would-be buyers into the rental market. The rental vacancy rate of 7.3 percent indicates that rental supply is more adequate, providing a pressure valve for households that cannot buy.

Why It Matters

The homeowner vacancy rate is a direct measure of slack in the for-sale housing market. When the rate is very low, buyers face more competition, homes sell faster, and prices tend to rise. Sellers benefit from a strong market, but first-time buyers and lower-income households may struggle to find affordable options. A low homeowner vacancy rate also means that vacant homes are less likely to become blighted or abandoned, which is a positive for neighborhood stability.

For policymakers and analysts, the gap between the homeowner and rental vacancy rates is a signal about where housing stress is concentrated. The owner-occupied market is extremely tight, while the rental market has more available units. That imbalance can influence decisions about zoning, construction incentives, and rental assistance programs.

Limitations of the Data

The homeowner vacancy rate has several limitations. It is based on a sample survey, so small changes may not be statistically significant. The rate also does not capture the full complexity of the for-sale market: a home can be vacant and for sale but not actively marketed, or it can be occupied by a renter while the owner tries to sell. The Census Bureau’s definition excludes vacant units that are being held off the market for personal reasons, which can understate the true number of empty homes.

ATTOM’s overall vacancy rate uses property-level data and includes all vacant residential properties, but it does not distinguish between homeowner and rental vacancies in the same way as the Census Bureau. The two measures are complementary but not directly comparable. Finally, the public release summarized here does not include state-level homeowner vacancy rates, so state rankings cannot be constructed from the available data.

State Comparison

A state-by-state ranking of homeowner vacancy rates is not available in the retrieved federal release. The U.S. Census Bureau’s quarterly Housing Vacancy Survey publishes national and regional estimates, but the public summary does not provide a table of homeowner vacancy rates for individual states. ATTOM’s quarterly vacant property report includes state-level data in its full report, but the summary retrieved here does not include a state-by-state table. Therefore, this article cannot present a reliable 2026 state ranking without risking fabrication.

However, the available data do point to regional variation in housing market conditions. Realtor.com’s coverage of the Census data noted ‘regional differences’ in the homeownership rate, though specific state vacancy rates were not provided. In general, states with faster population growth and tighter housing supply tend to have lower homeowner vacancy rates, while states with slower growth or more new construction may have higher rates. Readers interested in state-level rankings should consult the full ATTOM report or the Census Bureau’s detailed tables, which are released separately.

Methodology

The primary data in this article come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Residential Vacancies and Homeownership release for the second quarter of 2026, published July 28, 2026. The homeowner vacancy rate is based on the Housing Vacancy Survey, a sample of approximately 75,000 housing units. The survey asks whether each unit is occupied, vacant for rent, vacant for sale, or held off the market. Rates are calculated as described above and are subject to sampling error.

ATTOM’s Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report for the third quarter of 2026, published August 27, 2026, provides a separate measure of overall residential vacancy and zombie foreclosures. ATTOM analyzes publicly recorded real estate data matched against monthly updated vacancy data. Its overall vacancy rate of 1.3 percent includes all vacant residential properties, not just those for sale or rent.

Source & Data Date

Primary source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Residential Vacancies and Homeownership, Second Quarter 2026, released July 28, 2026. Additional source: ATTOM, Q3 2026 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report, released August 27, 2026. Context from Realtor.com news coverage, July 28, 2026.