Housing market data, prices, and characteristics of U.S. housing.
In 2025, New Jersey had the highest housing unit density among U.S. states at roughly 439 units per square mile, while Alaska, Wyoming, and Montana remained below 4 units per square mile. The national average was about 39 housing units per square mile, but state densities varied widely due to land area, urbanization, and historical settlement patterns.
As of 2026, rent control in the United States remains a fragmented landscape of statewide caps, local ordinances, and state-level preemptions. While a few states like California and Oregon enforce strict statewide limits, dozens of others forbid cities from implementing their own rent caps.
In 2025, Maine had the highest housing units per 1,000 residents among states with available Census data, at 549.1, while Utah had the lowest at 373.1. The U.S. total housing stock reached 146.7 million units, with wide state-to-state variation driven by vacation markets, population growth, and housing supply constraints.
The U.S. homeownership rate was 65.0% in Q2 2026, unchanged from a year earlier but below the 25-year average of 66.3%. Age remains the strongest predictor: under-35 households had a rate of 35.2%, while those 65 and over were near 79%. This article breaks down the latest Census data and generational trends.
In the second quarter of 2026, the U.S. homeownership rate held at 65.0 percent, but large gaps persisted by race and ethnicity. Non-Hispanic White households had a homeownership rate of 74.5 percent, compared with 45.4 percent for Black households and 48.1 percent for Hispanic households. Affordability pressures and limited housing supply kept the overall rate plateaued in a narrow low-to-mid-65 percent band.
The 2024 American Community Survey shows Hawaii with the highest median owner-occupied home value at $839,100, while West Virginia is the lowest at $162,600. The national median is $303,300, with wide regional gaps driven by coastal demand, land constraints, and income differences.
The U.S. homeowner vacancy rate held at 1.2 percent in the second quarter of 2026, statistically unchanged from 1.1 percent a year earlier, while the rental vacancy rate remained much higher at 7.3 percent. State-level homeowner vacancy rankings are not available in the latest federal release, but national and regional patterns show a persistently tight owner-occupied market. Buyers face limited for-sale inventory and affordability pressures, while rental supply provides a modest pressure valve.
The U.S. rental vacancy rate reached 7.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026, its highest level since 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The increase reflects a nationwide apartment building boom that has shifted bargaining power toward renters, even as the homeownership rate holds steady at 65.0 percent. This article examines the historical trend, the forces behind the rise, and what the data suggest for the rest of 2026.
As of mid-2026, median asking rents in the 50 largest U.S. metros have seen a steady decline for 35 consecutive months. This trend is driven by a multiyear multifamily construction boom that has significantly increased housing supply across various regional markets.
The U.S. rental vacancy rate reached 7.3% in 2026, its highest level since 2017, signaling a shift toward a renter-friendly market. State-level vacancy rates vary widely, from 3.84% in New York to 9.0% in Texas, according to March 2026 data. This article examines the latest rankings, regional patterns, and factors driving the changes.