US Vacant Housing Units
US Vacant Housing Units stood at 15,643 thousand units in Q2 2026, according to Census Bureau (Housing Vacancies and Homeownership, HVS). It is one of the indicators in the Homeownership and vacancy rates table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q2 2000 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Homeownership and vacancy rates table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total housing units | 149,454 | 149,006 | 148,712 | 148,300 | 147,947 | 147,594 | 147,241 | 146,888 | 146,535 | 146,183 | |
| Vacant | 15,643 | 15,305 | 15,039 | 15,221 | 15,433 | 15,548 | 14,995 | 14,900 | 15,215 | 15,262 | |
| Occupied | 133,811 | 133,701 | 133,673 | 133,079 | 132,514 | 132,046 | 132,247 | 131,988 | 131,320 | 130,920 |
Understanding US Vacant Housing Units
This series quantifies the United States Vacant Housing Units, measuring the total volume of residential properties that are currently unoccupied and not serving as a primary residence. The scope encompasses all empty dwellings within the national inventory, regardless of whether they are actively marketed or held off the market, but excludes properties occupied by individuals whose usual residence is elsewhere. It differs from active inventory metrics by capturing all vacant space rather than just units available for rent or purchase. Analysts utilize this aggregate to gauge overall slack in the residential real estate sector.
Releases adhere to a structured periodic calendar, with historical figures subject to retrospective revisions to align with updated census benchmarks. Month-on-month data can exhibit significant volatility due to cyclical construction completions and shifting residential mobility, making year-on-year comparisons the more robust approach for tracking structural changes. Seasonal fluctuations heavily influence this metric, as moving activity and property turnover cluster in specific periods of the year. Economists monitor these figures to assess supply imbalances, regional population shifts, and broader economic health.