Data / Rankings / Rental vacancy rate (US) / US states

US states by rental vacancy rate (US)

North Dakota had the highest rental vacancy rate (US) of 51 states in 2021, at 13.3%. Vermont had the lowest, at 2.5%. The median was 5.9% and the figure for the United States was 6.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest13.3North Dakota
Lowest2.5Vermont
Median5.951 states
United States6.1History

Map of states, 2021

Alabama: 11.7 %Alaska: 4.2 %Arizona: 4.8 %Arkansas: 7.5 %California: 4.3 %Colorado: 4.5 %Connecticut: 5.1 %Delaware: 3.8 %District of Columbia: 9.8 %Florida: 6.5 %Georgia: 6 %Hawaii: 7.3 %Idaho: 4.4 %Illinois: 8.2 %Indiana: 8.4 %Iowa: 7.3 %Kansas: 8.8 %Kentucky: 6.2 %Louisiana: 7.7 %Maine: 4.1 %Maryland: 5 %Massachusetts: 4.2 %Michigan: 5.7 %Minnesota: 6.6 %Mississippi: 9.2 %Missouri: 8.6 %Montana: 4.1 %Nebraska: 5.7 %Nevada: 4.6 %New Hampshire: 3.5 %New Jersey: 3.6 %New Mexico: 6.9 %New York: 5.9 %North Carolina: 5.3 %North Dakota: 13.3 %Ohio: 5.8 %Oklahoma: 7.7 %Oregon: 4.5 %Pennsylvania: 6.3 %Rhode Island: 2.8 %South Carolina: 8 %South Dakota: 8.7 %Tennessee: 7.3 %Texas: 8.4 %Utah: 4.4 %Vermont: 2.5 %Virginia: 5.4 %Washington: 4.5 %West Virginia: 6.5 %Wisconsin: 4.7 %Wyoming: 8 %
  • Under 4.2
  • 4.2 to 4.8
  • 4.8 to 5.9
  • 5.9 to 7.3
  • 7.3 to 8.3
  • 8.3 and over
%, 2021. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2021

North Dakota: 13.3 %North Dakota13.3Alabama: 11.7 %Alabama11.7District of Columbia: 9.8 %District of Columbia9.8Mississippi: 9.2 %Mississippi9.2Kansas: 8.8 %Kansas8.8South Dakota: 8.7 %South Dakota8.7Missouri: 8.6 %Missouri8.6Indiana: 8.4 %Indiana8.4Texas: 8.4 %Texas8.4Illinois: 8.2 %Illinois8.2South Carolina: 8 %South Carolina8Wyoming: 8 %Wyoming8Louisiana: 7.7 %Louisiana7.7Oklahoma: 7.7 %Oklahoma7.7Arkansas: 7.5 %Arkansas7.5Hawaii: 7.3 %Hawaii7.3Iowa: 7.3 %Iowa7.3Tennessee: 7.3 %Tennessee7.3New Mexico: 6.9 %New Mexico6.9Minnesota: 6.6 %Minnesota6.6Florida: 6.5 %Florida6.5West Virginia: 6.5 %West Virginia6.5Pennsylvania: 6.3 %Pennsylvania6.3Kentucky: 6.2 %Kentucky6.2Georgia: 6 %Georgia6New York: 5.9 %New York5.9Ohio: 5.8 %Ohio5.8Michigan: 5.7 %Michigan5.7Nebraska: 5.7 %Nebraska5.7Virginia: 5.4 %Virginia5.4North Carolina: 5.3 %North Carolina5.3Connecticut: 5.1 %Connecticut5.1Maryland: 5 %Maryland5Arizona: 4.8 %Arizona4.8Wisconsin: 4.7 %Wisconsin4.7Nevada: 4.6 %Nevada4.6Colorado: 4.5 %Colorado4.5Oregon: 4.5 %Oregon4.5Washington: 4.5 %Washington4.5Idaho: 4.4 %Idaho4.4Utah: 4.4 %Utah4.4California: 4.3 %California4.3Alaska: 4.2 %Alaska4.2Massachusetts: 4.2 %Massachusetts4.2Maine: 4.1 %Maine4.1Montana: 4.1 %Montana4.1Delaware: 3.8 %Delaware3.8New Jersey: 3.6 %New Jersey3.6New Hampshire: 3.5 %New Hampshire3.5Rhode Island: 2.8 %Rhode Island2.8Vermont: 2.5 %Vermont2.5North Dakota: 13.3 %North Dakota13.3Alabama: 11.7 %Alabama11.7District of Columbia: 9.8 %District of Columbia9.8Mississippi: 9.2 %Mississippi9.2Kansas: 8.8 %Kansas8.8South Dakota: 8.7 %South Dakota8.7Missouri: 8.6 %Missouri8.6Indiana: 8.4 %Indiana8.4Texas: 8.4 %Texas8.4Illinois: 8.2 %Illinois8.2South Carolina: 8 %South Carolina8Wyoming: 8 %Wyoming8Louisiana: 7.7 %Louisiana7.7Oklahoma: 7.7 %Oklahoma7.7Arkansas: 7.5 %Arkansas7.5Hawaii: 7.3 %Hawaii7.3Iowa: 7.3 %Iowa7.3Tennessee: 7.3 %Tennessee7.3New Mexico: 6.9 %New Mexico6.9Minnesota: 6.6 %Minnesota6.6Florida: 6.5 %Florida6.5West Virginia: 6.5 %West Virginia6.5Pennsylvania: 6.3 %Pennsylvania6.3Kentucky: 6.2 %Kentucky6.2Georgia: 6 %Georgia6New York: 5.9 %New York5.9Ohio: 5.8 %Ohio5.8Michigan: 5.7 %Michigan5.7Nebraska: 5.7 %Nebraska5.7Virginia: 5.4 %Virginia5.4North Carolina: 5.3 %North Carolina5.3Connecticut: 5.1 %Connecticut5.1Maryland: 5 %Maryland5Arizona: 4.8 %Arizona4.8Wisconsin: 4.7 %Wisconsin4.7Nevada: 4.6 %Nevada4.6Colorado: 4.5 %Colorado4.5Oregon: 4.5 %Oregon4.5Washington: 4.5 %Washington4.5Idaho: 4.4 %Idaho4.4Utah: 4.4 %Utah4.4California: 4.3 %California4.3Alaska: 4.2 %Alaska4.2Massachusetts: 4.2 %Massachusetts4.2Maine: 4.1 %Maine4.1Montana: 4.1 %Montana4.1Delaware: 3.8 %Delaware3.8New Jersey: 3.6 %New Jersey3.6New Hampshire: 3.5 %New Hampshire3.5Rhode Island: 2.8 %Rhode Island2.8Vermont: 2.5 %Vermont2.5
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2021 (%)Change on 2020
1North Dakota13.3-0.3 pts
2Alabama11.7-1.9 pts
3District of Columbia9.8+1.6 pts
4Mississippi9.2+0.6 pts
5Kansas8.8-3.3 pts
6South Dakota8.7-0.3 pts
7Missouri8.6+1.9 pts
8Indiana8.4-0.9 pts
8Texas8.4-0.2 pts
10Illinois8.2+0.3 pts
11South Carolina8-1.7 pts
11Wyoming8-1.4 pts
13Louisiana7.7-0.3 pts
13Oklahoma7.7-0.7 pts
15Arkansas7.5-0.9 pts
16Hawaii7.3-0.2 pts
16Iowa7.3-1.6 pts
16Tennessee7.3-0.7 pts
19New Mexico6.9+0.4 pts
20Minnesota6.6+2 pts
21Florida6.5-0.8 pts
21West Virginia6.50 pts
23Pennsylvania6.3-1.2 pts
24Kentucky6.2+0.1 pts
25Georgia6-1.1 pts
26New York5.9+0.4 pts
27Ohio5.8-0.3 pts
28Michigan5.7-0.7 pts
28Nebraska5.7-0.8 pts
30Virginia5.4-1.1 pts
31North Carolina5.3-0.5 pts
32Connecticut5.1-0.5 pts
33Maryland5-0.6 pts
34Arizona4.8-0.7 pts
35Wisconsin4.7+0.4 pts
36Nevada4.6-0.6 pts
37Colorado4.5+0.5 pts
37Oregon4.5-0.2 pts
37Washington4.5+0.7 pts
40Idaho4.40 pts
40Utah4.4-0.9 pts
42California4.3+0.3 pts
43Alaska4.2-2.8 pts
43Massachusetts4.2-0.4 pts
45Maine4.1+0.6 pts
45Montana4.1-0.3 pts
47Delaware3.8-2.3 pts
48New Jersey3.6+0.7 pts
49New Hampshire3.5+1.1 pts
50Rhode Island2.8+0.2 pts
51Vermont2.5-0.8 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Vacant housing units available for year-round use and offered for rent as a percentage of the rental inventory (renter-occupied units, vacant units for rent and units rented but not yet occupied). Annual CPS/HVS average for the United States and states. Seasonal and other off-market vacancies are excluded.

Annual CPS/HVS survey estimates, distinct from ACS five-year estimates. State figures have sampling uncertainty, so a small change need not be statistically significant. Revised columns published on a new basis replace the original year and are marked as series breaks. Pandemic restrictions changed interviewing in 2020 and 2021, affecting comparability. The 2025 average covers 11 months: October was not collected during the lapse in federal funding, increasing uncertainty.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages. https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/annual25/ann25t_3.xlsx. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages (US states by rental vacancy rate (US), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/annual25/ann25t_3.xlsx

MLA 9

Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages, US states by rental vacancy rate (US), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 28 Apr. 2026, https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/annual25/ann25t_3.xlsx. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/rental-vacancy-rate/us-states?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages. US states by rental vacancy rate (US), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/annual25/ann25t_3.xlsx. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/rental-vacancy-rate/us-states?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages, US states by rental vacancy rate (US), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/annual25/ann25t_3.xlsx, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/rental-vacancy-rate/us-states?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_rental_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages: US states by rental vacancy rate (US), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/annual25/ann25t_3.xlsx},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/rental-vacancy-rate/us-states?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages. https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/annual25/ann25t\_3.xlsx. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages: US states by rental vacancy rate (US), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/04/28
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/annual25/ann25t_3.xlsx
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/rental-vacancy-rate/us-states?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/rental-vacancy-rate/us-states?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages. https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/annual25/ann25t_3.xlsx. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest rental vacancy rate (US)?

North Dakota, with 13.3% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest rental vacancy rate (US)?

Vermont, with 2.5% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS) annual statistics, Table 3, rental vacancy rates by state, United States and states, annual averages. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

US states: more rankings