The homeownership rate in the United States rose slightly in 2022, reaching the highest figure since 2011. However, in the third quarter of 2024, the proportion of households occupied by owners declined to 65.6 percent. The U.S. homeownership rate was the highest in 2004 before the 2007-2009 recession hit and decimated the housing market. Homeownership since the recession The rate of homeownership in the U.S. fell in the lead up to the recession and continued to do so until 2016. In spite of this trend, the share of Americans who perceived homeownership as part of their personal American dream remained relatively stable. This suggests that the financial hardship caused by the recession led to the fall in homeownership, rather than a change in opinion about the importance of homeownership itself. What the future holds for homeownership Homeownership trends vary from generation to generation. Homeownership among Americans over 65 years old is declining, whereas most Millennial renters plan to buy a home in the near future. This suggests that homeownership will remain important in the future, as Millennials are forecast to head most households over the next two decades.

In 2023, the rate of homeownership among White people living in the United States was 74.3 percent. Comparatively, 45.7 percent of Black people owned a home in the same year.

The homeownership among White people in the United States was 74 percent, the highest out of all ethnicities, in 2022. American Dream Part of the “American Dream” is the idea of owning a home. It is seen as a status symbol and an indicator of wealth. People take a lot of pride in owning a home, and hope to do so at the earliest age possible. It is the idea of having a white picket fence with a nuclear family, a dog, and a car or two which is seen as the stereotypical “end goal”. However, in the aftermath of the 2008 recession, the rate of homeownership in the United States fell steadily until 2016. The recession hindered people’s chances of owning a home, due to less credit being available and their own fears about being stuck with a home in negative equity if another recession were to occur. As a result, the homeownership rate in the United States has barely increased in the past few years. Factors affecting homeownership Homeownership varies based on different factors. Married-couple families have the highest homeownership rates among different family statuses. Unsurprisingly, households with high incomes have the highest homeownership rates.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate (5-year estimate) for Middlesex County, MA (HOWNRATEACS025017) from 2009 to 2023 about Middlesex County, MA; Boston; homeownership; MA; housing; 5-year; rate; and USA.

The homeownership rate in the United States amounted to nearly 66 percent in the third quarter of 2024. While there are many factors that affect people’s decision to buy a house, the recent decrease can be attributed to the higher mortgage interest rates, which make taking out a mortgage less affordable for potential buyers, especially considering the surge in house prices in recent years. Which factors affect homeownership? Age and ethnicity have a strong correlation with homeownership. Baby boomers, for example, are twice as likely to own their home than Millennials. Also, the homeownership rate among white Americans is substantially higher than among any other ethnicity. How does the U.S. homeownership rate compare with other countries? Having a home is an integral part of the “American Dream”. Compared with selected European countries, the U.S. ranks alongside the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and Ireland. Many countries in Europe, however, exceed 80 percent homeownership rate.

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Homeownership Rate for Massachusetts was 61.90% in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Homeownership Rate for Massachusetts reached a record high of 65.80 in January of 2012 and a record low of 58.60 in January of 1990. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Homeownership Rate for Massachusetts - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on February of 2025.

The homeownership rate was the highest among Americans in their early 70s and the lowest among people in their early 20s in 2023. In that year, approximately 81 percent of individuals aged 70 to 75 resided in a residence they owned, compared to approximately 23.6 percent among individuals under the age of 25. On average, 65.9 percent of Americans lived in an owner-occupied home. The homeownership rate was the highest in 2004 but has since declined.

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Home ownership persists as the primary way that families build wealth. Housing researchers and advocates often discuss the racial home ownership gap, particularly for Black and Hispanic households (Urban Institute, Pew Hispanic Center). Historical policies such as redlining, steering, and municipal underbounding have effects that stay with us today.This map shows the overall home ownership rate and the home ownership rate by race/ethnicity of householder in a chart in the pop-up. Map is multi-scale showing data for state, county, and tract.This map uses these hosted feature layers containing the most recent American Community Survey data. These layers are part of the ArcGIS Living Atlas, and are updated every year when the American Community Survey releases new estimates, so values in the map always reflect the newest data available.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate (5-year estimate) for Norfolk County, MA (HOWNRATEACS025021) from 2009 to 2023 about Norfolk County, MA; Boston; homeownership; MA; housing; 5-year; rate; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate (5-year estimate) for Essex County, MA (HOWNRATEACS025009) from 2009 to 2023 about Essex County, MA; Boston; homeownership; MA; housing; 5-year; rate; and USA.

The Midwest was the U.S. region with the highest homeownership rate in the United States in 2023. Approximately 70 percent of all homes were owned by their occupants in that year, which was about four percent higher than the national average. At the other end of the scale was the West region, where less than 62 percent of people owned their home. Overall, the homeownership rate in the U.S. has declined since 2003.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate (5-year estimate) for Willacy County, TX (HOWNRATEACS048489) from 2009 to 2023 about Willacy County, TX; homeownership; TX; housing; 5-year; rate; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate (5-year estimate) for New London County, CT (HOWNRATEACS009011) from 2009 to 2021 about New London County, CT; Norwich; CT; homeownership; housing; 5-year; rate; and USA.

This statistic shows the homeownership rate in the United States between 2001 to 2009 and 2010 to 2017, by income. Between the second period, the homeownership rate of respondents who earn more than 150,000 U.S. dollars was 84 percent, which was a seven percent decrease from the first period.

The U.S. homeownership rate for householders over 65 years of age fluctuated between 78.8 percent and 80.9 percent since 2011. In the third quarter of 2024, approximately 79 percent of people over 65 years of age inhabited an owner-occupied home. This was much higher than the average homeownership rate in the United States.

The number of U.S. home sales in the United States declined in 2023, after soaring in 2021. A total of four million transactions of existing homes, including single-family, condo, and co-ops, were completed in 2023, down from 6.12 million in 2021. According to the forecast, the housing market is forecast to head for recovery in 2025, despite transaction volumes are expected to remain below the long-term average. Why have home sales declined? The housing boom during the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated that being a homeowner is still an integral part of the American dream. Nevertheless, sentiment declined in the second half of 2022 and Americans across all generations agreed that the time was not right to buy a home. A combination of factors has led to house prices rocketing and making homeownership unaffordable for the average buyer. A survey among owners and renters found that the high home prices and unfavorable economic conditions were the two main barriers to making a home purchase. People who would like to purchase their own home need to save up a deposit, have a good credit score, and a steady and sufficient income to be approved for a mortgage. In 2022, mortgage rates experienced the most aggressive increase in history, making the total cost of homeownership substantially higher. Only 15 percent of U.S. renters could afford to become homeowners and in metros with highly competitive housing markets such as Los Angeles, CA, and Urban Honolulu, HI, this share was below five percent. Are U.S. home prices expected to fall? The median sales price of existing homes stood at 387,000 U.S. dollars in 2023 and was forecast to increase slightly until 2025. The development of the S&P/Case Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index shows that home prices experienced seven consecutive months of decline between June 2022 and January 2023, but this trend reversed in the following months. Despite mild fluctuations throughout the year, home prices in many metros are forecast to continue to grow, albeit at a much slower rate.

The U.S. housing market has seen significant price growth since 2011, with the median sales price of existing single-family homes reaching a record high of 408,000 U.S. dollars in 2024. This represents a substantial increase of 133,000 over the past five years, highlighting the rapid appreciation of home values across the country. The trend of rising prices can also be observed in the new homes sold. Regional variations and housing shortage While the national median price provides a broad overview, regional differences in home prices are notable. The West remains the most expensive region, with prices twice higher than in the more affordable Midwest. This disparity persists despite efforts to increase housing supply. In 2024, approximately 982,000 building permits for single-family housing units were granted, showing a slight increase from previous years but still well below the 2005 peak of 1.68 million permits. The ongoing housing shortage continues to drive prices upward across all regions. Market dynamics and future outlook The number of existing home sales has plummeted since 2020, reflecting the growing cost of homeownership. Factors such as high home prices, unfavorable economic conditions, and aggressive increases in mortgage rates have contributed to affordability challenges for many potential homebuyers. Despite these challenges, forecasts suggest a potential recovery in the housing market by 2025, though transaction volumes are expected to remain below long-term averages.

This statistic shows the Generation Z homeownership rate in the United States in 2016 and 2025, by ethnicity. In 2016, almost 13 percent of Hispanic Americans between 15 and 24 years were homeowners, but this is set to rise to 28.5 percent by 2025 when they will be 25 to 34 years.