The number of housing units in the United States has grown year-on-year and in 2024, there were approximately *** million homes. That was an increase of about one percent from the previous year. Homeownership in the U.S. Most of the housing stock in the U.S. is owner-occupied, meaning that the person who owns the home uses it as a primary residence. Homeownership is an integral part of the American Dream, with about *** in ***** Americans living in an owner-occupied home. For older generations, the homeownership rate is even higher, showing that buying a home is an important milestone in life. Housing transactions slowing down During the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. experienced a housing market boom and witnessed an increase in the number of homes sold. Since 2020, when the market peaked, new homes transactions have slowed down and so have the sales of existing homes. That has affected the development of home prices, with several states across the country experiencing a decline in house prices.

How many households are in the U.S.?

In 2023, there were 131.43 million households in the United States. This is a significant increase from 1960, when there were 52.8 million households in the U.S.

What counts as a household?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a household is considered to be all persons living within one housing unit. This includes apartments, houses, or single rooms, and consists of both related and unrelated people living together. For example, two roommates who share a living space but are not related would be considered a household in the eyes of the Census. It should be noted that group living quarters, such as college dorms, are not counted as households in the Census.

Household changes

While the population of the United States has been increasing, the average size of households in the U.S. has decreased since 1960. In 1960, there was an average of 3.33 people per household, but in 2023, this figure had decreased to 2.51 people per household. Additionally, two person households make up the majority of American households, followed closely by single-person households.

Total Housing Inventory in the United States increased to 1540 Thousands in May from 1450 Thousands in April of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States Total Housing Inventory.

Graph and download economic data for Monthly Supply of New Houses in the United States (MSACSR) from Jan 1963 to May 2025 about supplies, new, housing, and USA.

Housing Starts in the United States decreased to 1256 Thousand units in May from 1392 Thousand units in April of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Housing Starts - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The largest share of the housing stock in the United States as of 2021 was built between 1975 and 1979. There were 18.5 million homes built during this period, whereas the homes built between 2016 and 2019 were less than six million.

Graph and download economic data for Housing Inventory Estimate: Occupied Housing Units in the United States (EOCCUSQ176N) from Q2 2000 to Q1 2025 about inventories, housing, and USA.

United States Number of Housing Unit: Northeast data was reported at 24,343.000 Unit th in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 24,317.000 Unit th for Jun 2018. United States Number of Housing Unit: Northeast data is updated quarterly, averaging 22,883.000 Unit th from Mar 1992 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 107 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24,343.000 Unit th in Sep 2018 and a record low of 21,842.000 Unit th in Mar 1992. United States Number of Housing Unit: Northeast data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.EB011: Number of Housing Units.

No of Housing Unit: Louisiana data was reported at 2,061,420.000 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,043,686.000 Unit for 2016. No of Housing Unit: Louisiana data is updated yearly, averaging 1,953,481.500 Unit from Jun 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,061,420.000 Unit in 2017 and a record low of 1,817,416.000 Unit in 2006. No of Housing Unit: Louisiana data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.EB012: Number of Housing Units: By States.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate in the United States (RHORUSQ156N) from Q1 1965 to Q1 2025 about homeownership, housing, rate, and USA.

Following a period of stagnation over most of the 2010s, the number of owner occupied housing units in the United States started to grow in 2017. In 2023, there were over 86 million owner-occupied homes. Owner-occupied housing is where the person who owns a property – either outright or through a mortgage – also resides in the property. Excluded are therefore rental properties, employer-provided housing and social housing. Homeownership sentiment in the U.S. Though homeownership is still a cornerstone of the American dream, an increasing share of people see themselves as lifelong renters. Millennials have been notoriously late to enter the housing market, with one in four reporting that they would probably continue to always rent in the future, a 2022 survey found. In 2017, just five years before that, this share stood at about 13 percent. How many renter households are there? Renter households are roughly half as few as owner-occupied households in the U.S. In 2023, the number of renter occupied housing units amounted to almost 45 million. Climbing on the property ladder for renters is not always easy, as it requires prospective homebuyers to save up for a down payment and qualify for a mortgage. In many metros, the median household income is insufficient to qualify for the median-priced home.

No of Housing Unit: Georgia data was reported at 4,282,106.000 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,236,284.000 Unit for 2016. No of Housing Unit: Georgia data is updated yearly, averaging 4,049,890.000 Unit from Jun 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,282,106.000 Unit in 2017 and a record low of 3,305,925.000 Unit in 2000. No of Housing Unit: Georgia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.EB012: Number of Housing Units: By States.

Graph and download economic data for Housing Inventory: Median Days on Market in the United States (MEDDAYONMARUS) from Jul 2016 to May 2025 about median and USA.

United States Number of Housing Unit: Florida data was reported at 9,441,153.000 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 9,338,805.000 Unit for 2016. United States Number of Housing Unit: Florida data is updated yearly, averaging 8,832,484.000 Unit from Jun 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,441,153.000 Unit in 2017 and a record low of 7,340,246.000 Unit in 2000. United States Number of Housing Unit: Florida data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.EB012: Number of Housing Units: By States.

United States Number of Housing Unit data was reported at 138,585.000 Unit th in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 138,313.000 Unit th for Jun 2018. United States Number of Housing Unit data is updated quarterly, averaging 107,569.000 Unit th from Mar 1965 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 215 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 138,585.000 Unit th in Sep 2018 and a record low of 63,668.000 Unit th in Mar 1965. United States Number of Housing Unit data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.EB011: Number of Housing Units. Series Remarks Data for 1979 Q1 to Q4 was revised to reflect changes made in 1980. Data for 1989 Q1 to Q4 was revised to include year-round vacant mobile homes. Data for 1993 Q1 to Q4 was revised based on the 1990 Census. Data for 2002 Q1 to Q4 was revised based on the 2000 Census.

United States Number of Housing Unit: Vacant: Year Round: For Rent data was reported at 3,343.000 Unit th in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,206.000 Unit th for Jun 2018. United States Number of Housing Unit: Vacant: Year Round: For Rent data is updated quarterly, averaging 2,802.000 Unit th from Mar 1965 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 215 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,588.000 Unit th in Sep 2009 and a record low of 1,120.000 Unit th in Dec 1969. United States Number of Housing Unit: Vacant: Year Round: For Rent data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.EB011: Number of Housing Units. Series Remarks Data for 1979 Q1 to Q4 was revised to reflect changes made in 1980. Data for 1989 Q1 to Q4 was revised to include year-round vacant mobile homes. Data for 1993 Q1 to Q4 was revised based on the 1990 Census. Data for 2002 Q1 to Q4 was revised based on the 2000 Census.

The number of existing homes for sale in the United States decreased overall since 2013, while the number of newly built homes for sale followed the opposite trend. As of June 2024, there were over 1.3 million existing and 476,000 newly built housing units for sale. Unlike new homes, the existing housing inventory typically increased in the second and third quarters of the year when the housing market is more active.

United States Number of Housing Unit: Vacant: Year Round data was reported at 13,220.000 Unit th in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 13,103.000 Unit th for Jun 2018. United States Number of Housing Unit: Vacant: Year Round data is updated quarterly, averaging 9,099.000 Unit th from Mar 1965 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 215 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14,491.000 Unit th in Jun 2010 and a record low of 4,255.000 Unit th in Dec 1970. United States Number of Housing Unit: Vacant: Year Round data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.EB011: Number of Housing Units. Series Remarks Data for 1979 Q1 to Q4 was revised to reflect changes made in 1980. Data for 1989 Q1 to Q4 was revised to include year-round vacant mobile homes. Data for 1993 Q1 to Q4 was revised based on the 1990 Census. Data for 2002 Q1 to Q4 was revised based on the 2000 Census.

United States Number of Housing Unit: Minnesota data was reported at 2,437,711.000 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,419,560.000 Unit for 2016. United States Number of Housing Unit: Minnesota data is updated yearly, averaging 2,329,371.500 Unit from Jun 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,437,711.000 Unit in 2017 and a record low of 2,073,863.000 Unit in 2000. United States Number of Housing Unit: Minnesota data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.EB012: Number of Housing Units: By States.

Graph and download economic data for Number of New Private Nonfarm Housing Units Started for United States (A0261AUSA610NNBR) from 1889 to 1945 about housing starts, nonfarm, new, private, housing, and USA.