The Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS) of the Census indicates that the most recent homeownership rate was 65.5% in the third quarter of 2026.
The broader picture continues to reflect significant affordability challenges, despite the modest quarterly increase.
Housing affordability is at its lowest level in over a decade, as mortgage interest rates continue to be high and the housing supply remains constrained.
Currently, the homeownership rate is 3.7 percentage points lower than the peak of 69.2% in 2004 and is below the 25-year average of 66.3%.
In three age groups, homeownership rates decreased in comparison to the previous year.
The most significant decrease was observed among households aged 35-44, which decreased by 1 percentage point from 61.1% to 60.1%.
In the third quarter of 2026, the homeownership rate for individuals under the age of 35 decreased by 0.9 percentage points to 36.6% among younger households.
This age group is particularly susceptible to fluctuations in mortgage rates and the availability of entry-level residences.
The 55-64 age group experienced a 0.6 percentage point decrease, dropping from 76% to 75.4%.
Over the same period, the homeownership rates of householders aged 65 years and older increased by 1.2 percentage points, while the 45-54 age group experienced a 0.4 percentage point increase.
The national rental vacancy rate increased to 7.6% in the third quarter of 2026, continuing a consistent upward trajectory that began in 2023.
In the interim, the homeowner vacancy rate remained at 1.2%.
The increase in the existing home supply is indicated by the increases in both the homeowner and rental vacancy rates.
The housing stock-based HVS indicated that the total number of households increased from 133.2 million a year ago to 134 million in the third quarter of 2026.
The growth of both owner and tenant households was the primary factor contributing to this increase.
Over the same period, the number of renter households increased by 70,000, while the number of owner-occupied households increased by approximately 0.8 million.
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