Housing
In addition to questions about people, Census collects extensive data about housing, including costs and physical characteristics of homes.
Overview
While people often think of the Census as asking questions about people, the American Community Survey also gathers extensive data about the housing conditions of respondents, including whether they own or rent their home, how much they spend on housing, and the physical characteristics of homes. The ACS primarily reports housing data in tables with codes beginning with 25.
Most of the tables count the number of housing units for a given characteristic. However, a few tables estimate the number of people living in owned or rented housing units.
A housing unit is anything from a house to an apartment or even a boat if a person is currently living there.
Basic Counts
The Census provides a couple of tables which establish basic counts of housing units, as well as their occupancy status.
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25001 | Housing Units |
B25002 | Occupancy Status |
One table, B25006 provides estimates of the number of houseolders of different races.
Occupied and Unoccupied Housing Units
Vacancy
Every housing unit is recorded as either occupied or vacant. Some vacancies are market related, such as houses for sale or apartments for rent. Other housing units are seasonally vacant. Table B25004 (Vacancy Status) records the number of vacancies in each category. In 2021, tables were added to provide more insight into reasons for vacancy and duration of vacancy. These will only be available in the 1-year ACS for a few years, and data for smaller geographies may be missing.
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25004‡ | Vacancy Status |
B25005 | Vacant - Current Residence Elsewhere |
B25130º | Other Vacancy Status |
B25131º | Vacancy Duration |
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. ºOnly available in the 1-year ACS release. |
Tenure
Occupied housing units in the ACS are split into two categories: renter-occupied and owner-occupied. This distinction is known as “tenure” (think “tenant”). There are dozens of tables in the primary "housing" category which crosstabulate tenure with other responses.
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25003† | Tenure |
B25007 | Tenure by Age of Householder |
B25008† | Total Population in Occupied Housing Units by Tenure |
B25009 | Tenure by Household Size |
B25010† | Average Household Size of Occupied Housing Units by Tenure |
B25011 | Tenure by Household Type (Including Living Alone) and Age of Householder |
B25012 | Tenure by Families and Presence of Own Children |
B25013 | Tenure by Educational Attainment of Householder |
B25014† | Tenure by Occupants Per Room |
B25015 | Tenure by Age of Householder by Occupants Per Room |
B25016 | Tenure by Plumbing Facilities by Occupants Per Room |
B25020 | Tenure by Rooms |
B25021 | Median Number of Rooms by Tenure |
B25022 | Aggregate Number of Rooms by Tenure |
B25026 | Total Population in Occupied Housing Units by Tenure by Year Householder Moved Into Unit |
B25032‡† | Tenure by Units in Structure |
B25033‡ | Total Population in Occupied Housing Units by Tenure by Units in Structure |
B25036 | Tenure by Year Structure Built |
B25037 | Median Year Structure Built by Tenure |
B25038 | Tenure by Year Householder Moved Into Unit |
B25039 | Median Year Householder Moved Into Unit by Tenure |
B25042 | Tenure by Bedrooms |
B25043 | Tenure by Telephone Service Available by Age of Householder |
B25044 | Tenure by Vehicles Available |
B25045‡ | Tenure by Vehicles Available by Age of Householder |
B25046 | Aggregate Number of Vehicles Available by Tenure |
B25049 | Tenure by Plumbing Facilities |
B25053 | Tenure by Kitchen Facilities |
B25106 | Tenure by Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25115 | Tenure by Household Type and Presence and Age of Own Children |
B25116 | Tenure by Household Size by Age of Householder |
B25117 | Tenure by House Heating Fuel |
B25118 | Tenure by Household Income |
B25119 | Median Household Income by Tenure |
B25120 | Aggregate Household Income by Tenure and Mortgage Status |
B25123 | Tenure by Selected Physical and Financial Conditions |
B25124 | Tenure by Household Size by Units in Structure |
B25125 | Tenure by Age of Householder by Units in Structure |
B25126 | Tenure by Age of Householder by Year Structure Built |
B25127 | Tenure by Year Structure Built by Units in Structure |
B25128 | Tenure by Age of Householder by Year Householder Moved Into Unit |
B25129 | Tenure by Year Householder Moved Into Unit by Units in Structure |
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. †Also available in racial iterations. |
In addition to the "tenure" tables in the primary "housing" category, there are several linked to non-housing questions.
Code | Title |
---|---|
B07013§ | Geographical Mobility in the Past Year by Tenure for Current Residence in the United States |
B07413§ | Geographical Mobility in the Past Year by Tenure for Residence 1 Year Ago in the United States |
B08137 | Means of Transportation to Work by Tenure |
B08537 | Means of Transportation to Work by Tenure |
B17019‡ | Poverty Status of Families by Household Type by Tenure |
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. §Tabulated for Puerto Rico. Add 'PR' to the table code. Column names may vary slightly from non-PR version. |
Housing Units and Costs
Value
The ACS records estimated selling prices for occupied housing units under “value”. Note that the values are calculated from self-reported estimates of occupied units and vacant units on the market. Therefore, estimates may become less reliable in a fluctuating or falling housing market.
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25075‡ | Value |
B25076 | Lower Value Quartile (Dollars) |
B25077† | Median Value (Dollars) |
B25078 | Upper Value Quartile (Dollars) |
B25079 | Aggregate Value (Dollars) by Age of Householder |
B25080 | Aggregate Value (Dollars) by Units in Structure |
B25082 | Aggregate Value (Dollars) by Mortgage Status |
B25083 | Median Value (Dollars) for Mobile Homes |
B25096 | Mortgage Status by Value |
B25097 | Mortgage Status by Median Value (Dollars) |
B25100 | Mortgage Status by Ratio of Value to Household Income |
B25107 | Median Value by Year Structure Built |
B25108 | Aggregate Value (Dollars) by Year Structure Built |
B25109 | Median Value by Year Householder Moved Into Unit |
B25110 | Aggregate Value (Dollars) by Year Householder Moved Into Unit |
B25121‡ | Household Income by Value |
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. †Also available in racial iterations. |
For vacant units, the ACS uses "price asked" instead of "value".
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25085‡ | Price Asked |
B25086 | Aggregate Price Asked (Dollars) |
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. |
Mortgage Status
Table B25081 (Mortgage Status) records the type of mortgage on owner-occupied housing units. This includes first mortgages, second mortgages and home equity loans. A simpler classification, “with/without”, is used in tables relating mortgage status to topics like real estate taxes, household income, and tenure.
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25027 | Mortgage Status by Age of Householder |
B25081 | Mortgage Status |
B25082 | Aggregate Value (Dollars) by Mortgage Status |
B25087 | Mortgage Status and Selected Monthly Owner Costs |
B25088 | Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs (Dollars) by Mortgage Status |
B25089 | Aggregate Selected Monthly Owner Costs (Dollars) by Mortgage Status |
B25090 | Mortgage Status by Aggregate Real Estate Taxes Paid (Dollars) |
B25091 | Mortgage Status by Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25096 | Mortgage Status by Value |
B25097 | Mortgage Status by Median Value (Dollars) |
B25098 | Mortgage Status by Household Income |
B25099 | Mortgage Status by Median Household Income |
B25100 | Mortgage Status by Ratio of Value to Household Income |
B25101 | Mortgage Status by Monthly Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25102 | Mortgage Status by Real Estate Taxes Paid |
B25103 | Mortgage Status by Median Real Estate Taxes Paid (Dollars) |
B25120 | Aggregate Household Income by Tenure and Mortgage Status |
Selected Monthly and Annual Owner Costs
Homeowners with and without mortgages have ongoing monthly costs, and the American Community Survey gathers data about these costs, which are reported in tables referring to "selected monthly owner costs." The costs are reported as either a percentage of the household income or the number of housing units in a monthly cost range such as “$1,250 to $1,499”. The selected costs used for these estimates are:
- payments for mortgages, or other debts on the property
- real estate taxes
- fire, hazard, and flood insurance
- utilities (electricity, gas, and water and sewer)
- fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc)
- monthly condominium fees (when applicable)
- mobile home costs (when applicable)
In 2021, tables were added to catalog specific utility costs: monthly for electricity and gas, and annual for "water and sewer" and "other fuel" costs.
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25087 | Mortgage Status and Selected Monthly Owner Costs |
B25088 | Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs (Dollars) by Mortgage Status |
B25089 | Aggregate Selected Monthly Owner Costs (Dollars) by Mortgage Status |
B25091 | Mortgage Status by Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25092 | Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25093‡ | Age of Householder by Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25094 | Selected Monthly Owner Costs |
B25095‡ | Household Income by Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25101 | Mortgage Status by Monthly Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25104 | Monthly Housing Costs |
B25105 | Median Monthly Housing Costs (Dollars) |
B25106 | Tenure by Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25132 | Monthly Electricity Costs |
B25133 | Monthly Gas Costs |
B25134 | Annual Water and Sewer Costs |
B25135 | Annual Other Fuel Costs |
B25140 | Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income |
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. |
Rent
There are a large number of tables relating rent to other attributes of the housing unit or the householder. There are two main categories for rent, contract and gross. Contract rent is the monthly rent agreed to without adjustments for utilities or other payments. Gross rent is similar to selected monthly owner costs. It is the sum of contract rent and the average cost of the utilities (electricity, gas, and water and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc).
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25031 | Median Gross Rent by Bedrooms |
B25054 | Kitchen Facilities by Meals Included in Rent |
B25055‡ | Age of Householder by Meals Included in Rent |
B25056‡ | Contract Rent |
B25057 | Lower Contract Rent Quartile (Dollars) |
B25058 | Median Contract Rent (Dollars) |
B25059 | Upper Contract Rent Quartile (Dollars) |
B25060 | Aggregate Contract Rent (Dollars) |
B25061 | Rent Asked |
B25062 | Aggregate Rent Asked (Dollars) |
B25063 | Gross Rent |
B25064 | Median Gross Rent (Dollars) |
B25065 | Aggregate Gross Rent (Dollars) |
B25066 | Aggregate Gross Rent (Dollars) by Units in Structure |
B25067 | Aggregate Gross Rent (Dollars) by Meals Included in Rent |
B25068‡ | Bedrooms by Gross Rent |
B25069 | Inclusion of Utilities in Rent |
B25070 | Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25071 | Median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (Dollars) |
B25072 | Age of Householder by Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25074‡ | Household Income by Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income |
B25111 | Median Gross Rent by Year Structure Built |
B25112 | Aggregate Gross Rent (Dollars) by Year Structure Built |
B25113 | Median Gross Rent by Year Householder Moved Into Unit |
B25114 | Aggregate Gross Rent (Dollars) by Year Householder Moved Into Unit |
B25122‡ | Household Income by Gross Rent |
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. |
Housing Characteristics
Structural Characteristics
A few tables provide general information about the structural characteristics of buildings where people live in a given geography.
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25024 | Units in Structure |
B25034 | Year Structure Built |
B25035 | Median Year Structure Built |
B25040 | House Heating Fuel |
Rooms and Bedrooms
The ACS records the number of rooms, and separately, the number of bedrooms for each housing unit, and provides some tables to relate those numbers to tenure and rent. Housing units with only one room are listed as having no bedrooms.
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25014† | Tenure by Occupants Per Room |
B25015 | Tenure by Age of Householder by Occupants Per Room |
B25016 | Tenure by Plumbing Facilities by Occupants Per Room |
B25017 | Rooms |
B25018 | Median Number of Rooms |
B25019 | Aggregate Number of Rooms |
B25020 | Tenure by Rooms |
B25021 | Median Number of Rooms by Tenure |
B25022 | Aggregate Number of Rooms by Tenure |
B25031 | Median Gross Rent by Bedrooms |
B25041 | Bedrooms |
B25042 | Tenure by Bedrooms |
B25050 | Plumbing Facilities by Occupants Per Room by Year Structure Built |
B25068‡ | Bedrooms by Gross Rent |
B25137 | Bedrooms by Occupancy Status |
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. †Also available in racial iterations. |
Facilities
The lack of complete facilities for housing units are recorded in two areas: kitchen and plumbing. A complete kitchen requires:
- a sink with a faucet
- a stove
- a refrigerator
- hot and cold running water
- a bathtub or shower
Code | Title |
---|---|
B25016 | Tenure by Plumbing Facilities by Occupants Per Room |
B25047 | Plumbing Facilities for All Housing Units |
B25048 | Plumbing Facilities for Occupied Housing Units |
B25049 | Tenure by Plumbing Facilities |
B25050 | Plumbing Facilities by Occupants Per Room by Year Structure Built |
B25051 | Kitchen Facilities for All Housing Units |
B25052 | Kitchen Facilities for Occupied Housing Units |
B25053 | Tenure by Kitchen Facilities |
B25054 | Kitchen Facilities by Meals Included in Rent |
Selected Conditions
“Selected Conditions” is a measure of substandard housing and can be found in Table B25123. The selected conditions are:- incomplete plumbing or kitchens
- overcrowding
- 30% or more of the household income spent on rent or monthly owner costs