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Rental Property Finances

U.S. Rental Housing Statistics

A concise, source-linked snapshot of renter households, housing costs, vacancies, and homeownership.

Last updated September 7, 2026

Key rental housing figures

These figures bring together the latest relevant releases from the U.S. Census Bureau. They are useful context for rental owners, housing writers, and anyone following the financial pressures shaping the rental market.

How to read these numbers

Vacancy rates show the share of rental units that are vacant and available for rent at a point in time. They do not measure the number of homes for sale, nor do they describe the financial performance of a specific property.

Housing cost burden is a household measure. The Census Bureau counts a renter household as cost-burdened when housing costs exceed 30% of income. The measure includes rent and other housing costs, and it should not be used as a substitute for property-level bookkeeping or investment analysis.

Methodology and sources

This page uses published U.S. Census Bureau figures only. Household and cost-burden figures are from the 2023 American Community Survey release announced on September 12, 2024. Vacancy and homeownership figures are from the Census Bureau's quarterly Housing Vacancies and Homeownership release for the second quarter of 2026.

Cite this page

Safe Hands Bookkeeping, LLC. “U.S. Rental Housing Statistics.” Updated September 7, 2026. https://safehandsbookkeeping.com/rental-housing-statistics

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