Special Report
The County With the Lowest Homeownership Rates in Every State
Published:
The American housing market took off during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The homeownership rate – or the share of housing units occupied by their owner – jumped by 2.6 percentage points from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2020, by far the largest increase ever recorded. By the end of 2020, there were 2.1 million more homeowners in the United States than there were a year earlier.
The surge in home sales was fueled by several factors, including historically low mortgage rates, and, as some experts speculate, the pandemic, which led many Americans to re-evaluate where and how they live. Here is a look at the mortgage rate in America every year since 1972.
Nationwide, the homeownership rate stands at 64.4%, according to the latest American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This rate varies substantially across the country, however, from state to state, and county to county.
Using census data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the county in every state with the lowest homeownership rate. Counties and county equivalents – which can include independent cities – are ranked by the share of housing units occupied by their owners.
Among the counties on this list, homeownership rates range from 20.1% to 67.9% and are anywhere from 2.3 percentage points to 39.7 percentage points lower than the corresponding state homeownership rate.
Homeownership can be expensive, and in most of the counties and county equivalents on this list, the typical household earns less than the median household income across the state as a whole. These area’s low incomes may make homeownership less affordable for larger shares of the population. Here is a look at the 20 cities where the middle class can no longer afford housing.
Many of the places on this list are in or around major urban areas where large shares of the population rent, like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Others are home to large colleges or universities. Because a significant share of the population in college towns reside there temporarily, the transient population are more likely to rent a home than buy one. These counties include New Haven County, Connecticut, home to Yale University and Chittenden County, Vermont, Home to the University of Vermont.
Click here to see the county with the lowest homeownership rate in each state
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Alabama: Dallas County
> Homeownership rate: 56.7% (Alabama: 69.2%)
> Median home value: $84,100 (Alabama: $149,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,009 (Alabama: $1,196)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $351 (Alabama: $367)
> Median household income: $33,317 (Alabama: $52,035)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 67
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Alaska: Aleutians West Census Area
> Homeownership rate: 27.7% (Alaska: 64.8%)
> Median home value: $316,700 (Alaska: $275,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,993 (Alaska: $1,937)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $580 (Alaska: $591)
> Median household income: $87,443 (Alaska: $77,790)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 26
Arizona: Greenlee County
> Homeownership rate: 51.0% (Arizona: 65.3%)
> Median home value: $91,800 (Arizona: $242,000)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $827 (Arizona: $1,464)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $272 (Arizona: $430)
> Median household income: $66,368 (Arizona: $61,529)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 15
Arkansas: Phillips County
> Homeownership rate: 46.1% (Arkansas: 65.8%)
> Median home value: $80,800 (Arkansas: $133,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $974 (Arkansas: $1,103)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $338 (Arkansas: $353)
> Median household income: $33,724 (Arkansas: $49,475)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 75
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California: San Francisco County
> Homeownership rate: 38.0% (California: 55.3%)
> Median home value: $1,152,300 (California: $538,500)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $3,822 (California: $2,422)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $743 (California: $618)
> Median household income: $119,136 (California: $78,672)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 58
Colorado: Denver County
> Homeownership rate: 50.4% (Colorado: 66.2%)
> Median home value: $427,600 (Colorado: $369,900)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,915 (Colorado: $1,808)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $506 (Colorado: $488)
> Median household income: $72,661 (Colorado: $75,231)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 60
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Connecticut: New Haven County
> Homeownership rate: 62.1% (Connecticut: 66.1%)
> Median home value: $252,300 (Connecticut: $279,700)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $2,039 (Connecticut: $2,127)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $897 (Connecticut: $900)
> Median household income: $71,370 (Connecticut: $79,855)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 8
24/7 Wall St.
Delaware: New Castle County
> Homeownership rate: 67.9% (Delaware: 71.4%)
> Median home value: $266,500 (Delaware: $258,300)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,674 (Delaware: $1,591)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $502 (Delaware: $475)
> Median household income: $75,275 (Delaware: $69,110)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 3
Florida: Miami-Dade County
> Homeownership rate: 51.6% (Florida: 66.2%)
> Median home value: $310,700 (Florida: $232,000)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,882 (Florida: $1,539)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $631 (Florida: $513)
> Median household income: $53,975 (Florida: $57,703)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 67
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Georgia: Chattahoochee County
> Homeownership rate: 24.3% (Georgia: 64.0%)
> Median home value: $82,000 (Georgia: $190,200)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,160 (Georgia: $1,449)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $381 (Georgia: $435)
> Median household income: $45,700 (Georgia: $61,224)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 159
Hawaii: Honolulu County
> Homeownership rate: 57.5% (Hawaii: 60.3%)
> Median home value: $702,300 (Hawaii: $636,400)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $2,641 (Hawaii: $2,443)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $614 (Hawaii: $540)
> Median household income: $87,722 (Hawaii: $83,173)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 4
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Idaho: Madison County
> Homeownership rate: 41.7% (Idaho: 70.8%)
> Median home value: $229,800 (Idaho: $235,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,316 (Idaho: $1,312)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $385 (Idaho: $388)
> Median household income: $44,419 (Idaho: $58,915)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 42
Illinois: Jackson County
> Homeownership rate: 50.4% (Illinois: 66.3%)
> Median home value: $114,300 (Illinois: $202,100)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,186 (Illinois: $1,709)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $463 (Illinois: $650)
> Median household income: $39,689 (Illinois: $68,428)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 102
Indiana: Marion County
> Homeownership rate: 54.6% (Indiana: 69.5%)
> Median home value: $145,200 (Indiana: $148,900)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,178 (Indiana: $1,155)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $448 (Indiana: $416)
> Median household income: $51,219 (Indiana: $58,235)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 92
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Iowa: Story County
> Homeownership rate: 54.5% (Iowa: 71.2%)
> Median home value: $195,200 (Iowa: $153,900)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,452 (Iowa: $1,279)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $580 (Iowa: $495)
> Median household income: $58,302 (Iowa: $61,836)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 99
Kansas: Geary County
> Homeownership rate: 41.7% (Kansas: 66.2%)
> Median home value: $143,100 (Kansas: $157,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,371 (Kansas: $1,400)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $556 (Kansas: $517)
> Median household income: $52,019 (Kansas: $61,091)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 101
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Kentucky: Christian County
> Homeownership rate: 46.9% (Kentucky: 67.6%)
> Median home value: $121,000 (Kentucky: $147,100)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,133 (Kentucky: $1,191)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $374 (Kentucky: $379)
> Median household income: $44,279 (Kentucky: $52,238)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 120
Louisiana: Orleans Parish
> Homeownership rate: 49.8% (Louisiana: 66.6%)
> Median home value: $250,000 (Louisiana: $168,100)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,703 (Louisiana: $1,310)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $528 (Louisiana: $344)
> Median household income: $43,258 (Louisiana: $50,800)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 64
Maine: Androscoggin County
> Homeownership rate: 64.9% (Maine: 72.9%)
> Median home value: $166,600 (Maine: $198,000)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,356 (Maine: $1,404)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $546 (Maine: $500)
> Median household income: $55,002 (Maine: $59,489)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 16
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Maryland: Baltimore city
> Homeownership rate: 47.7% (Maryland: 67.1%)
> Median home value: $167,300 (Maryland: $325,400)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,485 (Maryland: $2,038)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $552 (Maryland: $633)
> Median household income: $52,164 (Maryland: $87,063)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 24
Massachusetts: Suffolk County
> Homeownership rate: 36.3% (Massachusetts: 62.5%)
> Median home value: $547,300 (Massachusetts: $398,800)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $2,451 (Massachusetts: $2,268)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $836 (Massachusetts: $829)
> Median household income: $74,881 (Massachusetts: $84,385)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 14
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Michigan: Ingham County
> Homeownership rate: 58.8% (Michigan: 71.7%)
> Median home value: $143,900 (Michigan: $162,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,278 (Michigan: $1,312)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $547 (Michigan: $495)
> Median household income: $55,253 (Michigan: $59,234)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 83
Minnesota: Ramsey County
> Homeownership rate: 60.0% (Minnesota: 71.9%)
> Median home value: $239,000 (Minnesota: $235,700)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,636 (Minnesota: $1,606)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $620 (Minnesota: $548)
> Median household income: $67,238 (Minnesota: $73,382)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 87
Mississippi: Tunica County
> Homeownership rate: 39.0% (Mississippi: 68.8%)
> Median home value: $101,800 (Mississippi: $125,500)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,028 (Mississippi: $1,161)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $345 (Mississippi: $358)
> Median household income: $34,485 (Mississippi: $46,511)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 81
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Missouri: St. Louis city
> Homeownership rate: 44.1% (Missouri: 67.1%)
> Median home value: $143,700 (Missouri: $163,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,281 (Missouri: $1,287)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $466 (Missouri: $449)
> Median household income: $45,782 (Missouri: $57,290)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 115
Montana: Liberty County
> Homeownership rate: 53.7% (Montana: 68.5%)
> Median home value: $101,600 (Montana: $244,900)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,133 (Montana: $1,456)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $399 (Montana: $451)
> Median household income: $46,750 (Montana: $56,539)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 49
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Nebraska: Lancaster County
> Homeownership rate: 59.2% (Nebraska: 66.2%)
> Median home value: $190,000 (Nebraska: $164,000)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,438 (Nebraska: $1,412)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $574 (Nebraska: $539)
> Median household income: $62,464 (Nebraska: $63,015)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 79
Nevada: Clark County
> Homeownership rate: 54.8% (Nevada: 57.1%)
> Median home value: $285,100 (Nevada: $290,200)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,567 (Nevada: $1,574)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $438 (Nevada: $433)
> Median household income: $61,048 (Nevada: $62,043)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 16
New Hampshire: Hillsborough County
> Homeownership rate: 65.7% (New Hampshire: 71.2%)
> Median home value: $287,900 (New Hampshire: $272,300)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $2,073 (New Hampshire: $1,967)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $872 (New Hampshire: $812)
> Median household income: $82,099 (New Hampshire: $77,923)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 10
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New Jersey: Hudson County
> Homeownership rate: 32.4% (New Jersey: 64.0%)
> Median home value: $400,800 (New Jersey: $343,500)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $2,821 (New Jersey: $2,476)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $1,155 (New Jersey: $1,062)
> Median household income: $75,062 (New Jersey: $85,245)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 21
New Mexico: Curry County
> Homeownership rate: 56.4% (New Mexico: 68.0%)
> Median home value: $132,400 (New Mexico: $175,700)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,150 (New Mexico: $1,293)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $327 (New Mexico: $360)
> Median household income: $48,903 (New Mexico: $51,243)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 32
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New York: Bronx County
> Homeownership rate: 20.1% (New York: 54.1%)
> Median home value: $427,900 (New York: $325,000)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $2,548 (New York: $2,174)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $825 (New York: $781)
> Median household income: $41,895 (New York: $71,117)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 62
North Carolina: Cumberland County
> Homeownership rate: 51.5% (North Carolina: 65.7%)
> Median home value: $139,700 (North Carolina: $182,100)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,262 (North Carolina: $1,328)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $441 (North Carolina: $402)
> Median household income: $48,177 (North Carolina: $56,642)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 100
North Dakota: Grand Forks County
> Homeownership rate: 48.6% (North Dakota: 62.5%)
> Median home value: $208,200 (North Dakota: $199,900)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,483 (North Dakota: $1,457)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $518 (North Dakota: $476)
> Median household income: $53,721 (North Dakota: $65,315)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 50
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Ohio: Franklin County
> Homeownership rate: 53.6% (Ohio: 66.3%)
> Median home value: $185,900 (Ohio: $151,400)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,482 (Ohio: $1,286)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $603 (Ohio: $480)
> Median household income: $62,352 (Ohio: $58,116)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 88
Oklahoma: Payne County
> Homeownership rate: 51.7% (Oklahoma: 66.1%)
> Median home value: $172,700 (Oklahoma: $142,400)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,350 (Oklahoma: $1,246)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $451 (Oklahoma: $406)
> Median household income: $42,103 (Oklahoma: $53,840)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 77
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Oregon: Multnomah County
> Homeownership rate: 54.4% (Oregon: 62.8%)
> Median home value: $410,800 (Oregon: $336,700)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,989 (Oregon: $1,741)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $693 (Oregon: $553)
> Median household income: $71,425 (Oregon: $65,667)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 34
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County
> Homeownership rate: 52.8% (Pennsylvania: 69.0%)
> Median home value: $171,600 (Pennsylvania: $187,500)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,343 (Pennsylvania: $1,505)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $466 (Pennsylvania: $542)
> Median household income: $49,127 (Pennsylvania: $63,627)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 67
Rhode Island: Providence County
> Homeownership rate: 55.1% (Rhode Island: 61.6%)
> Median home value: $248,500 (Rhode Island: $276,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,806 (Rhode Island: $1,879)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $715 (Rhode Island: $745)
> Median household income: $62,323 (Rhode Island: $70,305)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 5
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South Carolina: Dillon County
> Homeownership rate: 58.8% (South Carolina: 70.1%)
> Median home value: $84,500 (South Carolina: $170,100)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $951 (South Carolina: $1,265)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $359 (South Carolina: $377)
> Median household income: $36,429 (South Carolina: $54,864)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 46
South Dakota: Todd County
> Homeownership rate: 47.0% (South Dakota: 68.0%)
> Median home value: $26,600 (South Dakota: $174,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $830 (South Dakota: $1,367)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $299 (South Dakota: $495)
> Median household income: $24,102 (South Dakota: $59,896)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 60
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Tennessee: Lake County
> Homeownership rate: 51.1% (Tennessee: 66.5%)
> Median home value: $91,800 (Tennessee: $177,600)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $916 (Tennessee: $1,272)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $386 (Tennessee: $389)
> Median household income: $34,230 (Tennessee: $54,833)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 95
24/7 Wall St.
Texas: Brazos County
> Homeownership rate: 47.0% (Texas: 62.3%)
> Median home value: $217,700 (Texas: $187,200)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,669 (Texas: $1,654)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $606 (Texas: $526)
> Median household income: $50,289 (Texas: $63,826)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 235
Utah: Cache County
> Homeownership rate: 62.6% (Utah: 70.5%)
> Median home value: $256,400 (Utah: $305,400)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,380 (Utah: $1,597)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $403 (Utah: $437)
> Median household income: $60,530 (Utah: $74,197)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 27
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Vermont: Chittenden County
> Homeownership rate: 62.9% (Vermont: 71.3%)
> Median home value: $314,200 (Vermont: $230,900)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,962 (Vermont: $1,630)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $808 (Vermont: $686)
> Median household income: $76,316 (Vermont: $63,477)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 14
Virginia: Petersburg city
> Homeownership rate: 36.1% (Virginia: 66.7%)
> Median home value: $111,800 (Virginia: $282,800)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,163 (Virginia: $1,822)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $431 (Virginia: $481)
> Median household income: $43,029 (Virginia: $76,398)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 133
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Washington: Whitman County
> Homeownership rate: 44.2% (Washington: 63.3%)
> Median home value: $230,200 (Washington: $366,800)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,527 (Washington: $1,939)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $473 (Washington: $605)
> Median household income: $42,288 (Washington: $77,006)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 39
West Virginia: Monongalia County
> Homeownership rate: 58.2% (West Virginia: 73.7%)
> Median home value: $212,300 (West Virginia: $123,200)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,321 (West Virginia: $1,058)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $370 (West Virginia: $331)
> Median household income: $54,198 (West Virginia: $48,037)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 55
Wisconsin: Milwaukee County
> Homeownership rate: 49.1% (Wisconsin: 67.1%)
> Median home value: $164,200 (Wisconsin: $189,200)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,459 (Wisconsin: $1,436)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $623 (Wisconsin: $556)
> Median household income: $52,260 (Wisconsin: $63,293)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 72
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Wyoming: Albany County
> Homeownership rate: 52.0% (Wyoming: 71.0%)
> Median home value: $243,500 (Wyoming: $228,000)
> Median monthly housing costs (w/ a mortgage): $1,595 (Wyoming: $1,474)
> Median monthly housing costs (no mortgage): $456 (Wyoming: $429)
> Median household income: $51,362 (Wyoming: $65,304)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 23
Methodology
To determine the county with the lowest homeownership rate in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of housing units that are occupied by their owners from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
Counties and county equivalents, which can include independent cities, were ranked based on the percentage of housing units that are occupied by their owners. To break ties, we used the number of housing units that are occupied by their owners.
Counties were excluded if homeownership rates were not available in the 2020 ACS, if there were fewer than 1,000 housing units, or if the sampling error associated with a county’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a county’s homeownership rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all counties’ homeownership rates. We similarly excluded counties that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Additional information on median home value, median housing costs with and without a mortgage, and median household income are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
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