Map of Homeownership in Every U.S. County

Homeownership, A Cornerstone of the American Dream

Homeownership has long been considered a key pillar of the American Dream, symbolizing stability, personal achievement, and financial security.

In the United States, owning a home not only provides shelter but also represents an important asset that can build wealth over time.

About 65% of Americans own their homes.

Overall, homeownership has declined since 2003. But it varies significantly by region, age, income, and race.

Factors like rising home prices, student loan debt, and limited housing inventory have made homeownership more challenging, particularly for younger generations and first-time buyers.

Government programs, such as FHA loans and first-time buyer tax credits, aim to support more inclusive access to homeownership.

At the same time, high mortgage rates and the increasing cost of living continue to shape the housing market, pushing many to consider alternatives like renting or co-owning properties.

Despite challenges, many Americans still view owning a home as a long-term goal.

It offers tax advantages, potential equity growth, and a sense of permanence.

As the economy evolves, so too does the landscape of homeownership—requiring new solutions to ensure it remains attainable for future generations.

If you find this topic fascinating, Amazon has At the Boundaries of Homeownership: Credit, Discrimination, and the American State

.

At the Boundaries of Homeownership, offers an incisive analysis of the shifting politics of homeownership in American society, over the course of the twentieth century.

Map of How Americans Heat their Homes

Map of Homeownership

The values for this map are from 2023 and were downloaded from the U.S. Census website.

The Midwest has the highest homeownership rate. The lowest rate is found in the West and the Mississippi Delta.

Homeownership by State

The highest homeownership by state is found in Maine, Michigan, Delaware, West Virginia, and Vermont. All these states have homeownership above 73%.

The lowest homeownership is in D.C., New York, California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.

These states have some of the highest GDP's in the country as well as the highest median household income.

Nevertheless, their Home Price-to-Income Ratio is so high, that homes are not affordable for many of their residents.

Homeownership by County

As you hover over the map you can read the totals and percentages of homeownership.

The data for owners and renters does not add up to totals. This is because it does not include empty homes and other types of accommodations.

Counties with the Highest Homeownership

Storey County, Nevada: 97.4%

This is the smallest county in Nevada and one of the least populated. It is part of the Reno metropolitan area.

Storey County used to mine for silver, but the population collapesed once the silver was depleted by the 1960s.

Cameron Parish, Louisiana: 96.9%

Although this is the largest parish by area in Louisiana, it has the second lowest population in the state.

This area is well known for its marshes and wetlands.

Besides construction and accommodation a large part of the economy is driven by oil and gas.

Other counties with high homeownership are:

• Edwards County, Texas: 94.5%
• Elbert County, Colorado: 94.4%
• Oliver County, North Dakota: 93.4%
• Powhatan County, Virginia: 93.1%
• Piute County, Utah: 92.6%
• New Kent County, Virginia: 92.1%
• Keweenaw County, Michigan: 91.7%
• Grand Isle County, Vermont: 90.9%
• Leelanau County, Michigan: 90.6%

Counties with the Lowest Homeownership

Kalawao County, Hawaii: 0%

Kalawao is the smallest county in the 50 states by land area and the second-smallest county by population, in the nation with just 82 people.

Kalawao was created to quarantine people with Hansen's disease (leprosy).

Today, this county is known for Kalaupapa, a National Historical Park established in 1980.

It is considered one of the most emblematic and beautiful parks in the Hawaiian Islands.

Loving County, Texas: 11.1%

Loving County, TX pops up again in several Databayou Census maps!

Loving has the oldest population in the U.S.A., with a median age of 75!

Loving also has some of the highest incomes, and GDPs per capita.

Although this is an oil-producing county, Loving has the second lowest homeownership in the country.

Map of Most Common Race and Ethnicity by County

Bronx County, New York: 20.3%

The Bronx is the only mainland borough of New York City, and is known for the large percentage of land dedicated to parks.

Bronx County is the third most densely populated county in the United States, after Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The median property value in Bronx County, NY was $517,000 in 2023, which is 1.7 times higher than the national average.

These high values make homeownership a dream for many in the Bronx.

Other low ownership counties include:

• New York County, New York: 24.7%
• Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska: 29.5%
• Kings County, New York: 29.7%
• Hudson County, New Jersey: 31.2%
• Kenedy County, Texas: 35.3%
• Chattahoochee County, Georgia: 36%
• Suffolk County, Massachusetts: 36.6%

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Resources for Homeownership Map

The Shapefiles for the states were downloaded from Natural Earth.

The county shapefiles and Homeownership data came from U.S. Census Bureau.

Made by Luz K. Molina with D3.js.

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