America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers
📊 New 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates are now available. Explore highlights in three new stories on America Counts.
Rental Costs Up, Mortgages Stayed Flat
Homeowners’ costs remained nearly unchanged from 2020-2024 compared to the previous five-year period while renters paid $100 more a month to a median $1,413, according to the 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates released this week.
The newly released data shows how housing costs changed in each of the nation’s 3,144 counties between two five-year periods – 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.
How Income Varies by Race and Geography
Median household income of almost all race and Hispanic origin groups increased in most states over the past 15 years (after adjusting for inflation) but fell among non-Hispanic White households in five states.
According to the latest American Community Survey data, U.S. median household income was $80,734 during the 5-year period from 2020 to 2024 but varied by racial and ethnic group.
Share of Owner-Occupied, Mortgage-Free Homes Up in 2024
The share of mortgage-free homeowners continued to grow nationwide and in every state in 2024 — a possible reaction to higher interest rates and home prices that tend to discourage moves to new homes.
The percentage of U.S. owner-occupied homes owned free and clear rose from 34.4% in the 2010-2014 period to 39.4% in 2020-2024, according to the Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
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