Department of Numbers

Housing Units, Population and Cost Rank Measures for California

Here we explore the evolution and dynamics of the housing supply in California, the relative cost of California housing, the housing mix and the change in California population. Housing supply here is defined as the number of housing units (i.e: houses, condos, apartments etc..). For this analysis, the California population number we're most interested in is the 18 and over population since the under 18 population typically isn't a buyer or renter in the housing market. All data on this page comes from the Census ACS 1 year survey. Jump to California sections: housing units, housing cost, housing mix, population.

Housing Units and 18+ Population for California

The data below track the total number of housing units in California, the total 18 and over population in California and the ratio of the 18 and over California population to the number of housing units. Over the past 5 years, the number of California housing units increased by 3.35% while the 18 and over population increased by 3.27%. As a result, the ratio of the 18 and over population to housing units decreased from 2.133 to 2.131. A lower population to housing units ratio means there are more housing units available per person in the region.

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
California Housing Units 14,367,012 +0.62% +3.35%
California 18+ Population 30,621,159 +0.16% +3.27%
California 18+ Pop. / Units 2.131 -0.010 -0.002

California 18+ Population to Units Ratio Trends: California, US

California Housing Units and 18+ Population History

Date California Housing Units California 18+ Population California 18+ Pop. / Units
2019 14,367,012 30,621,159 2.131
2018 14,277,867 30,571,507 2.141
2017 14,177,270 30,479,267 2.150
2016 14,061,375 30,156,768 2.145
2015 13,988,399 30,028,400 2.147
2014 13,901,594 29,650,921 2.133
2013 13,791,262 29,158,337 2.114
2012 13,708,197 28,802,124 2.101
2011 13,721,187 28,424,476 2.072
2010 13,682,976 28,042,134 2.049
2009 13,434,537 27,526,562 2.049
2008 13,394,143 27,393,969 2.045

more history ...

California Relative Housing Cost Percentile by Price and Rent

This data shows where California falls in the distribution of home prices and rent compared to other states (and D.C.). The higher the percentile, the more expensive the region is compared to the rest of the country. In 2019, California was at the 96.08% percentile for home prices and the 98.04% percentile for the cost of rent. Over the past 5 years, California home prices have become less expensive compared to the rest of the country and rent in California has become more expensive over the past 5 years relative to the rest of the country.

California Home Price and Rent Percentile

2019 1 Year Change
(delta)		 5 Year Change
(delta)
California Home Price Percentile 96.08% 0.00% 0.00%
California Rent Percentile 98.04% 0.00% +1.96%

California Trends in Home Price and Rent Percentile: California, US

California Home Price and Rent Percentile History

Date California Home Price Percentile California Rent Percentile
2019 96.08% 98.04%
2018 96.08% 98.04%
2017 96.08% 96.08%
2016 96.08% 96.08%
2015 96.08% 96.08%
2014 96.08% 96.08%
2013 96.08% 96.08%
2012 96.08% 96.08%
2011 96.08% 96.08%
2010 96.08% 96.08%
2009 96.08% 98.04%
2008 96.08% 98.04%

more history ...

California Housing Units: Owner Occupied, Renter Occupied and Vacant

The data below shows the number of housing units in California by type. Over the past 5 years, the number of housing units held by owner occupiers increased by 5.30% while the total number of rented units in California increased by 0.61%. Units that were vacant1 increased by 5.79% over the last 5 years.

California Changes in Owned, Rented and Vacant Units

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
California Owner Occ. Units 7,218,742 +0.74% +5.30%
California Renter Occ. Units 5,939,131 +0.55% +0.61%
California Vacant Units 1,209,139 +0.28% +5.79%

California Housing Share Trends: Owned, Rented and Vacant: Owned, Rented, Vacant

The chart below shows the share of each housing type in California as a fraction of total housing units.

California Owned, Rented and Vacant Units History

Date California Owner Occ. Units California Renter Occ. Units California Vacant Units
2019 7,218,742 5,939,131 1,209,139
2018 7,165,664 5,906,458 1,205,745
2017 7,125,090 5,880,007 1,172,173
2016 6,943,428 6,000,750 1,117,197
2015 6,910,823 5,985,534 1,092,042
2014 6,855,688 5,902,960 1,142,946
2013 6,804,639 5,845,953 1,140,670
2012 6,781,817 5,770,841 1,155,539
2011 6,843,369 5,625,374 1,252,444
2010 6,903,175 5,503,300 1,276,501
2009 6,910,054 5,304,837 1,219,646
2008 6,946,432 5,230,328 1,217,383

more history ...

California Population

This data shows the population of California for the under 18 category and the 18 and over category. In the last 5 years the under 18 population has decreased by 2.85% while the 18 and over population has increased by 3.27%.The total population of California has increased by 1.83% in the last 5 years.

Changes in California Population

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
California Population Under 18 8,891,064 -1.05% -2.85%
California Population 18+ 30,621,159 +0.16% +3.27%
California Total Population 39,512,223 -0.11% +1.83%

California Population Age Share: Under 18, 18 and Over: 18+, Under 18

California Population History

Date California Population Under 18 California Population 18+ California Total Population
2019 8,891,064 30,621,159 39,512,223
2018 8,985,538 30,571,507 39,557,045
2017 9,057,386 30,479,267 39,536,653
2016 9,093,249 30,156,768 39,250,017
2015 9,116,418 30,028,400 39,144,818
2014 9,151,579 29,650,921 38,802,500
2013 9,174,184 29,158,337 38,332,521
2012 9,239,306 28,802,124 38,041,430
2011 9,267,436 28,424,476 37,691,912
2010 9,307,229 28,042,134 37,349,363
2009 9,435,102 27,526,562 36,961,664
2008 9,362,697 27,393,969 36,756,666

more history ...

1. The Census defines a vacant unit as belonging to the following set: For rent, Rented not occupied, For sale only, Sold not occupied, For seasonal or recreational or other occasional use, For migrant workers, Other vacant. ↩

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