The Census:

Number of renters on the rise in Las Vegas Valley

Las Vegas has become even more a city of renters during the past decade and has seen a large increase in vacant housing units, according to the latest data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

In data released May 19, the Census Bureau reported that 57.1 percent of housing units in Clark County were occupied by the owners, with renters making up 42.9 percent. That’s down from 59 percent occupied by owners in the 2000 Census.

The overall numbers for the U.S. haven’t been released, but in comparing Clark County to Maricopa County, Arizona, which includes Phoenix and its suburbs, Southern Nevada has more renters.

In Maricopa County, 64.5 percent of housing units were occupied by owners. It’s a reflection of the more transient nature of Las Vegas.

Clark County grew from 559,799 housing units in the 2000 Census to 715,365 ten years later. The vacancy rate has grown as well, from 8.5 percent in 2000 to 14.9 percent in 2010.

Of housing units on the rental market, 13.3 percent were vacant in the 2010 Census compared to 9.7 percent in 2000.

Household sizes have shrunk for those units occupied by owners — from 2.75 in 2000 to 2.71 in 2010.

The household size for rental units, however, increased from 2.5 in 2000 to 2.67 in 2010.

In a breakdown of valley cities, 56.5 percent of Las Vegas housing units were owner-occupied in 2010, down from 59.1 percent in 2000.

North Las Vegas had 62.4 percent of its housing units occupied by owners, down from 70.1 percent in 2000.

Henderson’s owner-occupied rate was 65.8 percent in 2010, down from 70.5 percent in 2000.

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