City Renter Population Data

First visualization originally by Mike Maciag | Updated by Melanie Kiper, 5/19/2022
Second visualization and data table by Melanie Kiper | Updated 5/19/2022

Data on housing, including home rental and ownership, help communities determine whether adequate housing is available and meeting the needs of its residents. Combining this with data on housing costs and the combined income of all people in a household, helps communities understand whether housing is affordable to residents. This data also helps enforce laws, regulations, and policies designed to eliminate discrimination in private-market housing, government programs, and in society.

Use the first dashboard and table to find data on home rental and ownership for over 3,600 places in the United States. Use the second dashboard to compare up to three places on owner vs. renter populations.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate for 2016-2020, Omaha, Nebraska, has more than 169,000 persons in renter occupied housing units, while about 298,000 persons are in owner occupied housing units, meaning 36.3% of the population are renters. There is about an equal distribution of renters between single unit housing units (47.1%) and multiple unit housing units (52.9%).

In contrast, Lincoln, Nebraska, has an estimated 104,000 persons in renter occupied housing units, while about 169,000 persons are in owner occupied housing units, meaning 38.2% of the population are renters. The majority of renters are in multiple unit housing (62.8%) compared with single unit housing (37.2%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census, Table H033; and American Community Survey 5-year Estimates, Table B25033.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year Estimates, 2016-2020, Table B25033.

Population in Occupied Housing Units by Tenure and Units in Structure, for U.S. Places, 2020