California appears unable to make any vital dent in its housing challenges.
My trusty spreadsheet analyzed recent Census Bureau housing knowledge, inspecting adjustments in provide and prices for occupied housing – each possession and rental residing preparations – throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
By evaluating 2024 statistics to these of 2019, it turns into clear that California’s housing creation lags behind the nationwide tempo and is inadequate to alleviate the steep monetary burdens of shelter.
Sure, California housing numbers have grown in 5 years. The rise of 639,800 occupied models was the third-largest enlargement amongst states. Nonetheless, that added housing accounted for under 6% of the U.S.’s total development of 9.9 million. Measuring adjustments in residing preparations tracks building patterns, emptiness charges and the way properties are used.
And the place was probably the most housing added? The state’s financial archrivals: Texas added 1.5 million occupied models, and Florida is up 1.2 million.
Don’t forget the enormity of California’s housing market.
Final yr, it had 13.8 million occupied housing models – the best among the many states and 10% of the nation’s 132.7 million models. Texas was tops at 11.4 million, adopted by Florida at 9.1 million.
To grasp California’s housing complications, think about the additions of models as a slice of the statewide whole. It provides as much as a 5% California development price over 5 years – the seventh-slowest among the many states and properly beneath the nation’s 8% tempo.
The highest development charges had been present in Utah and Florida, at 16%, adopted by Texas and Idaho, at 15%.
How a lot?
Weak housing creation doesn’t assist the pricing issues.
Ponder one yardstick of those budget-busting bills – combining census benchmarks of month-to-month prices for each proudly owning and renting.
Based on this math, the everyday Californian in numerous residing preparations paid $2,280 a month final yr. That’s the second-highest nationally and 70% above the $1,340 U.S. value.
Solely D.C. was pricer at $2,610. Texas ranked No. 18 at $1,540, and Florida ranked No. 17 at $1,550.
The rub for California’s burdened family budgets is that housing prices have made little progress on a nationwide scale since 2019.
California housing costs elevated 23% over the previous 5 years. That’s steep, but additionally according to the nation’s value development. The Golden State’s housing inflation ranked thirty first highest among the many states.
But swift housing creation is not any assure of moderating the monetary ache.
The nation’s largest value surges had been present in a few of the fast-growing states, the place inhabitants development outpaced housing building.
So, Florida’s prices jumped 43% in 5 years, Colorado rose 33%, and Utah and Texas elevated by 32%.
New house owners
Let’s dig into housing’s five-year development, starting with an summary of Golden State houses owned by its residents.
California added 483,100 possession households since 2019, the third-largest bump among the many states. But that’s solely 6% of the nation’s 7.9 million development. Notice that California has 9% of U.S. householders.
And the place had been probably the most house owners created between 2019 and 2024? Florida, up 982,600, adopted by Texas with 955,600.
Once more, California’s enlargement price was paltry – seventh-lowest at 7%, properly beneath the nation’s 10% development in possession.
The best development price was Florida’s 19%. Texas was No. 4 at 15%.
New tenants
California’s renting households grew much more slowly.
The 156,700 improve over 5 years was the third-largest among the many states, nevertheless, that acquire accounted for under 8% of the nation’s 2 million further tenants. California is dwelling to 13% of the nation’s renters.
Texas added probably the most tenants since 2019, at 509,100 households, adopted by Florida at 253,300. Ten states really shed renters, led by Michigan’s 32,200 dip and Ohio’s 29,100.
It’s no shock that the California enlargement tempo was meager, with simply 3% development over 5 years. That ranked thirty first among the many states and trailed the nationwide price of 5%.
The most popular spot for renters was Utah, up 20%. Texas was No. 4, up 13%. Florida was No. 7 at 9%.
Initially Revealed: October 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM PDT
