Housing in Missouri
There were more than 2.5 million housing units in Missouri in 2004, an increase of 1.2 percent from 2003, according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The number of housing units in the U.S. increased by 1.4 percent over the same period to an estimated 122.7 million. Much of the rapid housing growth was located in the West, with Nevada (4.5 percent), Arizona (3.0 percent), Utah (2.6 percent), Florida (2.5 percent) and Idaho (2.5 percent) making up the top five states for growth.
A housing unit is defined as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a single room that is occupied (or, if vacant, is intended for occupancy) as separate living quarters.
By county in Missouri, St. Louis County had the largest share of the state's housing units in 2004 with 430,624, or 16.8 percent. Jackson County was second with 11.8 percent of Missouri's housing units (303,527 units).
Numerically,
St. Charles County had the largest increase in housing units from
2003 to 2004 with 3,876. Jackson (3,868), Greene (2,350), Boone
(1,980) and Jefferson (1,645) followed.
From 2003 to 2004, the most rapid rate of housing growth in Missouri was in Christian County, with an increase of 4.1 percent. Rounding out the list of fastest counties for housing growth are: Warren (3.7 percent), St. Charles (3.3 percent), Boone (3.2 percent), Cass (2.6 percent) and Taney (2.6 percent). Overall, 30 counties had housing unit increases faster than the state rate in 2004. Only Bollinger County had a decrease in the number of housing units over the year.
Approximately 72.4 percent of Missourians own their home.
Percent Change in Housing Units
by County
2003-2004
