Housing Availability by ZIP and County: Vacant Units in Absolute Terms (2026)
The housing-availability card answers a different question from the vacancy rate: not what share is empty, but how many units are. A two percent vacancy in a ZIP of eighty thousand units is more available stock than thirty percent in a ZIP of two hundred. The card shows the ZIP's units, occupied and vacant, and the county's beside them, so a buyer working a county sees where the absolute supply of empty homes sits. This report ranks ZIPs by vacant units and gives the totals.
- 14,885,971 vacant units sit across 33,772 ZIPs and 145,383,630 housing units on the housing-availability card.
- 21842 in Worcester County, MD holds the most empty stock at 26,870 units, a 82.4% rate against 57.6% for its county.
- 29582 in Horry County, SC follows with 17,915 vacant units, then 08260 in Cape May County, NJ at 15,963.
- The housing-availability card shows absolute counts because availability, not rate, sizes a market.
housing-availability: the housing-availability card figures as of 2026-10-20; source Census housing-unit and occupancy figures by ZIP and county.
| ZIP (county, state) | Vacant units | Housing units | ZIP vacancy | County vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21842 (Worcester, MD) | 26,870 | 32,621 | 82.4% | 57.6% |
| 29582 (Horry, SC) | 17,915 | 27,983 | 64.0% | 27.0% |
| 08260 (Cape May, NJ) | 15,963 | 23,064 | 69.2% | 54.9% |
| 08226 (Cape May, NJ) | 15,502 | 21,191 | 73.2% | 54.9% |
| 08008 (Ocean, NJ) | 13,404 | 16,714 | 80.2% | 17.7% |
| 33160 (Miami Dade, FL) | 13,023 | 32,964 | 39.5% | 10.9% |
| 33908 (Lee, FL) | 12,535 | 32,028 | 39.1% | 25.7% |
| 36561 (Baldwin, AL) | 11,459 | 15,926 | 72.0% | 25.5% |
| 32550 (Walton, FL) | 11,233 | 15,531 | 72.3% | 43.9% |
| 36542 (Baldwin, AL) | 10,885 | 19,232 | 56.6% | 25.5% |
ZIPs by vacant housing units (housing-availability, as of 2026-10-20)
ZIPs with the most vacant units (housing-availability)
21842 in Worcester County, MD: 26,870 vacant of 32,621 units, 82.4% against the county's 57.6%; 29582 in Horry County, SC: 17,915 vacant of 27,983 units, 64.0% against the county's 27.0%; 08260 in Cape May County, NJ: 15,963 vacant of 23,064 units, 69.2% against the county's 54.9%; 08226 in Cape May County, NJ: 15,502 vacant of 21,191 units, 73.2% against the county's 54.9%; 08008 in Ocean County, NJ: 13,404 vacant of 16,714 units, 80.2% against the county's 17.7%; 33160 in Miami Dade County, FL: 13,023 vacant of 32,964 units, 39.5% against the county's 10.9%.
What housing-availability measures
ZIP-level total units, occupied units, vacant units, vacancy and occupancy rates and median home value, followed by the county's vacancy rate, housing units, occupied and vacant units. The county block is the same for every ZIP in the county.
How housing-availability is computed
Both levels are Census tabulations; the county figures come from the county table and the ZIP figures from the ZIP tabulation, so the two can differ slightly in survey year. Vacant units include seasonal, for-sale and for-rent units.
How to use housing-availability on a deal
Use the absolute count to size a market: a ZIP with ten thousand vacant units has a steady flow of distressed inventory whatever its rate. Use the county block to compare the ZIP with its surroundings: a ZIP far above its county's rate is a local problem, one in line with it is a regional pattern.
Read housing-availability on your ZIPs
The distress heatmap shows where vacant stock meets distress scores; the live board shows the card on each parcel.
Housing-availability refreshes with its source table.
Housing Availability by ZIP and County: Vacant Units in Absolute Terms (2026): questions
Why does the county block repeat across ZIPs?
Because it describes the county; it is shown on every ZIP so the comparison is on the same card.
Is a large vacant count always distress?
No. Large resort and student ZIPs carry large seasonal counts; read the foreclosure and liquidity cards beside it.
Which survey year?
The latest American Community Survey tabulation loaded, stated on the card's source line.
More on the housing-availability card
- U.S. distress heatmap →
- Most-distressed ZIP codes (housing-availability) →
- Learn: the housing-availability card →
- The home-values card report (housing-availability) →
- The demographic-profile card report (housing-availability) →
- The ZIP investment profile report (housing-availability) →
- Methodology behind housing-availability →
Housing Availability by ZIP and County: Vacant Units in Absolute Terms (2026) (housing-availability) is computed from Census housing-unit and occupancy figures by ZIP and county; the housing-availability card is research (housing-availability), not legal advice; nothing on the housing-availability page is tax or housing-availability investment advice, so verify every housing-availability figure with its issuing agency before acting.