America's Vacancy Hotspots: Ranking Cities With the Most Vacant Properties

Empty homes and office buildings are becoming a concern in cities across America. Using the latest data from the U.S. Census and CommercialEdge, we analyzed housing and commercial vacancy rates to see where properties are sitting empty the most. From Florida's vacant housing hotspots to struggling office markets in San Francisco, here's a look at the places with the highest vacancy rates and how they've changed over time.

Key Takeaways

• Florida metro areas have the highest housing vacancy rates, with Cape Coral-Fort Myers (38.7%), North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota (23.7%), and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (14.7%) leading the list.
• Columbia, SC (3.8%) and Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY (2.6%) have seen the largest increases in empty homes over the past 5 years.
• San Francisco, Austin, and Seattle now have the highest commercial office vacancy rates in the U.S.

U.S. Metro Areas With the Most Vacant Homes

Housing vacancy rates vary widely across the country, with some metro areas seeing far more empty homes than others. Using U.S. Census data, we analyzed housing vacancy rates among the 75 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) to find where unoccupied properties are most common. Florida leads the rankings, with three of its metro areas topping the list.

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL, had the highest housing vacancy rate in the country (38.7%), followed by North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota at 23.7% and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach at 14.7%. High vacancy rates can indicate things like seasonal housing demand, slower real estate markets, or population changes.

Worcester, MA, had the lowest vacancy rate at just 3.6%, suggesting stronger housing demand and fewer unoccupied properties. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, also ranked among the least vacant metros, signaling steady real estate markets in these areas.

Ghost Towns on the Rise
While some metro areas have seen a surge in vacant homes over a five-year period, others have experienced significant declines. Columbia, SC, had the largest increase in housing vacancies, rising by 3.8% from 2018 to 2023. Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY, also saw a notable jump, with a 2.6% increase in empty homes. Rising vacancy rates in these metros could suggest shifting population trends, economic slowdowns, or an oversupply of housing.

The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, metro area had the largest drop in housing vacancy rates, decreasing by nearly 10% from 2018 to 2023. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL — despite having one of the highest vacancy rates overall — saw a 7.8% decline in vacancies, the second-largest decrease among the 75 metro areas analyzed. These drops could indicate increasing demand for housing, new residents moving in, or stronger local economies.

Where Commercial Spaces Are Struggling

Commercial real estate markets across the U.S. are experiencing shifting vacancy trends, with some seeing rising demand while others struggle with high levels of empty office space. Using data from a recent CommercialEdge report, we identified commercial property vacancy rates in 24 major real estate markets and how they've changed over the past year.

San Francisco had the highest commercial vacancy rate at 29.3%, followed by Austin (27.8%) and Seattle (26.4%). High office vacancy rates often point to weakened demand, which can result from remote work trends, economic downturns, or businesses relocating to other regions. Among the cities studied, the Twin Cities in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul) had the lowest vacancy rate at 15%, with Miami (15.6%) and Charlotte (15.8%) close behind.

Seattle saw the biggest decline in office vacancies over the past year, dropping by 5.7% and indicating an improving commercial market. In contrast, Miami experienced the largest increase, with an 18.1% rise in empty office space.

Tracking the Shifts in Housing and Office Vacancies

Housing and commercial vacancy rates continue to shift across the U.S., with some cities seeing a surge in empty properties while others experience a decline. Florida leads with the most housing vacancies, while cities like San Francisco struggle with high levels of unoccupied office space. For homeowners, renters, and investors, these trends can signal opportunities — or challenges — in the real estate market. As economic conditions evolve, vacancy trends will continue to impact property values, rental markets, and business districts nationwide.

Methodology

We used the most recently available U.S. Census data to explore the gross housing vacancy rates of the 75 largest metropolitan statistical areas. The gross vacancy rate is the percentage of the total housing inventory that is vacant. We then used the CommercialEdge 2025 Office Market Report to explore commercial vacancy rates in 24 U.S. real estate markets.
Limitations: The study focuses only on the 75 largest metropolitan statistical areas for housing vacancy rates and the 24 real estate markets for commercial vacancies where data was available. This means smaller cities, rural areas, and many mid-sized metros are not represented, limiting the generalizability of the findings to the entire U.S.

About Lance Surety Bonds

Lance Surety Bonds is a leading provider of surety bonds for businesses and professionals in real estate, construction, and other industries. We offer a wide range of bonds, including mortgage broker bonds and contractor license bonds, ensuring our clients stay compliant and protected. Our fast and easy application process makes securing a bond simple.

Fair Use Statement

Sharing of these findings for noncommercial purposes is permitted with a link to this page.