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September / October 2009
Volume 21, Number 5

Data about counties, by Tim Brown

Counties Experiencing Increased Number of Housing Units
Not the Same as Counties Experiencing Population Growth

Numerous reports in the media have noted that Texas is weathering the economic downturn better than most. While some areas of the state have had their problems, on the whole the real estate market has not seen the precipitous drops noted in other states. In fact, as the column chart shows, the number of housing units¹ in Texas continues to increase at a faster rate than nationally. This is not surprising, as the number of people in the state continues to increase at a relatively quick pace from both natural increase (births minus deaths) as well as from net international and domestic migration (inflows minus outflows). From 2000 to 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the nation’s population increased 7.76 percent while Texas’ population increased 16.14 percent. Although the population in Texas was, on the whole, increasing, there were numerous counties that declined in population from 2000 to 2008.² During this time, only 135 counties grew their populations while 119 counties experienced a decrease in population.

Statewide, the number of housing units grew 17.09 percent, a slightly faster pace than population which increased by 16.14 percent from 2000 to 2008.³ As the chart shows, in some years the number of housing units increased more rapidly than the state’s population, in other years the population grew more quickly. While overall, statewide increases were fairly similar, there was a large divergence at the county level. While almost half of the counties declined in population over this period, only three saw a loss in the number of housing units as shown in the accompanying map.

Statewide the number of housing units grew at about the same rate as the population, but clearly, housing unit growth was not always in the same county as population growth. While it is beyond the scope of this article to investigate the reasons for this disparity, possible explanations include second homes, time shares and investment properties. These are all types of structures that have no need to be co-located with the owners. This could explain the construction of housing units in counties that are showing a decrease in population. However, other explanations are also possible.

Change in Number of Housing Units Compared to Population Change
Housing- United States	Housing- Texas	Population- Texas

¹ A housing unit is a house, an apartment, a mobile home or trailer, a group of rooms, or a single room that is occupied, or, if vacant, is intended for occupancy as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants live separately from any other persons in the building and which have direct access from the outside of the building or through a common hall. (U.S. Census Bureau.)

² U.S. Census Bureau. “Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008.”

³ U.S. Census Bureau. “Annual County Housing Unit Estimates by State: 2000 to 2008.”