Which States Have the Most Second Homes?

Second homes, defined as non-rental property that is not the owner's principal residence, accounted for 5.5% of the nation’s housing stock in 2018, according to the latest figures analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders. That figure is down slightly from 5.6%, per a previous analysis of 2016 Census Bureau figures. 

The state with the largest stock of second homes was Florida (1.1 million), accounting for 14.5% of all second homes. South Dakota had the smallest stock, approximately 20,000 second homes, among all 50 states. Half of the nation’s second homes can be found in nine states: Florida, California, New York, Texas, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

The geographic locations of second homes also correspond to population density. Counties with more than 25,000 second homes are mostly located in or near metropolitan areas. The top 10 counties with the most second homes take up around 11% of second home stocks, most of which were located in Arizona, Florida, California, Massachusetts, and New York. Of the top 10 counties in regards to absolute numbers of second homes, only three counties (Lee County, Florida, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, and Collier County, Florida) had more than 20% of their housing stock in second homes. Half of the second home stock were located in 212 of nation’s more than 3,000 counties.

To see a list of the top 10 counties with the most second homes ...

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