Politics & Government
Census Numbers Reveal Increase in Vacancies
In the past decade, both Kirkwood and Webster Groves saw a significant increase in the number of vacant housing units.
Kirkwood and Webster Groves properties are more vacant than they were a decade ago, according to recently released numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau.
During the past decade, the number of vacant housing units nearly doubled in Kirkwood and increased by about a third in Webster Groves.
In 2000, Kirkwood had 543 vacant units, and in 2010, 1,001 units were unoccupied. In Webster Groves, the number of vacant units increased from 405 to 600 during the past decade.
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In 2010, rental units led the way as the type of property with the highest number of vacancies. That wasn’t the case in 2000 in Webster Groves, when the number of vacant homes for sale outnumbered unoccupied rentals. Last year at least 10 percent of rental units in both cities were vacant. The rate is in line with that for the County.
During the past decade in Webster Groves, the number of total housing units dropped from 9,903 in 2000 to 9,756 in 2010. The number of total units in Kirkwood increased from 12,306 in 2000 to 12,895 in 2010.
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Below is 2010 Housing Occupancy data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
2010 HOUSING OCCUPANCY Kirkwood Webster Groves St. Louis CountyTotal housing units 12,895 9,756 438,032 Occupied housing units 11,894 9,156 404,765 Vacant housing units 1,001 600 33,267 For rent 368 203 12,632 Rented, not occupied 35 6 650 For sale only 237 144 6,846 Sold, not occupied 53 27 1,362 For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use 85 52 2,072 All other vacants 223 168 9,705 Homeowner vacancy rate (percent) 2.5 1.9 2.3 Rental vacancy rate (percent)
11.8 10.4 10
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