How many subsidized housing units are available in the US?
Refreshed annually
In 2025, about 5.13 million subsidized housing units were available in the US. Federally subsidized rental housing began with 1937’s US Housing Act, which created the United States Housing Authority and provided financial assistance to state and local governments for housing low-income people. Since then, the government has provided housing assistance to low-income renters through programs overseen by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In 2025
5.13M
subsidized housing units existed in the US
In 2025
667K
subsidized housing units were unoccupied and available to rent
In 2025
13%
of all subsidized housing units were available to rent
The number of available subsidized housing units varies throughout the United States. Administered by local public housing authorities (PHAs), availability is shaped by local policy and factors like geography (e.g., urban vs. rural vs. suburban), need, and more.
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Of all parts of the US, Washington, DC had the most subsidized housing per capita; housing assistance programs are concentrated in urban areas, and DC is very urban. Among states, Rhode Island offered the most subsidized units per capita.
In 2025, Arizona had the fewest subsidized housing units per 1K people.
Subsidized housing units per 1,000 people (2025)
What types of subsidized housing are available?
Subsidized housing can take different forms — from high-rise buildings to garden-style apartments to single-family dwellings, duplexes, and more — but all are accessed via eight different housing assistance programs under HUD. These are classified as either public housing; tenant-based programs; or privately-owned, project-based housing.Tenant-based programs — known today as the Housing Choice Voucher program — are the most common form of housing assistance, providing 2.8 million housing units in 2025. Housing vouchers allow recipients to choose their own housing in the private market, as long as it meets program requirements. These account for 55% of the subsidized housing stock.
Privately-owned, project-based programs provide subsidized housing in larger, multifamily housing developments through agreements between landlords and HUD, and account for 29% of all subsidized housing.
Public housing refers to residential units that are built and managed by local housing agencies to provide affordable living options for low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. These units make up 17% of the total subsidized housing units in the United States.
Tenant assistance was the most common type of housing program in 2025.
Share of subsidized housing units, by program (2025)
Subsidized housing units per 1,000 people (2025)
| 1. | Washington, DC | 50 |
| 2. | Rhode Island | 35 |
| 3. | Puerto Rico | 34 |
| 4. | New York | 29 |
| 5. | Massachusetts | 27 |
| 6. | Connecticut | 23 |
| 7. | Vermont | 21 |
| 8. | Louisiana | 20 |
| 9. | West Virginia | 20 |
| 10. | Maine | 19 |
How Can the Government Help with Affordable Housing?
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
