Community Corner
2010 Census: El Cerrito's Vacancy Rate Doubled Since 2000
The percentage of unoccupied homes in El Cerrito doubled to 5 percent in 2010 from 2.5 percent in 2000, according to newly released U.S. Census figures.
The number of unoccupied homes in El Cerrito doubled in the past decade, reflecting the typical pattern for the East Bay as a whole.
Census figures show the vacancy rate rose sharply in both Alameda and Contra Costa counties between 2000 and 2010.
The census figures don’t reveal what percentage of the vacancies are single-family homes, apartments, condominiums or mobile homes.
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Hing Wong, a senior regional planner with the Association of Bay Area Governments, said the real estate market collapse the past three years and the increase in foreclosures has played a major role.
He added that banks holding onto foreclosed homes also is a factor because those houses don’t have anybody living in them.
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Wong also noted 2000 was near the peak of the dot-com boom when the Bay Area housing market was riding high.
In Contra Costa County, the number of living units increased from 354,000 in 2000 to 400,000 in 2010. The number of unoccupied homes leaped from 10,448 to 24,899. The vacancy rate rose from about 2.5 percent to 6 percent., an increase of 111 percent.
In Alameda County, the number of living units went from slightly more than 540,000 in 2000 to 582,000 in 2010. However, the number of unoccupied homes jumped from 16,817 to 37,411. The vacancy rate climbed from about 3 percent to 6 percent, an increase of 106 percent.
Most communities in these counties experienced similar increases, no matter what their socio-economic demographics.
The 2010 Census found that El Cerrito had 574 unoccupied homes in 2010, or 5 percent of the total, double the percentage in 2000 when 254 units were reported unoccupied.
Albany went from 237 unoccupied homes in 2000 to 488 in 2010, despite only a small rise in the total number of living units. The vacancy rate rose from about 3 percent to more than 6 percent.
Concord went from 1,083 vacant homes to 2,847 unoccupied dwellings in 2010, sending its vacancy rate from about 2.5 percent to 6 percent.
Walnut Creek rose from 1,124 unoccupied homes to 2,238 units in 2010, increasing its vacancy rate from about 3.5 percent to 7 percent.
Even the high-income enclave of Diablo went from 6 unoccupied dwellings in 2000 to 27 in 2010. Its vacancy went from less than 2 percent to 6 percent.
HOUSING OCCUPANCY CHART
CITY/COUNTY 2000 UNOCCUPIED 2010 UNOCCUPIED
Alameda County 16,817 (3 percent) 37,411 (6 percent)
Contra Costa County 10,448 (2.5 percent) 24,899 (6 percent)
Solano County 4,110 (3 percent) 10,940 (7 percent)
Alameda 1,418 (5 percent) 2,228 (7 percent)
Alamo 91 (2 percent) 226 (4 percent)
Albany 237 (3 percent) 488 (6 percent)
Benicia 219 (2 percent) 620 (5.5 percent)
Blackhawk/Tassajara 55 (2 percent) 142 (3 percent)
Castro Valley 397 (2 percent) 1,044 (4.5 percent)
Cherryland 165 (3.5 percent) 332 (6.5 percent)
Clayton 41 (1 percent) 80 (2 percent)
Concord 1,083 (2.5 percent) 2,847 (6 percent)
Danville 314 (2 percent) 514 (3 percent)
Diablo 6 (1.5 percent) 27 (6 percent)
Dublin 547 (5 percent) 869 (5.5 percent)
El Cerrito 254 (2.5 percent) 574 (5 percent)
Hercules 120 (2 percent) 438 (5 percent)
Lafayette 182 (2 percent) 428 (4.5 percent)
Livermore 487 (2 percent) 1,208 (4 percent)
Martinez 297 (2 percent) 689 (4.5 percent)
Moraga 98 (2 percent) 184 (3 percent)
Newark 158 (1.5 percent) 442 (3 percent)
Orinda 148 (2 percent) 251 (4 percent)
Pinole 85 (1.5 percent) 383 (5 percent)
Pleasanton 657 (2.5 percent) 808 (3 percent)
San Leandro 692 (2 percent) 1,702 (5 percent)
San Lorenzo 109 (1.5 percent) 249 (4 percent)
San Ramon 608 (3.5 percent) 938 (4 percent)
Union City 235 (1.5 percent) 825 (4 percent)
Walnut Creek 1,124 (3.5 percent) 2,238 (7 percent)
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