This story walks through how one topic can be shown in different ways. Each map holds value, but the ultimate question as a map-maker is if it matches your purpose for creating the map.

Each map shows the housing vacancy rate in the US by states, counties, tracts, block groups, and blocks. The three maps cover different stylings of the same data:

Thematic choropleth
Thematic color with size
Thematic color blended with human settlement

According to the Census, the overall U.S. vacancy rate dropped from 11.4% in 2010 to 9.7% in 2020. In "U.S. Housing Vacancy Rate Declined in the Past Decade," author Evan Brassell discusses the trends at national, state and metro area levels.

The value of this map is that it shows the significant variation in vacancy rates within cities. Compare New York's pattern of relatively high vacancy rates in Manhattan to the overall pattern of very low vacancy rates in Los Angeles. Look at your city's rates using this map, to help you think about local geography's contributions to the overall rate for your city, county, metro area or state.

View more 2020 Census statistics highlights on housing.