Author: Damjan Milenkovic

Corporations and businesses lose millions every year due to employee theft. While it might not seem like a prime financial concern, it can cripple a company if it gets out of hand.

To understand this problem better, take a look at this list of employee theft statistics. We’ve collected the data that best highlights how harmful employment theft is for individual businesses and on a larger scale.

Here, you’ll learn about the costs of employee theft, embezzlement, insider data breaches, and much more. This article will illustrate how dangerous it can be to lose control over employees’ wrongdoings.

Stats on Employee Theft Cases

1. Over 26,000 employees were apprehended for stealing in 2020.

(Jack L. Hayes International)

Employee theft statistics 2020 reveal a significant decrease in such incidents — 20.3% less than in 2019. In these cases, $32 million were recovered. 

“Essential” retailers, however, report 2.7% more dishonest employees than the previous year.

2. 95% of all businesses suffer employee theft.

(CompareCamp)

Almost every business in the US has reported employee theft cases. In over 50% of the instances, the loss was in office supplies or the use of company equipment for personal benefit.

3. Every year, US businesses lose $50 billion to employee dishonesty.

(Embroker, ISN)

On a national level, the US suffers staggering losses because of employee dishonesty (stealing, being unproductive, etc.). Employee theft statistics show these losses aren’t distributed evenly. Research suggests that one in three business failures happens due to internal theft.

4. In the US and Canada, noncash assets made up 18% of all asset misappropriation cases in 2020.

(ACFE)

The term “asset misappropriation” describes a wide range of activities — cash larceny, unauthorized expense reimbursements, skimming, and more.

Some of the most frequent schemes with the highest embezzlement incident rate in Canada and the US are corruption (33%), billing (26%), and expense reimbursements (19%).

Embezzlement Statistics

5. Embezzlement costs a company $357,650 on average.

(Embroker)

Embezzlement schemes can go undetected for a very long period while draining the organization’s funds. Employee theft statistics show that the average embezzler works for eight years for the company before getting caught.

6. 33% of embezzlement perpetrators work in accounting or finance.

(The Balance SMB)

Accounting fraud statistics show that one-third of embezzlement cases involve someone from this department or from finance as the perpetrator. Meanwhile, 85% of the cases involve someone at a manager level or higher.

7. 70% of embezzlement cases last longer than a year.

(The Balance SMB)

At the same time, employee embezzlement statistics show that around 30% of embezzlement cases last three years or longer.

8. On average, businesses recover 39% of embezzled funds.

(The Balance SMB)

According to the employee theft stats, businesses typically get back less than half of their stolen money by restitution, settlements, or insurance.

9. Church crime would account for over $80 billion by 2025.

(Brotherhood Mutual)

Fraud occurs in all kinds of religious institutions, and almost anyone with influence can divert a part of the church’s funds to themselves.

Church embezzlement statistics show an increase in wrongdoings by 6% every year, and 80% of such cases go unreported to law authorities.

10. Three out of five dentists are victims of embezzlement.

(Dental Town)

According to the most recent dental embezzlement statistics, most practicing dentists will become victims of embezzlement at least once in their careers.

The average scheme lasts between two and five years and results in over $100,000 loss for the practice. 

11. 79% of embezzlement incidents involve more than one person.

(The Balance SMB)

Embezzlement schemes are usually complex. The perpetrator often convinces others to cooperate to stay undetected, as shown by employee data on theft statistics.

12. Cash makes up 34.5% of all asset misappropriation in nonprofit organizations.

(MIP)

The top three kinds of fraud are asset misappropriation, financial statement fraud, and corruption. Of these, misappropriation with cash, such as skimming, larceny, and register disturbances, are by far the most common, nonprofit embezzlement statistics reveal.

Annually, nonprofit organizations lose a median of $168,000 to employee theft. Embezzlement and check fraud account for $158,000.

Costs of Internal Theft Statistics 

13. As per The 2020 National Retail Security Survey, shrink represented 1.62% of a retailer’s bottom line.

(NRF)

In retail, shrink refers to inventory loss due to employee theft, shoplifting, damage, or inventory mismanagement. 

The shrink mentioned in the statistic above resulted in $61.7 billion worth of costs for the industry. Furthermore, 70% reported a shrink rate of over 1%. 

Retail employee theft statistics confirm that almost 50% of the increase was noticed in in-store-only sales. Comparatively, 26.1% was detected in online-only sales. 

14. Time theft costs companies around $400 billion every year.

(Connecteam)

Time theft is a big issue well worth addressing. A business that doesn’t keep track of employee productivity can lose tremendous amounts of money.

According to employee time theft statistics, it affects 75% of the companies in the US and accounts for $400 billion in losses every year.

15. Walmart loses $1.5 billion to shoplifting and employee theft.

(Forbes)

Walmart is the biggest retail chain in the US. The retailer loses around 1.4% of sales revenue to shrinkage, accounting for $1.5 billion per year. 

Diving further into the Walmart employee theft statistics, 38% of the losses are due to shoplifting, 35% — employee theft, and administrative make up 27%.

16. The median loss caused by employee fraud in the banking industry is $110,000.

(ACFE)

Statistics on bank employee theft point to a high median cost. For comparison, the median cost in retail is $50,000 and in education — $68,000. There are 366 fraud cases in the banking industry every year. 

The communications and publishing sector has only 24 cases yearly but the highest median cost of $525,000.

Data on Employee Theft by Industry

17. 60% of data breaches happen because of insider threats.

(Security Intelligence)

Over half of cyber breaches originate from the inside. That means an employee either intentionally helps cybercriminals or makes a mistake they can exploit.

According to workplace theft statistics, the costs of insider threats add up to $8.76 million annually.

18. Occupational fraud accounts for $7 billion in losses worldwide annually.

(ACFE)

According to the most recent employee theft research, there are approximately 2,690 cases of fraud around the world, with a median cost of $130,000.

19. The average dishonest restaurant employee steals $1,900.

(DIGIOP)

Restaurant employee theft facts show that the most used fraud is refund for cash or POS fraud. It involves reporting a refund for a meal even though no customer asked for it and taking the money.

Dishonest restaurant employees can get away with stealing nearly $2000 before anyone notices. 

20. There were 453 arrests for internal mail theft in the US postal service October 2020–September 2021.

(USPS OIG)

The US Postal Office theft statistics show they conducted 1,472 investigations. Consequently, there were about 1,042 administrative actions against dishonest employees. On top of that, over $162,000 was returned to the Postal Service. 

Conclusion

Worker theft is a silent yet deadly issue that can end many businesses. Sadly, it doesn’t get nearly enough time under the spotlight, allowing most perpetrators to get away with it.

The reasons people steal from their employer are numerous — insufficient salary and unpleasant work environment are among the prime ones. All the same, realizing how common the problem is in the first place is pivotal to addressing it. 

While some industries are more affected, employee dishonesty is widespread, resulting in over $50 billion in losses yearly.

Therefore, businesses should heavily consider installing a security camera system in place to deter or identify the perpetrators.

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In the new world after a global pandemic, much has changed, including social media statistics. Lockdown orders and social distancing measures completely changed the way that we relate to each other, going from meeting up at a local bar or restaurant, to interacting with friends and family through social media and zoom calls. 

This increase in using phones and computers to salvage some sort of social life has shown some interesting effects in a post-pandemic world. For better or for worse, if social media wasn’t a big part of our lives before COVID-19, it is now.

Social Media Trends 

In 2020, new consumer needs appeared with the increase in social network usage. People are now, more than ever, using and engaging in social media platforms for communicating, watching, creating, and sharing with the networks of people they know, and don’t know. As a result, new trends are emerging about the modern, post-covid consumer. 

1. The number of views of Instagram videos increased by 70% in just one month.

(Oberlo)

According to social media use statistics, from February to March 2020, Instagram video views increased by 70% in just that one month. Notably, videos are becoming a prevalent part of social media for viewers, content creators, and advertisers alike. The latest trends show that it pays to make videos on Instagram, with 55% of ad revenue on Instagram videos going to the creator. 

2. 67% of respondents use email to communicate with brands.

(Drift, Heinz)

Social media data analyses point that more and more consumers are using social platforms to communicate directly with brands, and 45% of examinees prefer to use live chat. Users appreciate high responsiveness and helpful tone when communicating with businesses, making social media engagement important to many companies. 

3. Ad engagement increased by 15% during COVID-19.

(Marketing Dive)

As a way to cope with boredom and staying at home many people have turned to their mobile screens since the worldwide lockdown happened. Increased usage has directly correlated to increased ad engagement, with women being the most likely to engage. 

How Many People Use Social Media

The number of social media users is steadily rising, and it looks like it’s going to stay that way. Additionally, the average person has a lot more social media accounts than ever before. Cross-platform use and sharing are becoming a normal part of internet life, with Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube ranking in the top three. 

4. Over 4.14 billion people are actively using social networks.

(DataReportal) 

Recent stats on social media show that up to 53% of the global population is currently using social networks, and it continues to increase. 

Over 450 million people joined social platforms from October 2019 to October 2020, which is a 12.3% growth in the number of new users compared to the previous year. Notably, 2 million people join social media every single day. 

5. According to social network stats, an average user has 8.6 social media accounts.

(Backlinko)

There are various social platforms that range in popularity. From dating apps to Facebook to playing Second Life, people join social media for many different reasons. Over the last seven years, the average number of social media accounts has doubled. Today, India is the world leader, with 10.3 social media accounts per individual. 

Social Media Marketing Statistics

With the rise in social media usage, so does the drive to take advantage of this sophisticated marketing tool. With people spending almost 15% of their day on platforms, marketers and businesses are keen to take advantage of the attentive audience. 

6. 73% of marketers say social media marketing was effective for their business. 

(Buffer)

Almost half of the surveyed marketers classified this type of marketing as ‘Somewhat effective’ for their business in recent statistics about social media. That being said, 29.6% of respondents labeled social media for advertising as ‘very effective.’ That means that up to 73% of marketers have found social media marketing benefits for their business, one way or another. 

Still, it isn’t just about activating your business on social networks. It’s about finding your target group and creating engaging content. One of the growing social media trends is influencer marketing. The study indicates that 49% of consumers rely on influencer recommendations on social media platforms for what to buy.

7. One in three users is frustrated by unresponsive brands.

(Smart Insights)

User engagement is primary for any advertising campaign, and social media is no different. Due to evolving consumer expectations, brand marketers need to be responsive to their followers. 

Facts about social media indicate that one in three users gets frustrated by websites that are hard to handle or brands that aren’t cooperative and responsive. Other things that users find repulsive are monotonous online forms and lack of service outside of working hours.

8. Nine out of ten users will support a brand with unique social media content.

(Stackla)

Creating compelling and engaging social media content is an ever adaptive skill. Social media stats show that nine out of ten users assert that authenticity is a significant factor when choosing which brand to support. 

There is a discord between what businesses think is unique and what users engage with, however. More than 90% of brands believe they create truly original content, while 51% of consumers claim that most brands on social media don’t have authentic material. 

9. 47% of consumers expect brands to take a public stand on social media.

(Sprout Social)

One of the biggest social media trends for 2020 is that consumers expect brands to take a public stance on social media regarding important topics. Notably, 55% of them claim they would disregard a brand whose point of view they disagree with, while 53% of them believe that companies take public stands simply to sell more products. Regardless, the modern consumer is becoming increasingly conscientious and expects businesses to be the same. 

Social Media Usage Statistics

The pandemic has changed the way we use technology, and smartphones and social media are a major component in that change. The prevalence of social media usage has drastically increased since COVID-19, and as a result, is a much bigger part of people’s lives.

10. 88.1% of users reported using social media more during the pandemic.

(Oberlo)

Only 12% of people reported that they didn’t turn to social media as a way to kill time and stay more connected with family and friends during the coronavirus lockdown measures. Social media addiction statistics indicate, however, that as social distancing and quarantine measures continue to phase in and out, the increase of social media usage may very well become a new normal.

11. An average user spends 2.5 hours on social media daily.

(DataReportal)

Out of 6 hours and 55 minutes spent online every day, an average user spends nearly a third of that time on social media: 2 hours and 29 minutes, to be exact. Social media facts show this now compares with television. People watch TV for 3 hours and 29 minutes each day on average and listen to streaming platforms for 1 hour and 39 minutes, making social media the world’s second favorite activity. 

12. 72% of USA respondents regularly use Facebook as their primary social media platform.

(MessengerPeople)

Even though Facebook might seem outdated to Gen Z, social media statistics worldwide show that most still like this platform. 65% of US citizens use media sharing platforms, such as Instagram, Snapchat, or YouTube. On the other hand, for global messaging applications, WhatsApp comes first, followed by Facebook Messenger. Still, in the USA, Facebook Messenger takes the lead, Snapchat takes second place, and WhatsApp ranks third. 

13. The use of memes has increased by 26% in just a year.

(Talkwalker)

With the increased time spent on social media during lockdown, a popular internet trend also increased. Meme usage increased by 26% from August 2019 to July 2020, peaking during lockdown in April 2020. An interesting fact about social media users and memes is that 55% of social media users aged 13 to 35 use and exchange memes weekly. The ‘meme industry’ is a massive trend that seems to be ever-expansive. 

14. Nine out of ten respondents use social media to connect with their colleagues.

(DataReportal)

Even though millennials are very active on social media, they don’t practice using it for communicating with colleagues. On the other hand, social networking statistics found that people who belong to the so-called Gen Z (born after 1995) are more likely to use social platforms for business purposes. 

Statistics reveal that nine out of ten respondents younger than 25 use these platforms every week for business communication. Comparatively, 68.7% to 79.2% of people from 25-34 years old (millennials) use social platforms exclusively for socialization and entertainment.

Social Media Usage Statistics by Country

Social media is a global phenomenon, and these days, it’s hard to find someone who isn’t on a social platform. The way individuals use social, however, varies depending on the country. From the amount of time spent daily to how many citizens have an account, social media is influenced by where you live. 

15. China is the biggest social media market in the world.

(Statista)

China accounted for almost a billion of the world’s social media users in 2020, and India is a far-off second with 350 million users. The United States is the country with the third most social media users, stats indicate, with 223 million reported in 2020. 

16. 99% of people in the UAE use social media.

(Statista)

Even though China counts as the biggest social media market, the UAE leads for the number of citizens who have an account. Only 1% of the UAE population isn’t using social media. On the contrary, countries with the lowest number of users are Nigeria and Kenya, and the correlation between a country’s economic status and the percentage of social media users has been established. 

17. Facebook is the leading social network in 90% of the world’s countries.

(Vincos) 

Facebook was a major innovator in developing the way we think of and use social media, and as such, it still dominates the globe for the number of active users. Apart from Russia, which uses a platform called VKontakte, and China that uses a platform called QZone, Facebook is number one in the world, with 60.6% of all internet users using the platform and more than 2.7 billion active users. 

Negative Social Media Statistics

Especially during unprecedented times, there have been many benefits to social media. As one of the only ways to stay connected to friends and family during quarantine, many report the benefits of these platforms have had on their lives. There is a dark side to social media, however, as many people also report feeling addicted to using it. 

18. Over 210 million people across the globe suffer from social media addiction. 

(Mediakix)

Social media use stats reveal that young and single females are the most likely to be addicted to social media. The link between depression and mobile use is accentuated by this, with females reporting depressive symptoms 58% more than males. 

Anxiety and sleep deprivation are additional indicators of social media addiction. Notably, sleeping disorders are more common in teens, with 10% reporting that they check their phone more than ten times a night. 

Recent social media user stats show that 71% of people sleep with their phone or have it close to them, and with 45% of users checking their social media during the night instead of sleeping, sleep disturbance due to social media use is becoming an increasingly serious issue.

19. One-third of divorces are caused by social media use. 

(McKinleyIrvin)

There are several reasons why social media has appeared as a major reason some people choose to get divorced. Besides the negative impacts of any addiction, such as anti-social behavior, neglecting loved ones, and general life dissatisfaction, social media addiction facts show additional adverse effects.

Notably, someone’s social media has become quite a private affair, with one-third of married people keeping their password from their partner. 30% of Tinder users are currently married, and 25% of married couples say they fight about something they saw their partner do on social media at least twice a week. 

20. Addicted teens can spend up to nine hours on social platforms daily.

(MentalUP)

Social media usage statistics by age show that many teens spend more than a regular daily working shift on social networks. This concern can be concerning considering reports that state spending five or more hours on social media a day can lead to depression. Teens using social media are also more likely to experience cyberbullying and harassment, and 67% of teens claim they know how to hide specific content from their parents. 

Conclusion

With the rise of a new decade and a new normal, social media is becoming one of the most used social technologies in the world. Social media statistics show that from sharing pictures of food to creating influencer videos and promoting brand awareness, people are spending more time than ever on this internet activity. 

With all the benefits of social media, so too are there pitfalls. Many people report feeling addicted to it, and others experience mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and body image issues as a consequence of it. Either way, new platforms arrive every day, creating new social media trends that change the way we think, talk, and interact with one another. 

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Ordering a package from Amazon or any other online store has become a daily occurrence. These mail theft statistics give insight into where lost mail really goes and how you can prevent it from happening to you.

People shop for everything and anything online these days. From gifts to appliances and even the weekly grocery list, many people are ordering and can’t wait for their packages to arrive. 

Once the mailbox remains empty and the awaited package never arrives, two things could have happened: it was lost, or it was stolen. The chances are that the package will never be found.

USPS Lost Mail Statistics: Some Packages Get Lost, Others Get Stolen

Among the billions of packages shipped by Americans every year, it is hard to determine which ones are lost, which are stolen by the United States Postal Service (USPS) employees, and which ones are taken from the porches upon delivery. 

1. It’s estimated that 3% of all mail is lost by the US postal service. 

(Natpay)

There is no definitive answer to the question of how much mail is lost each year. While some estimates report 3%, it’s difficult to know for sure as the post office doesn’t measure its delivery performance and never has. 

One way of measuring lost mail is by tallying reports of missing packages. While this identifies how many have been lost, it doesn’t indicate whether the package was lost or stolen. 

2. About 23 million people have their package stolen upon delivery.

(Parcelpending)

According to package theft statistics, almost 23 million Americans who ordered stuff online were victims of porch pirates in 2019. Notably, 74% of those packages were stolen while the homeowners were at work. 

3. Mail theft reports increased by 600% 2017–2020.

(NBCnews)

 The Postal Inspection Service shared the data that shows an enormous increase in mail theft reports. By August 2020, there were roughly 177,000 reports, indicating a 600% increase in stolen mail over the last three years. 

4. There were 1,472 internal investigations related to mail theft by postal employees October 2020–September 2021.

(USPSOIG)

While many cases of theft occur from an outsider grabbing a package off a doorset, of the 1,472 internal investigations with the USPS, 453 resulted in arrests, and 1,042 administrative actions were taken. 

The USPS is responsible for any internal complaints about postal workers or mail sorters, while the police are responsible for porch pirates and thieves outside of the postal jurisdiction.

5. Mail theft statistics from 2019 show the number of Americans who had their package stolen rose from 36% to 43% in 2020. 

(Crresearch)

With the arrival of the pandemic, staying at home and ordering online became a norm, resulting in an increase of parcels and also mail theft. The latest data shows that the number of victims rose from 36% in 2019 to 43% in 2020.

6. Approximately 1.7 million packages are stolen daily in the US.

(Sourcetoday)

With the increase in online shopping, package theft numbers are rising. Even though USPS lost mail statistics show that lost mail can’t be counted, it’s estimated that 1.7 million packages are stolen per day in the US. That’s around $20 to $30 billion lost every year. 

7. 47% of people filed a police report about a stolen parcel. 

(Crresearch)

Nearly half of people will file a police report if they notice or think their package has been stolen, and with good cause. The average value of an ordered package is $136, and luckily many companies provide refunds for stolen goods.

How To Report Mail Theft

Mail is defined as any letter, postcard, package, box, or bag. Mail theft can happen in private or collection mailboxes, mail trucks, or postal workers. With billions of packages moving around each year, chances are some packages will be stolen. There are some things that you can do to possibly locate your mail, however, starting with a mail theft report.

8. Mail theft is a felony, and the punishment is a fine or prison time of up to five years. 

(Criminal.findlaw)

Even though it seems like a minor thing, mail theft is a federal crime. It is defined as taking any package, card, or other posted item that doesn’t belong to you. This felony is punishable by a fine or prison time of up to five years. The mail theft punishment for postal employees who steal is also up to five years in prison, based on the 18 US Code, Section 1709.

9. A total of 32% of consumers feel like companies could do more.

(Crresearch)

Both consumers and companies are working on preventing mail theft. For example, FedEx, Amazon, and UPS require signatures or lock boxes to try and ensure the proper recipient is reached. It may not be enough, however, as 32% of customers still think companies can do more to prevent theft from happening. 

Mailbox Theft Prevention

While there’s no chance of knowing and preventing mail theft in the primary steps of shipping, there are ways to keep it in place once it reaches the doorstep. Staying at home, limiting what you purchase online, and installing video surveillance systems are all prevention techniques used by regular internet shoppers.

10. Around 42% of people avoid ordering expensive items online to prevent mail identity theft.

(Crresearch)

Mail theft became an even bigger issue during the peak of the holiday season in the last couple of years. So much so that 47% of people who order online claimed they worry about theft, and 42% said they stopped ordering expensive items online to prevent losing money.

11. A total of 64% of people stayed at home to wait for a parcel in 2020.

(Crresearch)

A major theft prevention technique, especially for mailbox theft, is to be at home and wait for the package to arrive. Notably, 64% of people say that they do this when they are expecting a package, while 24% report that they do in-store pickup. 11% of people sent their packages to friends or relatives to ensure safe arrival. 

12. About 50% of people also have some sort of doorbell camera to prevent mail theft.

(Crresearch)

Package theft statistics show that there are several techniques that have shown to reduce theft, not just on your doorstep, and video surveillance is one of them. Porch pirates are aware of the different ways that people try to protect their mail, but still, 50% of homeowners have a doorbell camera, as well as motion lights and alarm systems. 

13. The number of individual mailboxes, P.O. boxes, and alternative delivery points grow by one million every year.

(Pewresearch)

One way to not become a USPS lost mail statistic is to rent a private mailbox. One million people choose this option every year in order to limit the potential for doorstep piracy and keeps potential thieves away from your home.

14. About 70% of people still won’t use the Amazon Key.

(Retaildive)

The Amazon Key system is a way to avoid mail theft by allowing Amazon delivery workers access to your home in order to drop off a package. Despite many security systems in place like mobile alerts and video surveillance, nearly three-quarters of people say they don’t feel good about using it.

Conclusion

These mail theft statistics show that it’s not just about losing the cool thing you ordered online. The consequences of mail theft can be severe, even resulting in identity theft and other related scams. 

Find out how to deter identity theft.

There are precautions to take against porch pirates, however, but not from USPS employees. Postal Service Inspectors are doing all they can to prevent and punish those who steal from valued customers. Together with the proper prevention and police tools, the rising number of mail theft might drop in the future.

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If you are considering renting a new place or investing in a property — we can help. The housing statistics we compiled have all the information on the market you need before making up your mind.

Besides all the uncertainty the pandemic brought into our lives, it also gave us some new perspectives on life. As people began spending more time in their houses, working, or simply socially distancing, many of them found the motivation to start looking for their dream home.

So, if you are one of them, this article will provide you with valuable insight into the housing market.

Basic Housing Market Data & Trends

This section will provide you with info that you’re probably curious about — what percentage of people own a home, if house prices are rising or declining, and how many new listings there are, compared to previous years. 

You’ll also find much-needed housing data about the process of selling or buying — such as the average time a house spends on the market or how long a house search lasts.

1. The homeownership rate in 2020 was 65.8%.

(Statista)

Data for 2020 shows an increase in the homeownership rate by 0.7%. The highest rate ever recorded was in 2004 — right before the recession —over 69%.

2. Home prices rose higher than rents in 83% of the US counties by the end of 2020.

(Kiplinger)

In most states, the rate of home prices increased more than the wages. Nonetheless, housing market stats reveal that in 63% of the counties, people still believe it’s a better investment to buy a house than to rent.

3. New listings in 2021 are up by 9%.

(Norada)

Besides more buyers, the increased number of sellers is another housing trend of 2021. With spring being among the most popular times to put a house on the market, the number might get even higher.

4. Houses are spending 32 days less on the market in 2021.

(Norada)

According to experts, people want to make the most out of the low mortgage rates before the market bounces back, so the sales happen faster and more often.

5. The typical house search takes around eight weeks.

(NAR)

According to the NAR national housing statistics, buyers consider approximately nine places before they find the one that’s perfect for them. Generally, five out of those nine houses are looked at only online. 

6. 15% of home sellers in the US relocate to be closer to their families.

(NAR)

The most common reason for selling a house is to be closer to family and friends. Real estate trends show that 12% of the sales are due to a change in the family situation. In addition, 14% of the people want a new house because of the small size of their current one. The safety of the neighborhood is also a common concern. 

7. 1.3 million housing units currently belong to public housing.

(Office for Policy Development and Research)

Around 48% of the public housing are either small studios or one-bedroom apartments, and nearly 25% — two-bedroom homes, while 28% — have three or more bedrooms.

Home Sales Data by Zip Code

Have you ever wondered how different the housing prices are in various parts of the country? We have gathered some interesting stats on the most expensive and cheapest states to buy a house in. 

Let’s take a look at the most surprising affordability indexes in the country.

8. West Virginia is the cheapest place to buy a house, with a median price of $113,000.

(Roofstock)

Besides West Virginia, the cheapest houses in the US are in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Arkansas — with a median value of around $140,000 and less.

9. New York City has the worst affordability index in the US.

(Kiplinger)

The affordability index is calculated by comparing the average annual income in a city with the median home prices. Real estate statistics by city reveal that the most affordable place is Augusta, Georgia.

10. One of the most expensive houses in the US costs $135,000,000.

(Christie’s)

The house is located in Woodside, CA, and is part of a 74-acre property, perfectly preserved since it was built in 1911. The property has 32 bedrooms, a tennis court, pools, and hiking trails, among the long list of amenities.

Housing Trends About Real Estate Agents

Undoubtedly, real estate agents are a vital part of any housing transaction. So, this section will reveal the popularity of real estate agents and websites, and the unexpected means of communication the agents use to reach clients. 

11. 88% of the people buy a house through a real estate agent.

(NAR)

Housing market statistics 2021 show that the majority of home buyers use the help of a real estate agent. Surprisingly, around 73% of the buyers hired the first agent they contacted, and 91% say they would work with the same agent again. 

12. 90% of real estate agents communicate with their clients via texts.

(NAR)

Real estate statistics reveal that many agents have adapted to the new communication ways. Emails are even more popular than texts — 94% of agents use this way of reaching out to the clients — and 34% use instant messaging. 

13. The real estate website Zillow has 36 million visitors every month.

(Statista)

According to real estate stats, websites are the most accessible information source for house buyers. Besides Zillow, another popular site is Trulia, with around 23 million unique monthly visitors. The third most popular option is Yahoo! Homes, with an average of 20 million people browsing through the offers.

Housing Statistics on Rents

Renting is also an enormous part of the housing market. These stats will show you more about the average monthly prices and the demographics of renters in the US.

14. The average monthly rent in the US is $1124.

(Statista)

Housing price trends exhibit a constant increase in rent costs since the beginning of 2021. The price varies depending on the state, and research shows that the rent prices are much higher than the minimum wage.

15. The average rent for a studio is around $900.

(Statista)

Housing market trends by zip code show that rents vary depending on the state and the city. Approximately renters spend around $960 for a one-bedroom apartment, $1200 for a three-bedroom, and $1500 for a four-bedroom apartment.

16. 49% of renters in the US are under 30 years old.

(Statista)

It is not surprising that the majority of renters are under 30 years old. According to the latest housing market statistics on rents, only 9% of people over 65 years old are currently renting a place.

Millennial Housing Trends

Millennials make up a significant part of the homeowners. Let’s take a look into their housing choices and preferences.

17. Millennials make up around 60% of all first-time buyers.

(Dotloop)

The latest research shows that millennials take on an active role when searching for a house — choosing properties to visit and tracking real estate price trends. They also prove to be pickier with their choice of real estate agents and do thorough online research before committing.

18. Millennial/Gen Y buyers make up 38% of all homebuyers in the US.

(Investopedia)

NAR reports that technology plays a significant role in their home buying process — almost every millennial goes online to find information about the housing market before they begin looking for a house.

19. 47% of Millennials prefer to live in the suburbs.

(Investopedia)

Housing market trends of millenials’ purchases show that nearly half the people in their 20s and 30s choose to live out of town. Research has also indicated that most of the buyers that age prefer to have a bigger house. In fact, around 45% of homeowners in their 30s pay over $300,000 for their new property.

Student Housing Trends

This February, 10% fewer students enrolled in college and were looking for university housing. Nonetheless, it seems the student housing problem is not nearly resolved.

20. Around eight million students need near-campus housing every year.

(Guide2Research)

Housing statistics confirm that student housing is constantly in demand, and that presents a great investment opportunity. Currently, the data shows that student housing in the West and South regions of the country will be in high demand this year.

According to the latest California real estate numbers, this comes as no surprise.

21. 90% of students place Wi-Fi first among practical amenities.

(Guide2Research)

As most of them don’t have a significant income, students generally look for the cheapest houses in the US. However, the must-have functional amenities are the laundry machine for 78% of the students and a designated study area — for 45%.

22. Only 6% of graduate students live on-campus, show housing statistics.

(Guide2Research)

It is safe to say that graduates are the target group for any investor looking to build near campus due to students’ transportation and access to campus resources issues. However, there is much for entrepreneurs to consider like safety regulations and affordable prices.

Housing Trends – The Bottom Line

Our statistics presented you with insight into today’s housing market in terms of buyer demographics, rent prices, and student housing and, hopefully, helped you get a better overview of the favorable house-buying situation.

Are you ready to make such a change in your lives? If you do, 2021 will be a perfect time for that. Don’t forget to take a look at the housing statistics by zip code to make sure buying a house is a good investment for your area. 

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