Table 8. Number of housing units and the number and percent of rental units 

 among the counties of Southwest Florida in 1970 (U.S. Department of Commerce 

 1971). 



County 



Number 

 of units 



Number 

 of rentals 



Percent 

 rentals 



Charlotte 



Collier 



DeSoto 



Hillsborough 



Lee 



Manatee 



Monroe 



Pasco 



Pinellas 



Sarasota 



Southwest Florida 



630,843 



160,137 



25.2 



Rental Rates 



In 1977, only Collier and Sarasota Counties 

 ($171) that was above the State average of $157. 

 heavily populated county in the region, had the 

 Perhaps this is a reflection of the inability of 



Vacancies 



had an average monthly rent 



Pinellas County, the most 



lowest monthly rent ($131). 



retirees to pay high rents. 



Southwest Florida's share of the total number of housing units in the 

 State was about 25% in 1960 and 1970, but the percentage of vacancies de- 

 creased from 28% to 25% (Table 9). Although the census data for 1980 are not 

 yet available, the percentage of total units in the region as compared to the 

 State probably increased during the last decade, whereas the percentage of 

 vacancies probably changed little. 



In 1950-70, Pinellas County had the greatest number of seasonal and year- 

 round vacancies (Table 10). Hillsborough County also had many vacant units, 

 out seasonal vacancies were much less common. These observations seem to 

 support other data that infer that Hillsborough County is becoming less 

 dependent on the tourist industry and more like other metropolitan areas. A 

 rather startling rise in vacant seasonal housing was observed in Collier 

 County; in 1950, the county had 21 vacant seasonal units, in 1960 it had 676, 

 and in 1970 it had 1,499 (the second largest county total in Southwest 

 Florida). 



63 



