The computed rent termed gross rent is the contract rent plus the average monthly cost of utilities (water electricity, gas) and fuels such as wood, coal, and oil if these items are paid for by the renter in addition to contract rent. Thus gross rent eliminates rent differentials which result from varying practices with respect to the inclusion of heat and utilities as part of the rental payment. In rural territory, rent data exclude rent for farm units.

Renter-occupied units for which no cash rent was paid are shown separately in the tabulation but were excluded from the computation of the median. The median was computed on the basis of more detailed tabulation groups than are shown in the tables.

A housing unit is occupied if it was the usual place of residence for the person or group of persons living in it at the time of enumeration. Included are units occupied by persons who were only temporarily absent (for example, on vacation) and units occupied by persons with no usual place of residence elsewhere.

In order to obtain data on Spanish- and Mexican/Americans for areas of the United States where most of them live, white persons (and white heads of households) of Spanish surname were distinguished separately in five Southwestern States (Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas). In all other States, Puerto Rican persons (and heads of households) were identified. Puerto Rican comprise persons born in Puerto Rico and persons of native parentage with at least one parent born in Puerto Rico.