Cities in Illinois by housing units authorized by building permits

Chicago, IL had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 223 cities in 2020, at 4,133. Zion, IL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 15 and the figure for Illinois was 18,058. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest4,133Chicago, IL

Lowest0Zion, IL

Median15223 cities

Illinois18,058History

Top 40 cities, 2020

count. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2020 count	Change on 2019
1	Chicago, IL Estimated	4,133	-47.8%
2	Champaign, IL Estimated	897	+6%
3	Warrenville, IL Estimated	467	+183%
4	Naperville, IL Estimated	431	+37.3%
5	Urbana, IL Estimated	422	+1,355.2%
6	Joliet, IL Estimated	318	+33.6%
7	Yorkville, IL Estimated	316	+89.2%
8	Montgomery, IL Estimated	315	+52.2%
9	Romeoville, IL Estimated	282	+108.9%
10	Plainfield, IL Estimated	256	+26.7%
11	Manhattan, IL Estimated	195	-15.2%
12	Shiloh, IL Estimated	190	+211.5%
13	Orland Park, IL Estimated	184	+192.1%
14	Winfield, IL Estimated	172	+2,050%
15	Springfield, IL Estimated	155	-8.3%
16	O'Fallon, IL Estimated	154	+22.2%
17	Elgin, IL Estimated	153	+15%
18	Pingree Grove, IL Estimated	151	+132.3%
19	Bloomington, IL Estimated	148	+94.7%
20	Oswego, IL Estimated	137	+48.9%
21	New Lenox, IL Estimated	131	-9%
22	Bloomingdale, IL Estimated	129	+163.3%
23	Algonquin, IL Estimated	119	+142.9%
23	Channahon, IL Estimated	119	+14.4%
25	Franklin Park, IL Estimated	110	n/a
26	Antioch, IL Estimated	105	+200%
27	Frankfort, IL Estimated	99	+16.5%
28	McHenry, IL Estimated	98	-31.5%
29	Mahomet, IL Estimated	94	-52%
30	Aurora, IL Estimated	93	+25.7%
31	South Elgin, IL Estimated	90	+260%
32	Huntley, IL Estimated	87	-20.9%
32	St. Charles, IL Estimated	87	+97.7%
34	Crystal Lake, IL Estimated	83	-12.6%
35	Normal, IL Estimated	81	+6.6%
36	River Grove, IL Estimated	80	+1,042.9%
37	Lemont, IL Estimated	78	-18.8%
38	Batavia, IL Estimated	77	-19.8%
38	Highland Park, IL Estimated	77	+35.1%
40	Maywood, IL Estimated	73	+3,550%
40	Plano, IL Estimated	73	+23.7%
42	Elmhurst, IL Estimated	71	-21.1%
43	Mundelein, IL Estimated	69	+60.5%
43	North Aurora, IL Estimated	69	-22.5%
45	Troy, IL Estimated	67	+42.6%
45	Waterloo, IL Estimated	67	+71.8%
47	DeKalb, IL Estimated	65	+1,525%
47	Evanston, IL Estimated	65	+150%
47	Shorewood, IL Estimated	65	+8.3%
50	Chatham, IL Estimated	64	-36%
51	Morris, IL Estimated	62	-54.1%
51	Morton, IL Estimated	62	+44.2%
51	Quincy, IL Estimated	62	+5.1%
54	Bolingbrook, IL Estimated	61	-7.6%
55	Woodstock, IL Estimated	57	+7.5%
56	Sycamore, IL Estimated	54	+1.9%
57	Homer Glen, IL Estimated	52	+173.7%
57	Rolling Meadows, IL Estimated	52	n/a
59	Glenview, IL Estimated	51	+142.9%
60	Rockford, IL Estimated	49	-44.3%
61	Schaumburg, IL Estimated	48	+2,300%
62	Glen Carbon, IL Estimated	45	+60.7%
63	Northbrook, IL Estimated	44	+18.9%
64	Belleville, IL Estimated	43	-12.2%
65	Arlington Heights, IL Estimated	42	-30%
65	Lockport, IL Estimated	42	-77%
67	Loves Park, IL Estimated	41	-46.8%
68	Des Plaines, IL Estimated	40	-9.1%
68	Moline, IL Estimated	40	+11.1%
68	Wilmette, IL Estimated	40	+37.9%
71	Buffalo Grove, IL Estimated	39	+1,850%
71	Wheaton, IL Estimated	39	+160%
73	Barrington, IL Estimated	38	+52%
74	Burr Ridge, IL Estimated	37	+15.6%
74	Edwardsville, IL Estimated	37	+8.8%
74	Effingham, IL Estimated	37	-43.9%
74	Godfrey, IL Estimated	37	+12.1%
78	Downers Grove, IL Estimated	35	-30%
78	Mokena, IL Estimated	35	0%
78	Peoria, IL Estimated	35	+6.1%
81	Hinsdale, IL Estimated	34	-15%
82	Vernon Hills, IL Estimated	33	+6.5%
83	Highland, IL Estimated	28	-74.5%
84	Addison, IL Estimated	27	-3.6%
84	Marion, IL Estimated	27	-20.6%
84	Norridge, IL Estimated	27	+1,250%
87	Ottawa, IL Estimated	26	-68.3%
88	Bourbonnais, IL Estimated	25	-19.4%
88	Lake Forest, IL Estimated	25	-10.7%
88	West Chicago, IL Estimated	25	+2,400%
91	Geneva, IL Estimated	24	+33.3%
91	Western Springs, IL Estimated	24	-22.6%
91	Wood River, IL Estimated	24	+700%
94	Woodridge, IL Estimated	23	-68.1%
95	Libertyville, IL Estimated	22	-43.6%
96	Park Ridge, IL Estimated	20	+11.1%
97	Brookfield, IL Estimated	19	+216.7%
97	Glen Ellyn, IL Estimated	19	-20.8%
97	Winnetka, IL Estimated	19	+58.3%
100	Bradley, IL Estimated	18	+50%
101	Herrin, IL Estimated	17	+6.3%
101	Jacksonville, IL Estimated	17	+6.3%
101	Oak Lawn, IL Estimated	17	+30.8%
101	Skokie, IL Estimated	17	-91.7%
101	Washington, IL Estimated	17	-10.5%
106	Campton Hills, IL Estimated	16	-27.3%
106	Cary, IL Estimated	16	-15.8%
106	Swansea, IL Estimated	16	-36%
109	Columbia, IL Estimated	15	-83.9%
109	La Grange, IL Estimated	15	-21.1%
109	Lombard, IL Estimated	15	-48.3%
109	Westmont, IL Estimated	15	0%
113	Centralia, IL Estimated	14	+16.7%
113	Dixon, IL Estimated	14	-26.3%
113	East St. Louis, IL Estimated	14	n/a
113	Tinley Park, IL Estimated	14	-57.6%
117	Bartlett, IL Estimated	13	-31.6%
118	Burbank, IL Estimated	12	+100%
118	Minooka, IL Estimated	12	-78.2%
120	Pekin, IL Estimated	10	-63%
121	Deerfield, IL Estimated	9	0%
121	Elk Grove Village, IL Estimated	9	+800%
123	Crestwood, IL Estimated	8	+14.3%
123	Justice, IL Estimated	8	+300%
123	River Forest, IL Estimated	8	+166.7%
123	Roselle, IL Estimated	8	-92.3%
127	Lake Zurich, IL Estimated	7	0%
127	Palatine, IL Estimated	7	-88.7%
127	Palos Hills, IL Estimated	7	+16.7%
130	Belvidere, IL Estimated	6	-33.3%
130	Collinsville, IL Estimated	6	-57.1%
130	Evergreen Park, IL Estimated	6	+100%
130	Granite City, IL Estimated	6	-14.3%
130	North Chicago, IL Estimated	6	-14.3%
130	Prospect Heights, IL Estimated	6	+50%
136	Berwyn, IL Estimated	5	-37.5%
136	East Peoria, IL Estimated	5	-50%
136	Elmwood Park, IL Estimated	5	0%
136	Fox Lake, IL Estimated	5	-80%
136	Hickory Hills, IL Estimated	5	+66.7%
136	Lincoln, IL Estimated	5	+66.7%
136	Lisle, IL Estimated	5	-66.7%
136	Villa Park, IL Estimated	5	-50%
144	Carbondale, IL Estimated	4	0%
144	Fairview Heights, IL Estimated	4	-20%
144	Hoffman Estates, IL Estimated	4	-93.4%
144	La Grange Park, IL Estimated	4	+33.3%
144	Pontiac, IL Estimated	4	+33.3%
144	Wauconda, IL Estimated	4	0%
150	Carpentersville, IL Estimated	3	n/a
150	Cicero, IL Estimated	3	+200%
150	East Moline, IL Estimated	3	0%
150	Gurnee, IL Estimated	3	+200%
150	Machesney Park, IL Estimated	3	-95.2%
150	Markham, IL Estimated	3	+200%
150	Mattoon, IL Estimated	3	0%
150	Midlothian, IL Estimated	3	-25%
150	Mount Prospect, IL Estimated	3	-97.1%
150	Mount Vernon, IL Estimated	3	-90%
150	South Holland, IL Estimated	3	+200%
150	Wood Dale, IL Estimated	3	0%
150	Worth, IL Estimated	3	n/a
163	Blue Island, IL Estimated	2	n/a
163	Canton, IL Estimated	2	0%
163	Crest Hill, IL Estimated	2	n/a
163	Danville, IL Estimated	2	-66.7%
163	Freeport, IL Estimated	2	0%
163	Grayslake, IL Estimated	2	+100%
163	Lake in the Hills, IL Estimated	2	n/a
163	Lincolnwood, IL Estimated	2	+100%
163	Lindenhurst, IL Estimated	2	n/a
163	Lyons, IL Estimated	2	0%
163	Northlake, IL Estimated	2	-50%
163	Rock Island, IL Estimated	2	+100%
163	Schiller Park, IL Estimated	2	0%
163	Streator, IL Estimated	2	n/a
163	Waukegan, IL Estimated	2	-71.4%
178	Bridgeview, IL Estimated	1	-87.5%
178	Charleston, IL Estimated	1	0%
178	Chicago Heights, IL Estimated	1	n/a
178	Forest Park, IL Estimated	1	n/a
178	Homewood, IL Estimated	1	n/a
178	Macomb, IL Estimated	1	0%
178	Oak Forest, IL Estimated	1	0%
178	Oak Park, IL Estimated	1	-98.5%
178	Rantoul, IL Estimated	1	0%
178	Streamwood, IL Estimated	1	n/a
188	Alsip, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Alton, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Beach Park, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Bellwood, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Bensenville, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Calumet City, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Carol Stream, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Chicago Ridge, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Country Club Hills, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Darien, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Decatur, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Dolton, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Galesburg, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Glendale Heights, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Hanover Park, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Harvey, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Hazel Crest, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Kankakee, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Kewanee, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Lansing, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Matteson, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Melrose Park, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Morton Grove, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Niles, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Palos Heights, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Park Forest, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Richton Park, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Riverdale, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Round Lake Beach, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Round Lake, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Sterling, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Summit, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Taylorville, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Westchester, IL Estimated	0	n/a
188	Wheeling, IL Estimated	0	-100%
188	Zion, IL Estimated	0	n/a

Other periods

About this ranking

Number of new privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in the year or month, from the US Census Bureau Building Permits Survey. Annual totals for the nation, states and counties; monthly counts for the nation and states.

Counts housing units, not buildings, starts, completions or sales. Monthly counts are not seasonally adjusted and do not add up exactly to the annual total, which includes later corrections; the national seasonally adjusted annual rate in the monthly New Residential Construction release is a different measure.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. 1 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2020 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2020a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2021). Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (Cities in Illinois by housing units authorized by building permits, 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2020a.txt

MLA 9

Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Illinois by housing units authorized by building permits, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 3 May 2021, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2020a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/illinois-cities?period=2020. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2021. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Cities in Illinois by housing units authorized by building permits, 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2020a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/illinois-cities?period=2020.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2021) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Illinois by housing units authorized by building permits, 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2020a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/illinois-cities?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_illinois_by_2020,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in Illinois by housing units authorized by building permits, 2020}},
  year = {2021},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2020a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/illinois-cities?period=2020. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest\%20Region/mw2020a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in Illinois by housing units authorized by building permits, 2020
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/05/03
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2020a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/illinois-cities?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/illinois-cities?period=2020.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2020a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

Which city has the highest housing units authorized by building permits?

Chicago, IL, with 4,133 in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest housing units authorized by building permits?

Zion, IL, with 0 in 2020.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12. 1 cities have no value for 2020 and are not ranked.