Cities in Texas by housing units authorized by building permits

Austin, TX had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 252 cities in 2018, at 13,283. Plainview, TX had the lowest, at 0. The median was 141 and the figure for Texas was 192,878. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest13,283Austin, TX

Lowest0Plainview, TX

Median141252 cities

Texas192,878History

Top 40 cities, 2018

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2018 count	Change on 2017
1	Austin, TX Estimated	13,283	+14.7%
2	Houston, TX Estimated	13,237	+36.9%
3	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	9,310	+5.1%
4	Dallas, TX Estimated	8,047	+11%
5	San Antonio, TX Estimated	5,929	-4.4%
6	Frisco, TX Estimated	4,818	+12.6%
7	McKinney, TX Estimated	3,463	-13.4%
8	Farmers Branch, TX Estimated	3,355	+140.8%
9	El Paso, TX Estimated	2,209	-24.3%
10	Georgetown, TX Estimated	2,053	+44.5%
11	Leander, TX Estimated	2,006	+6.8%
12	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	1,931	-14.3%
13	Arlington, TX Estimated	1,571	+62%
14	Conroe, TX Estimated	1,561	+67%
15	Denton, TX Estimated	1,552	+7.8%
16	Edinburg, TX Estimated	1,443	+16.8%
17	Laredo, TX Estimated	1,375	+3.3%
18	Round Rock, TX Estimated	1,370	-19.6%
19	Lubbock, TX Estimated	1,330	-40.4%
20	Celina, TX Estimated	1,248	+40.1%
21	Midland, TX Estimated	1,222	+60.6%
22	Carrollton, TX Estimated	1,209	+36%
23	Richardson, TX Estimated	1,187	-42.9%
24	Little Elm, TX Estimated	1,162	-9.7%
25	Allen, TX Estimated	1,054	+1.9%
26	Lewisville, TX Estimated	1,040	+102.3%
27	College Station, TX Estimated	1,031	-46.1%
28	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	1,016	+43.5%
29	Manor, TX Estimated	957	+51.2%
30	Katy, TX Estimated	926	+122.1%
31	Prosper, TX Estimated	924	+19.4%
32	Grand Prairie, TX Estimated	921	+34.8%
33	Princeton, TX Estimated	891	+52.3%
34	Killeen, TX Estimated	875	-22.9%
35	Midlothian, TX Estimated	864	+27.8%
36	Forney, TX Estimated	860	-13.3%
37	Wylie, TX Estimated	840	+46.9%
38	Temple, TX Estimated	829	+30.6%
39	McAllen, TX Estimated	826	+29.5%
40	Pearland, TX Estimated	818	-13.3%
41	Cedar Park, TX Estimated	811	+88.6%
42	Grapevine, TX Estimated	790	+1,580.9%
43	Fulshear, TX Estimated	785	+3.8%
44	Odessa, TX Estimated	740	+50.4%
45	Bryan, TX Estimated	735	-31.6%
45	Melissa, TX Estimated	735	+118.1%
47	Addison, TX Estimated	728	+87.1%
48	Pflugerville, TX Estimated	716	+9%
49	Plano, TX Estimated	712	-39.4%
50	Mansfield, TX Estimated	693	-5.1%
51	League City, TX Estimated	679	-12.5%
52	Brownsville, TX Estimated	665	+14.5%
53	Amarillo, TX Estimated	656	+34.7%
54	Waxahachie, TX Estimated	652	-0.9%
55	Rowlett, TX Estimated	646	-51%
56	Baytown, TX Estimated	612	+160.4%
57	Kyle, TX Estimated	599	-50.9%
58	Flower Mound, TX Estimated	575	+23.1%
58	Waco, TX Estimated	575	-7.3%
60	San Marcos, TX Estimated	557	+32.9%
61	Irving, TX Estimated	550	-67.1%
62	Manvel, TX Estimated	519	-11.7%
63	Texas City, TX Estimated	510	+29.1%
64	Fate, TX Estimated	509	-21.8%
64	Iowa Colony, TX Estimated	509	+187.6%
66	Weatherford, TX Estimated	497	+106.2%
67	Royse City, TX Estimated	468	+143.8%
68	Garland, TX Estimated	456	-80.6%
69	Tyler, TX Estimated	437	+21.1%
70	Hutto, TX Estimated	428	+44.1%
71	Huntsville, TX Estimated	414	+36.2%
72	Mission, TX Estimated	411	+3%
73	Sherman, TX Estimated	390	+98%
74	Schertz, TX Estimated	388	-10.4%
75	Missouri City, TX Estimated	386	+71.6%
76	Cibolo, TX Estimated	380	-14.4%
77	Crowley, TX Estimated	368	+283.3%
78	The Colony, TX Estimated	366	-7.8%
79	Anna, TX Estimated	365	-27.1%
80	Dripping Springs, TX Estimated	345	+8.8%
81	Abilene, TX Estimated	327	+4.5%
82	Rockwall, TX Estimated	319	-49.6%
82	Weslaco, TX Estimated	319	-40.9%
84	Boerne, TX Estimated	313	-4.3%
85	Lago Vista, TX Estimated	299	+45.1%
86	Beaumont, TX Estimated	283	+42.2%
87	Pharr, TX Estimated	273	-4.2%
88	Lakeway, TX Estimated	267	-14.4%
89	San Angelo, TX Estimated	262	+33%
90	Burleson, TX Estimated	250	-10.4%
91	Alton, TX Estimated	247	+83%
91	La Marque, TX Estimated	247	+325.9%
93	Lockhart, TX Estimated	244	+597.1%
93	Rosenberg, TX Estimated	244	-11.6%
93	Webster, TX Estimated	244	+335.7%
96	Live Oak, TX Estimated	241	+11,950%
97	Harlingen, TX Estimated	239	+9.6%
98	North Richland Hills, TX Estimated	234	+3.5%
99	Saginaw, TX Estimated	232	+11%
100	Wichita Falls, TX Estimated	223	+137.2%
101	Ennis, TX Estimated	208	-16.8%
101	Liberty Hill, TX Estimated	208	-5%
103	Longview, TX Estimated	204	+39.7%
104	Copperas Cove, TX Estimated	199	+42.1%
105	Euless, TX Estimated	196	-80.6%
106	Northlake, TX Estimated	195	-1%
107	Stephenville, TX Estimated	194	-5.8%
108	Red Oak, TX Estimated	193	+48.5%
109	Buda, TX Estimated	190	+25%
109	Harker Heights, TX Estimated	190	+6.1%
111	Galveston, TX Estimated	183	-11.2%
112	Denison, TX Estimated	176	-40.7%
113	Seguin, TX Estimated	175	-48.4%
114	Belton, TX Estimated	174	-3.9%
115	Josephine, TX Estimated	170	+750%
116	Roanoke, TX Estimated	169	-59.8%
117	Converse, TX Estimated	158	-23.7%
118	Socorro, TX Estimated	156	-27.4%
119	Rockport, TX Estimated	154	+52.5%
120	Southlake, TX Estimated	153	-2.5%
121	Lancaster, TX Estimated	145	-8.8%
122	Colleyville, TX Estimated	144	+5.1%
123	Friendswood, TX Estimated	142	-27.6%
124	Greenville, TX Estimated	141	-13%
124	Mont Belvieu, TX Estimated	141	-7.8%
124	Sugar Land, TX Estimated	141	-10.8%
127	DeSoto, TX Estimated	140	-9.1%
127	Granbury, TX Estimated	140	+10.2%
129	Brenham, TX Estimated	139	-40.1%
130	Helotes, TX Estimated	138	+21.1%
131	San Juan, TX Estimated	137	-6.8%
132	Alamo, TX Estimated	132	+97%
133	Heath, TX Estimated	131	+1.6%
134	Alvin, TX Estimated	130	-16.7%
135	Kerrville, TX Estimated	129	-3.7%
135	Pasadena, TX Estimated	129	+143.4%
137	Bellaire, TX Estimated	122	+48.8%
138	Glenn Heights, TX Estimated	116	+68.1%
139	Keller, TX Estimated	109	+3.8%
140	Lumberton, TX Estimated	106	-8.6%
141	Tomball, TX Estimated	104	+92.6%
142	Fair Oaks Ranch, TX Estimated	103	-28.5%
143	Kennedale, TX Estimated	95	+30.1%
144	Cleburne, TX Estimated	93	-1.1%
145	Sanger, TX Estimated	91	-36.4%
146	Dickinson, TX Estimated	88	+54.4%
147	Hidalgo, TX Estimated	84	+3.7%
148	Nederland, TX Estimated	83	+5.1%
149	Canyon, TX Estimated	81	-70.4%
150	Lavon, TX Estimated	76	-46.9%
151	Corinth, TX Estimated	74	-74.4%
151	Portland, TX Estimated	74	-24.5%
153	Bastrop, TX Estimated	72	-27.3%
153	Dayton, TX Estimated	72	-5.3%
153	Eagle Pass, TX Estimated	72	-4%
156	Lufkin, TX Estimated	71	+102.9%
156	University Park, TX Estimated	71	-4.1%
158	Mesquite, TX Estimated	70	+4.5%
158	Sachse, TX Estimated	70	-46.2%
158	Victoria, TX Estimated	70	+22.8%
161	Benbrook, TX Estimated	69	-13.8%
162	Universal City, TX Estimated	68	+3%
163	Cedar Hill, TX Estimated	67	+24.1%
164	Elgin, TX Estimated	66	+22.2%
165	La Porte, TX Estimated	64	+33.3%
165	West University Place, TX Estimated	64	+39.1%
167	Forest Hill, TX Estimated	62	+463.6%
167	White Settlement, TX Estimated	62	+47.6%
169	Robinson, TX Estimated	61	+45.2%
170	Fredericksburg, TX Estimated	60	+11.1%
171	Fairview, TX Estimated	59	-13.2%
171	Mercedes, TX Estimated	59	+11.3%
171	Seagoville, TX Estimated	59	-33.7%
174	Watauga, TX Estimated	58	+5,700%
175	Taylor, TX Estimated	55	-5.2%
176	Angleton, TX Estimated	54	+54.3%
177	Terrell, TX Estimated	53	+47.2%
178	Groves, TX Estimated	52	+85.7%
179	Coppell, TX Estimated	49	-46.2%
179	Gatesville, TX Estimated	49	+36.1%
179	Lake Jackson, TX Estimated	49	-34.7%
179	Port Arthur, TX Estimated	49	-3.9%
183	San Benito, TX Estimated	47	+213.3%
184	Selma, TX Estimated	46	-55.3%
184	Sulphur Springs, TX Estimated	46	+58.6%
186	Clute, TX Estimated	45	+18.4%
186	Horizon City, TX Estimated	45	-64.6%
188	Del Rio, TX Estimated	43	-38.6%
189	Bay City, TX Estimated	40	-4.8%
190	Highland Village, TX Estimated	38	+72.7%
190	Port Neches, TX Estimated	38	+58.3%
190	Santa Fe, TX Estimated	38	-9.5%
193	Paris, TX Estimated	37	+8.8%
194	Azle, TX Estimated	36	-89.7%
194	Balch Springs, TX Estimated	36	-45.5%
194	Gainesville, TX Estimated	36	-7.7%
194	Texarkana, TX Estimated	36	+12.5%
198	Ingleside, TX Estimated	34	+47.8%
199	Donna, TX Estimated	32	-13.5%
200	Seabrook, TX Estimated	31	-89.4%
201	Athens, TX Estimated	30	+11.1%
201	Kaufman, TX Estimated	30	+3.4%
203	Big Spring, TX Estimated	28	+27.3%
203	Hewitt, TX Estimated	28	-83.1%
203	Trophy Club, TX Estimated	28	-42.9%
206	Palestine, TX Estimated	27	+170%
206	South Houston, TX Estimated	27	+12.5%
208	Freeport, TX Estimated	26	-21.2%
208	Mount Pleasant, TX Estimated	26	0%
210	Kilgore, TX Estimated	24	+14.3%
211	Orange, TX Estimated	23	-8%
212	Andrews, TX Estimated	22	+22.2%
213	Brownwood, TX Estimated	21	-86.5%
213	Pleasanton, TX Estimated	21	+10.5%
215	Corsicana, TX Estimated	20	-9.1%
216	Bonham, TX Estimated	19	+11.8%
216	Burkburnett, TX Estimated	19	+111.1%
216	Hurst, TX Estimated	19	+46.2%
219	Uvalde, TX Estimated	18	-18.2%
220	Palmview, TX Estimated	17	-29.2%
221	Providence Village, TX Estimated	16	-73.8%
222	Marshall, TX Estimated	15	-31.8%
223	El Campo, TX Estimated	13	+62.5%
223	Murphy, TX Estimated	13	-38.1%
225	Snyder, TX Estimated	12	+50%
225	Stafford, TX Estimated	12	+200%
227	Duncanville, TX Estimated	11	-86.9%
227	Henderson, TX Estimated	11	+450%
227	Mineral Wells, TX Estimated	11	+175%
230	Haltom City, TX Estimated	10	+25%
230	Levelland, TX Estimated	10	+66.7%
232	Beeville, TX Estimated	9	+12.5%
233	Deer Park, TX Estimated	8	-84.3%
234	Galena Park, TX Estimated	7	n/a
234	Leon Valley, TX Estimated	7	-12.5%
236	Kingsville, TX Estimated	6	+20%
236	Sweetwater, TX Estimated	6	+100%
238	Bedford, TX Estimated	5	-84.8%
238	Jacksonville, TX Estimated	5	+25%
240	Alice, TX Estimated	4	-63.6%
240	Humble, TX Estimated	4	-69.2%
240	Nacogdoches, TX Estimated	4	0%
240	Port Lavaca, TX Estimated	4	-75%
244	Dumas, TX Estimated	3	0%
245	Hereford, TX Estimated	2	+100%
245	Pampa, TX Estimated	2	n/a
245	Richmond, TX Estimated	2	+100%
248	Raymondville, TX Estimated	1	-50%
248	Robstown, TX Estimated	1	-50%
250	Bellmead, TX Estimated	0	-100%

Showing the top 250 of 252. The Excel download has every row.

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 2018 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/South%20Region/so2018a.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. (2019). Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (Cities in Texas by housing units authorized by building permits, 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt

MLA 9

Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Texas by housing units authorized by building permits, 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 20 June 2019, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2018. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2019. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Cities in Texas by housing units authorized by building permits, 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2019) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Texas by housing units authorized by building permits, 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_texas_by_2018,
  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 Texas by housing units authorized by building permits, 2018}},
  year = {2019},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2018. 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/South\%20Region/so2018a.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 Texas by housing units authorized by building permits, 2018
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/06/20
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2018.
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/South%20Region/so2018a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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rank_places {"indicator":"building_permit_units","level":"municipality","within":"Texas","limit":10}
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Questions

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

Austin, TX, with 13,283 in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Plainview, TX, with 0 in 2018.

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 2018 and are not ranked.