Cities in Texas by housing units authorized by building permits

Austin, TX had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 253 cities in 2021, at 18,722. Sherman, TX had the lowest, at 0. The median was 216 and the figure for Texas was 265,955. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest18,722Austin, TX

Lowest0Sherman, TX

Median216253 cities

Texas265,955History

Top 40 cities, 2021

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2021 count	Change on 2020
1	Austin, TX Estimated	18,722	+5.8%
2	Houston, TX Estimated	15,249	-8.1%
3	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	11,574	+21%
4	San Antonio, TX Estimated	11,158	+21%
5	Dallas, TX Estimated	10,014	+171.3%
6	Georgetown, TX Estimated	5,941	+80.3%
7	Celina, TX Estimated	3,449	+69.7%
8	Frisco, TX Estimated	3,390	+6.6%
9	Leander, TX Estimated	3,233	+40.4%
10	Lubbock, TX Estimated	3,131	-13%
11	Conroe, TX Estimated	3,081	+58.9%
12	Fulshear, TX Estimated	3,008	+19.5%
13	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	2,388	-14.2%
14	Grand Prairie, TX Estimated	2,293	+57.3%
15	El Paso, TX Estimated	2,233	+26.7%
16	Arlington, TX Estimated	2,226	+53.8%
17	Kyle, TX Estimated	2,133	+4.5%
18	Hutto, TX Estimated	2,080	+144.4%
19	Round Rock, TX Estimated	1,931	+74.8%
20	Temple, TX Estimated	1,922	+42.7%
21	Lewisville, TX Estimated	1,885	+324.5%
22	McKinney, TX Estimated	1,727	-25%
23	Allen, TX Estimated	1,711	+218%
24	Laredo, TX Estimated	1,684	+16.4%
25	Denton, TX Estimated	1,665	-41.8%
26	Little Elm, TX Estimated	1,555	+3.8%
27	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	1,470	+23.5%
28	Odessa, TX Estimated	1,406	+18.4%
29	Royse City, TX Estimated	1,370	+74.5%
30	Bryan, TX Estimated	1,220	+58%
30	Prosper, TX Estimated	1,220	+9.4%
32	Killeen, TX Estimated	1,204	-8.4%
33	Brownsville, TX Estimated	1,129	+16.4%
34	Seguin, TX Estimated	1,124	+41.9%
35	Anna, TX Estimated	1,121	+16.8%
36	Irving, TX Estimated	1,094	+39.5%
37	Forney, TX Estimated	1,082	+43.3%
38	Mansfield, TX Estimated	1,050	+24.3%
39	Liberty Hill, TX Estimated	1,037	-17.7%
40	McAllen, TX Estimated	1,012	-7.7%
41	College Station, TX Estimated	992	-14.8%
42	Rockwall, TX Estimated	989	+29.6%
43	Manvel, TX Estimated	931	+20.3%
44	Edinburg, TX Estimated	930	-22.9%
45	Northlake, TX Estimated	923	+44.4%
46	Princeton, TX Estimated	916	+11.3%
47	Waxahachie, TX Estimated	871	+12.8%
48	Abilene, TX Estimated	869	+36.4%
49	Texas City, TX Estimated	867	-23%
50	Midland, TX Estimated	858	-33.4%
51	Josephine, TX Estimated	797	+3.2%
52	Red Oak, TX Estimated	789	+131.4%
53	Melissa, TX Estimated	784	-8.5%
54	Iowa Colony, TX Estimated	759	-4.6%
55	Richardson, TX Estimated	751	+1,568.9%
56	Rowlett, TX Estimated	738	+5.7%
57	Waco, TX Estimated	737	-11.8%
58	San Marcos, TX Estimated	721	+15.4%
59	Pearland, TX Estimated	715	+34.7%
60	Fate, TX Estimated	705	-15.6%
61	Ennis, TX Estimated	696	+89.6%
62	Midlothian, TX Estimated	695	+40.1%
63	Missouri City, TX Estimated	693	+9.3%
64	Weslaco, TX Estimated	685	+137%
65	Plano, TX Estimated	668	-31.6%
66	Huntsville, TX Estimated	652	+252.4%
67	Burleson, TX Estimated	615	-55.5%
68	Socorro, TX Estimated	597	+2.8%
69	Sachse, TX Estimated	596	-21.5%
70	Cleburne, TX Estimated	584	+79.1%
71	Amarillo, TX Estimated	574	-32.1%
72	Mission, TX Estimated	564	+48%
73	Mesquite, TX Estimated	560	+117.9%
74	Saginaw, TX Estimated	556	+473.2%
75	Tyler, TX Estimated	533	+15.1%
76	Katy, TX Estimated	527	-8.5%
77	Manor, TX Estimated	526	-67.1%
78	Wylie, TX Estimated	516	+1%
79	Rosenberg, TX Estimated	513	-15.2%
80	Greenville, TX Estimated	505	-0.6%
81	Pflugerville, TX Estimated	503	-62.3%
82	Cibolo, TX Estimated	493	+36.9%
83	North Richland Hills, TX Estimated	489	+52.3%
84	Denison, TX Estimated	480	+72%
85	Dripping Springs, TX Estimated	472	+9.5%
86	Carrollton, TX Estimated	467	+0.9%
87	Pharr, TX Estimated	451	+282.2%
88	Tomball, TX Estimated	448	+28%
89	Weatherford, TX Estimated	446	-49.1%
90	Flower Mound, TX Estimated	445	+3.7%
91	Glenn Heights, TX Estimated	444	+5%
92	Bastrop, TX Estimated	434	+87.1%
93	Garland, TX Estimated	427	+9.8%
94	Lavon, TX Estimated	405	+47.8%
95	Lakeway, TX Estimated	397	+21.4%
96	Lago Vista, TX Estimated	394	+19.4%
97	League City, TX Estimated	388	-54.2%
98	Boerne, TX Estimated	387	+23.2%
99	Grapevine, TX Estimated	380	+18%
100	Converse, TX Estimated	377	+7.1%
101	Kennedale, TX Estimated	367	+1,735%
102	Elgin, TX Estimated	361	+63.3%
103	Belton, TX Estimated	358	+140.3%
104	Victoria, TX Estimated	349	+164.4%
105	Alvin, TX Estimated	345	+21.1%
106	San Angelo, TX Estimated	333	-51.5%
107	Longview, TX Estimated	325	+44.4%
108	La Porte, TX Estimated	320	-41.7%
109	Brenham, TX Estimated	319	-46.5%
110	Baytown, TX Estimated	309	+9.2%
110	Farmers Branch, TX Estimated	309	+34.9%
112	Beaumont, TX Estimated	308	+24.7%
113	Alton, TX Estimated	307	+54.3%
114	DeSoto, TX Estimated	283	+15.5%
115	Seagoville, TX Estimated	269	+22.8%
116	Granbury, TX Estimated	262	+10.1%
117	Port Arthur, TX Estimated	261	-55.9%
118	Galveston, TX Estimated	251	+5.9%
119	Schertz, TX Estimated	234	-38.6%
120	Mont Belvieu, TX Estimated	230	-4.2%
121	Heath, TX Estimated	229	+68.4%
122	Mercedes, TX Estimated	228	+235.3%
123	La Marque, TX Estimated	225	-6.6%
124	Harker Heights, TX Estimated	222	+65.7%
124	Lockhart, TX Estimated	222	+44.2%
126	Palestine, TX Estimated	219	+25.9%
127	Fair Oaks Ranch, TX Estimated	216	+12.5%
128	San Juan, TX Estimated	213	+37.4%
129	Copperas Cove, TX Estimated	211	-35.7%
130	Providence Village, TX Estimated	196	+355.8%
131	Azle, TX Estimated	194	+173.2%
132	Alamo, TX Estimated	190	+3.8%
133	Buda, TX Estimated	184	+15%
134	Taylor, TX Estimated	176	+14.3%
135	Rockport, TX Estimated	163	+24.4%
136	Helotes, TX Estimated	157	+248.9%
137	The Colony, TX Estimated	156	-34.7%
138	Angleton, TX Estimated	154	+85.5%
138	Ingleside, TX Estimated	154	+26.2%
140	Port Neches, TX Estimated	153	+131.8%
141	Sugar Land, TX Estimated	151	+2%
142	Canyon, TX Estimated	142	-14.5%
143	Euless, TX Estimated	141	+104.3%
144	Lumberton, TX Estimated	139	+14.9%
145	Richmond, TX Estimated	136	-60.3%
146	Eagle Pass, TX Estimated	135	-2.9%
147	Sanger, TX Estimated	134	-31.3%
148	Sulphur Springs, TX Estimated	128	+1,180%
149	Seabrook, TX Estimated	125	-3.1%
150	Crowley, TX Estimated	122	-71.4%
151	Pasadena, TX Estimated	119	-17.4%
152	Terrell, TX Estimated	114	+81%
153	Hidalgo, TX Estimated	112	+13.1%
154	Horizon City, TX Estimated	108	-48.6%
155	Cedar Park, TX Estimated	103	-51.9%
155	Universal City, TX Estimated	103	+17%
157	Dickinson, TX Estimated	101	-42.6%
157	Haltom City, TX Estimated	101	-17.9%
157	Keller, TX Estimated	101	+27.8%
160	Del Rio, TX Estimated	100	+56.3%
161	Southlake, TX Estimated	96	+50%
162	Kerrville, TX Estimated	95	+10.5%
163	Wichita Falls, TX Estimated	93	-37.2%
164	Robinson, TX Estimated	92	+3.4%
165	Fairview, TX Estimated	89	-21.2%
166	Fredericksburg, TX Estimated	85	+18.1%
167	Harlingen, TX Estimated	84	-72.8%
168	Robstown, TX Estimated	82	+121.6%
169	Friendswood, TX Estimated	81	-48.1%
170	Hewitt, TX Estimated	77	-7.2%
171	Cedar Hill, TX Estimated	74	-26.7%
172	Corinth, TX Estimated	73	+73.8%
173	Lufkin, TX Estimated	72	-12.2%
173	University Park, TX Estimated	72	-14.3%
175	Portland, TX Estimated	71	-21.1%
176	Live Oak, TX Estimated	70	+22.8%
176	Santa Fe, TX Estimated	70	+12.9%
178	Corsicana, TX Estimated	69	+16.9%
179	Henderson, TX Estimated	67	+2,133.3%
180	Paris, TX Estimated	64	+120.7%
181	Selma, TX Estimated	61	-44%
182	Bellaire, TX Estimated	60	-1.6%
182	San Benito, TX Estimated	60	+15.4%
184	Clute, TX Estimated	58	+26.1%
184	Dayton, TX Estimated	58	+70.6%
186	Highland Village, TX Estimated	57	+54.1%
187	Donna, TX Estimated	56	+16.7%
188	White Settlement, TX Estimated	55	+27.9%
189	Texarkana, TX Estimated	54	+14.9%
190	Kaufman, TX Estimated	53	+89.3%
191	Bay City, TX Estimated	52	+126.1%
191	Colleyville, TX Estimated	52	-38.1%
193	Palmview, TX Estimated	51	+30.8%
194	Benbrook, TX Estimated	49	-76.6%
194	Stafford, TX Estimated	49	+1,533.3%
194	Stephenville, TX Estimated	49	-21%
197	West University Place, TX Estimated	48	+6.7%
198	Webster, TX Estimated	46	+1,433.3%
199	Bonham, TX Estimated	44	+46.7%
199	Kingsville, TX Estimated	44	0%
201	Groves, TX Estimated	40	-16.7%
202	Marshall, TX Estimated	38	+137.5%
202	South Houston, TX Estimated	38	+100%
204	Lancaster, TX Estimated	37	-47.9%
205	Burkburnett, TX Estimated	33	+50%
206	Gatesville, TX Estimated	32	-77.8%
206	Port Lavaca, TX Estimated	32	-42.9%
208	Addison, TX Estimated	31	-92.5%
208	Athens, TX Estimated	31	+47.6%
210	El Campo, TX Estimated	29	+163.6%
210	Town of Pecos, TX Estimated	29	n/a
212	Nacogdoches, TX Estimated	28	+12%
213	Orange, TX Estimated	26	-21.2%
214	Gainesville, TX Estimated	24	-44.2%
214	Uvalde, TX Estimated	24	+26.3%
216	Pleasanton, TX Estimated	22	-8.3%
217	Lake Jackson, TX Estimated	21	-40%
218	Andrews, TX Estimated	20	+25%
218	Coppell, TX Estimated	20	-39.4%
218	Nederland, TX Estimated	20	-25.9%
221	Freeport, TX Estimated	18	+12.5%
222	Roanoke, TX Estimated	17	-76.1%
223	Deer Park, TX Estimated	15	-11.8%
223	Forest Hill, TX Estimated	15	-16.7%
223	Kilgore, TX Estimated	15	-50%
226	Mineral Wells, TX Estimated	13	+18.2%
227	Brownwood, TX Estimated	11	-15.4%
227	Levelland, TX Estimated	11	+22.2%
229	Balch Springs, TX Estimated	9	+28.6%
229	Raymondville, TX Estimated	9	+12.5%
231	Mount Pleasant, TX Estimated	8	-83.3%
232	Bellmead, TX Estimated	7	+16.7%
233	Beeville, TX Estimated	6	-80.6%
233	Duncanville, TX Estimated	6	+20%
233	Jacksonville, TX Estimated	6	+20%
236	Hurst, TX Estimated	5	-95.5%
236	Trophy Club, TX Estimated	5	-87.2%
238	Borger, TX Estimated	4	+300%
238	Dumas, TX Estimated	4	-42.9%
238	Galena Park, TX Estimated	4	+100%
238	Snyder, TX Estimated	4	+33.3%
242	Murphy, TX Estimated	3	-91.9%
242	Watauga, TX Estimated	3	+200%
244	Bedford, TX Estimated	2	-33.3%
244	Big Spring, TX Estimated	2	-95.2%
244	Hereford, TX Estimated	2	0%
247	Humble, TX Estimated	1	-75%
247	Plainview, TX Estimated	1	-50%
247	Sweetwater, TX Estimated	1	-75%
250	Alice, TX Estimated	0	-100%

Showing the top 250 of 253. 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. 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/so2021a.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. (2022). 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, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.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, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Apr. 2022, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2022. 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, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2022) 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, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_texas_by_2021,
  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, 2021}},
  year = {2022},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2021. 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/so2021a.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, 2021
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/04/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2021.
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/so2021a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

Austin, TX, with 18,722 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Sherman, TX, with 0 in 2021.

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.