Cities in Texas by housing units authorized by building permits

Houston, TX had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 253 cities in 2023, at 16,430. Leon Valley, TX had the lowest, at 0. The median was 154 and the figure for Texas was 232,373. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest16,430Houston, TX

Lowest0Leon Valley, TX

Median154253 cities

Texas232,373History

Top 40 cities, 2023

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2023 count	Change on 2022
1	Houston, TX Estimated	16,430	+4.4%
2	Austin, TX Estimated	13,684	-25.8%
3	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	10,060	-16%
4	San Antonio, TX Estimated	9,159	-35.4%
5	Dallas, TX Estimated	6,424	-37.2%
6	McKinney, TX Estimated	4,802	+44.9%
7	Fulshear, TX Estimated	3,854	+28.4%
8	Frisco, TX Estimated	3,400	+17.4%
9	Denton, TX Estimated	3,292	-18.5%
10	Princeton, TX Estimated	2,882	+61.5%
11	Celina, TX Estimated	2,696	-15.6%
12	Leander, TX Estimated	2,578	+12%
13	Conroe, TX Estimated	2,569	-24.4%
14	Lubbock, TX Estimated	2,193	-25.6%
15	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	2,095	-21.4%
16	Georgetown, TX Estimated	1,986	-56.6%
17	El Paso, TX Estimated	1,852	-5.9%
18	Garland, TX Estimated	1,838	+558.8%
19	Temple, TX Estimated	1,556	-19%
20	Sherman, TX Estimated	1,550	+8.8%
21	Laredo, TX Estimated	1,542	+21.2%
22	San Marcos, TX Estimated	1,442	+54.4%
23	Edinburg, TX Estimated	1,417	+57.1%
24	Waco, TX Estimated	1,409	+46.3%
25	Anna, TX Estimated	1,406	-2.8%
26	Grand Prairie, TX Estimated	1,339	+34.8%
27	Round Rock, TX Estimated	1,334	-8.4%
28	Arlington, TX Estimated	1,265	-56.4%
29	Kyle, TX Estimated	1,249	-41.3%
30	Seguin, TX Estimated	1,194	-2%
31	McAllen, TX Estimated	1,181	-11.2%
32	Hutto, TX Estimated	1,129	+59.2%
33	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	1,064	-2.9%
34	Pflugerville, TX Estimated	1,021	+32.1%
35	Little Elm, TX Estimated	928	-28.1%
36	Fate, TX Estimated	892	+83.5%
37	Lewisville, TX Estimated	881	-35.8%
38	Prosper, TX Estimated	877	-40.5%
39	Midlothian, TX Estimated	862	+12.8%
40	League City, TX Estimated	842	+155.2%
41	Brownsville, TX Estimated	824	-29.6%
42	Midland, TX Estimated	805	+35.8%
43	Carrollton, TX Estimated	803	+369.6%
44	Melissa, TX Estimated	802	-45.6%
45	Iowa Colony, TX Estimated	780	+24.4%
46	Cleburne, TX Estimated	756	-15%
47	College Station, TX Estimated	741	+7.5%
48	Lockhart, TX Estimated	729	+1,387.8%
49	Dripping Springs, TX Estimated	703	-10.4%
49	Royse City, TX Estimated	703	-51.3%
51	Odessa, TX Estimated	690	-22.3%
52	Manvel, TX Estimated	686	-23%
53	Mansfield, TX Estimated	637	-25.1%
54	Liberty Hill, TX Estimated	630	+8.4%
55	Bryan, TX Estimated	625	-37.6%
56	Manor, TX Estimated	623	-8.5%
57	Texas City, TX Estimated	618	+28.5%
58	Mission, TX Estimated	611	+13.6%
59	Killeen, TX Estimated	607	-7.3%
60	Northlake, TX Estimated	596	+80.6%
61	Alton, TX Estimated	581	+16%
61	Mesquite, TX Estimated	581	+7.4%
63	Amarillo, TX Estimated	564	-25.6%
64	Josephine, TX Estimated	551	+468%
65	Irving, TX Estimated	550	-59.4%
66	Tyler, TX Estimated	522	+38.8%
67	Waxahachie, TX Estimated	512	+6.7%
68	Plano, TX Estimated	496	-72.1%
69	Allen, TX Estimated	491	-9.4%
70	Cibolo, TX Estimated	477	-20.9%
71	Forney, TX Estimated	451	-22.4%
72	Schertz, TX Estimated	440	+126.8%
73	Wylie, TX Estimated	438	+62.2%
74	Missouri City, TX Estimated	435	+3.3%
75	Copperas Cove, TX Estimated	434	+15.4%
76	Abilene, TX Estimated	433	-44.2%
77	Bastrop, TX Estimated	420	+95.3%
78	Greenville, TX Estimated	402	-8%
79	Weslaco, TX Estimated	395	-17.2%
80	Katy, TX Estimated	390	-9.3%
81	Rosenberg, TX Estimated	385	+11.3%
82	Alvin, TX Estimated	382	+108.7%
83	Providence Village, TX Estimated	374	+50.2%
84	Harker Heights, TX Estimated	368	+84.9%
85	Burleson, TX Estimated	348	-42.7%
86	Pharr, TX Estimated	345	+25.5%
87	Ennis, TX Estimated	344	+62.3%
88	San Juan, TX Estimated	333	+7.4%
89	Tomball, TX Estimated	332	-2.1%
90	Lavon, TX Estimated	326	-11.7%
90	Mercedes, TX Estimated	326	+409.4%
92	Converse, TX Estimated	313	-5.7%
93	Boerne, TX Estimated	310	-4.6%
94	Galveston, TX Estimated	289	+34.4%
95	Deer Park, TX Estimated	288	+14,300%
96	Rowlett, TX Estimated	286	-67.8%
97	Cedar Hill, TX Estimated	274	+5.8%
98	Saginaw, TX Estimated	272	+1,842.9%
99	La Marque, TX Estimated	268	+23.5%
100	Kennedale, TX Estimated	267	-15%
101	Belton, TX Estimated	253	-47.1%
102	San Angelo, TX Estimated	252	-21.7%
103	Harlingen, TX Estimated	247	-16.6%
104	Corinth, TX Estimated	240	-32.8%
104	Glenn Heights, TX Estimated	240	+20.6%
106	Red Oak, TX Estimated	239	-34.9%
107	Angleton, TX Estimated	231	-14.8%
108	Kerrville, TX Estimated	230	+42%
109	Longview, TX Estimated	229	-43%
110	Denison, TX Estimated	227	-23.6%
111	Beaumont, TX Estimated	226	-26.9%
112	Pearland, TX Estimated	214	-36.7%
113	Lago Vista, TX Estimated	200	-44.9%
114	Sugar Land, TX Estimated	196	+44.1%
115	Horizon City, TX Estimated	193	-35.5%
116	DeSoto, TX Estimated	180	+25.9%
117	Texarkana, TX Estimated	179	+306.8%
118	Mont Belvieu, TX Estimated	178	-14.8%
119	North Richland Hills, TX Estimated	174	-30.4%
120	Hidalgo, TX Estimated	173	+58.7%
121	Dumas, TX Estimated	167	+377.1%
122	Rockwall, TX Estimated	164	-37.2%
123	Orange, TX Estimated	161	+519.2%
124	Sachse, TX Estimated	159	-77.9%
125	Crowley, TX Estimated	158	-27.9%
126	Azle, TX Estimated	154	-43%
126	La Porte, TX Estimated	154	-47.1%
128	Socorro, TX Estimated	152	-20.8%
129	Taylor, TX Estimated	142	-5.3%
129	The Colony, TX Estimated	142	-23.7%
131	Baytown, TX Estimated	140	-9.1%
132	Portland, TX Estimated	131	+125.9%
133	Richmond, TX Estimated	128	-32.3%
134	Brenham, TX Estimated	127	-29.8%
134	Wichita Falls, TX Estimated	127	-59.3%
136	Brownwood, TX Estimated	122	+771.4%
137	Flower Mound, TX Estimated	119	-77.1%
137	Rockport, TX Estimated	119	-4%
139	Weatherford, TX Estimated	117	-70.3%
140	Lumberton, TX Estimated	115	-3.4%
141	Friendswood, TX Estimated	111	+8.8%
142	Huntsville, TX Estimated	109	-72.4%
142	Pasadena, TX Estimated	109	-21%
142	Sanger, TX Estimated	109	+55.7%
145	Terrell, TX Estimated	106	-34.6%
146	Dayton, TX Estimated	105	+31.3%
147	Mount Pleasant, TX Estimated	99	+518.8%
147	San Benito, TX Estimated	99	+80%
149	Haltom City, TX Estimated	97	+49.2%
150	Alamo, TX Estimated	94	-11.3%
150	Balch Springs, TX Estimated	94	+123.8%
152	Seagoville, TX Estimated	90	-17.4%
153	Fair Oaks Ranch, TX Estimated	84	-30%
154	Victoria, TX Estimated	82	-59.4%
155	Webster, TX Estimated	79	+61.2%
156	Hewitt, TX Estimated	77	-39.8%
157	Lancaster, TX Estimated	76	-36.7%
158	Farmers Branch, TX Estimated	75	-87.2%
158	Heath, TX Estimated	75	-57.9%
158	Paris, TX Estimated	75	+13.6%
161	Canyon, TX Estimated	73	-55.2%
162	Eagle Pass, TX Estimated	72	-28.7%
163	Sulphur Springs, TX Estimated	71	+54.3%
164	Bonham, TX Estimated	70	+22.8%
164	Helotes, TX Estimated	70	-52.4%
164	Lakeway, TX Estimated	70	-64.5%
167	El Campo, TX Estimated	69	+1,050%
167	Lake Jackson, TX Estimated	69	-5.5%
169	Fredericksburg, TX Estimated	67	+509.1%
169	Stephenville, TX Estimated	67	-67.9%
171	Granbury, TX Estimated	65	+6.6%
172	Elgin, TX Estimated	63	-83.8%
172	Palmview, TX Estimated	63	-1.6%
172	Pleasanton, TX Estimated	63	+215%
175	Lufkin, TX Estimated	62	-34%
176	Port Arthur, TX Estimated	60	-60.3%
177	Kaufman, TX Estimated	59	-59.9%
178	Santa Fe, TX Estimated	58	-7.9%
179	Live Oak, TX Estimated	57	+5.6%
180	University Park, TX Estimated	56	-39.8%
181	Grapevine, TX Estimated	55	+71.9%
181	Southlake, TX Estimated	55	-38.2%
183	Corsicana, TX Estimated	54	-62%
184	Dickinson, TX Estimated	52	+13%
185	Bellaire, TX Estimated	51	-30.1%
186	Donna, TX Estimated	50	0%
187	Colleyville, TX Estimated	49	+32.4%
188	Robinson, TX Estimated	47	-40.5%
189	Clute, TX Estimated	46	+17.9%
189	Robstown, TX Estimated	46	-49.5%
191	Universal City, TX Estimated	43	-42.7%
192	Bedford, TX Estimated	42	+2,000%
193	Burkburnett, TX Estimated	40	+400%
194	Buda, TX Estimated	39	+8.3%
194	Stafford, TX Estimated	39	0%
196	Port Neches, TX Estimated	38	+26.7%
197	Cedar Park, TX Estimated	37	+1,133.3%
197	West University Place, TX Estimated	37	-32.7%
199	Andrews, TX Estimated	36	+50%
199	Selma, TX Estimated	36	-2.7%
201	Kilgore, TX Estimated	35	+59.1%
202	Groves, TX Estimated	32	-11.1%
202	Marshall, TX Estimated	32	-86.2%
202	Nacogdoches, TX Estimated	32	-11.1%
205	Seabrook, TX Estimated	31	-20.5%
205	Watauga, TX Estimated	31	+10.7%
207	Bellmead, TX Estimated	30	+130.8%
208	Kingsville, TX Estimated	27	0%
209	Richardson, TX Estimated	26	-71.7%
210	Fairview, TX Estimated	25	-26.5%
210	Gainesville, TX Estimated	25	-10.7%
212	Benbrook, TX Estimated	24	-53.8%
213	Jacksonville, TX Estimated	23	-28.1%
213	Roanoke, TX Estimated	23	-93.8%
215	Port Lavaca, TX Estimated	22	-35.3%
216	Ingleside, TX Estimated	20	-16.7%
217	Uvalde, TX Estimated	19	-36.7%
218	South Houston, TX Estimated	18	-40%
219	Keller, TX Estimated	17	-96.8%
220	Mineral Wells, TX Estimated	16	-70.4%
220	Sweetwater, TX Estimated	16	+300%
222	Bay City, TX Estimated	15	-77.9%
223	Palestine, TX Estimated	14	-92.3%
223	Town of Pecos, TX Estimated	14	-50%
225	Beeville, TX Estimated	13	0%
225	Del Rio, TX Estimated	13	-85.1%
227	Gatesville, TX Estimated	12	-62.5%
228	Athens, TX Estimated	11	-95.5%
229	Big Spring, TX Estimated	10	-23.1%
229	Forest Hill, TX Estimated	10	-92.4%
229	Hereford, TX Estimated	10	-81.5%
229	Nederland, TX Estimated	10	-41.2%
233	White Settlement, TX Estimated	8	-78.4%
234	Addison, TX Estimated	7	-68.2%
234	Freeport, TX Estimated	7	0%
234	Pampa, TX Estimated	7	n/a
237	Murphy, TX Estimated	6	+20%
237	Raymondville, TX Estimated	6	-53.8%
239	Alice, TX Estimated	4	+33.3%
239	Coppell, TX Estimated	4	-63.6%
239	Hurst, TX Estimated	4	0%
239	Plainview, TX Estimated	4	+300%
239	Snyder, TX Estimated	4	+100%
244	Duncanville, TX Estimated	3	-25%
244	Galena Park, TX Estimated	3	0%
244	Henderson, TX Estimated	3	-62.5%
244	Humble, TX Estimated	3	n/a
244	Levelland, TX Estimated	3	-66.7%
249	Borger, TX Estimated	2	n/a
249	Highland Village, TX Estimated	2	-94.1%

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/so2023a.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. (2024). 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, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2023a.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, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 24 Apr. 2024, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2023a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2024. 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, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2023a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2024) 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, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2023a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_texas_by_2023,
  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, 2023}},
  year = {2024},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2023a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2023. 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/so2023a.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, 2023
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/04/24
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2023a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/texas-cities?period=2023.
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/so2023a.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?

Houston, TX, with 16,430 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Leon Valley, TX, with 0 in 2023.

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.