US cities by housing units authorized by building permits

New York, NY had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 2996 cities in 2014, at 20,428. Zion, IL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 46 and the figure for the United States was 1.05 million. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest20,428New York, NY

Lowest0Zion, IL

Median462996 cities

United States1,046,363History

Top 40 cities, 2014

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2014 count	Change on 2013
1	New York, NY Estimated	20,428	+13.5%
2	Houston, TX Estimated	20,304	+44.6%
3	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	11,264	+34.2%
4	Austin, TX Estimated	9,442	-20.2%
5	Dallas, TX Estimated	7,856	-9%
6	Seattle, WA Estimated	7,445	+11.5%
7	Denver, CO Estimated	5,958	+1.5%
8	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	5,923	+4.7%
9	Chicago, IL Estimated	5,750	+90.1%
10	San Antonio, TX Estimated	5,638	+166.2%
11	Phoenix, AZ Estimated	5,138	+64.1%
12	Portland, OR Estimated	5,016	+33.6%
13	Raleigh, NC Estimated	4,655	+22.5%
14	Atlanta, GA Estimated	4,505	-18.7%
15	Oklahoma City, OK Estimated	4,461	+1.1%
16	San Jose, CA Estimated	4,445	+20%
17	Philadelphia, PA Estimated	3,973	+41.1%
18	Miami, FL Estimated	3,786	-15.6%
19	Columbus, OH Estimated	3,642	-16%
20	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	3,302	+29.3%
21	Irvine, CA Estimated	3,248	-30.7%
22	Frisco, TX Estimated	3,188	+24%
23	Orlando, FL Estimated	2,849	-1.3%
24	Boston, MA Estimated	2,841	+10.9%
25	El Paso, TX Estimated	2,798	-23.9%
26	San Diego, CA Estimated	2,743	-48.3%
27	Kansas City, MO Estimated	2,734	+78.7%
28	San Francisco, CA Estimated	2,711	-39.4%
29	Tampa, FL Estimated	2,555	+37.8%
30	Scottsdale, AZ Estimated	2,517	-3.8%
31	Omaha, NE Estimated	2,453	-4.6%
32	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	2,342	+14.2%
33	Henderson, NV Estimated	2,256	+35.3%
34	McKinney, TX Estimated	2,237	-10.5%
35	Jersey City, NJ Estimated	2,180	+29.2%
36	Fargo, ND Estimated	2,170	+31.1%
37	Tempe, AZ Estimated	2,120	+123.6%
38	Pearland, TX Estimated	2,076	+117.4%
39	Lubbock, TX Estimated	2,049	+3.6%
40	Plano, TX Estimated	2,017	+199.7%
41	Minneapolis, MN Estimated	1,959	-41%
42	Sioux Falls, SD Estimated	1,878	-6.6%
43	Huntsville, AL Estimated	1,874	+43.5%
44	Lincoln, NE Estimated	1,792	+30.3%
45	Sandy Springs, GA Estimated	1,743	+49.1%
46	Murfreesboro, TN Estimated	1,734	+9.6%
47	Scranton, PA Estimated	1,733	+8,565%
48	Georgetown, TX Estimated	1,724	+18.1%
49	Laredo, TX Estimated	1,719	+5.9%
50	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	1,687	+240.1%
51	Chandler, AZ Estimated	1,683	+25.7%
52	Madison, WI Estimated	1,680	+36%
53	Cary, NC Estimated	1,676	+0.7%
54	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,659	+8.9%
55	Williston, ND Estimated	1,630	-1.8%
56	Carrollton, TX Estimated	1,586	+215.9%
57	Reno, NV Estimated	1,557	+39.9%
58	Irving, TX Estimated	1,553	+15.4%
58	Midland, TX Estimated	1,553	-14.9%
60	College Station, TX Estimated	1,535	+52.7%
61	Durham, NC Estimated	1,514	-59.6%
62	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	1,506	+50.9%
63	Gilbert, AZ Estimated	1,484	-31.5%
64	Tucson, AZ Estimated	1,471	+6.2%
65	Las Vegas, NV Estimated	1,453	-4.2%
66	Albuquerque, NM Estimated	1,416	-3.9%
67	Tulsa, OK Estimated	1,365	+127.5%
68	League City, TX Estimated	1,358	+25.7%
69	Allen, TX Estimated	1,333	+187.9%
70	Mount Pleasant, SC Estimated	1,332	+10%
71	Alexandria, VA Estimated	1,324	-28.4%
72	Bellevue, WA Estimated	1,292	+55.7%
73	Boise City, ID Estimated	1,260	+75%
73	Meridian, ID Estimated	1,260	-9.9%
75	Waco, TX Estimated	1,245	+179.1%
76	Anaheim, CA Estimated	1,241	+195.5%
77	Tuscaloosa, AL Estimated	1,232	+43.6%
78	Greensboro, NC Estimated	1,229	+27%
79	Lexington, KY Estimated	1,225	+36.3%
80	Virginia Beach, VA Estimated	1,208	-27.3%
81	Milpitas, CA Estimated	1,200	+42.5%
82	Lakewood, CO Estimated	1,195	+49.4%
83	Columbia, MO Estimated	1,183	+17.2%
84	Ankeny, IA Estimated	1,180	+18.7%
85	Norman, OK Estimated	1,154	+62.5%
86	Fort Collins, CO Estimated	1,152	-17.2%
87	Bismarck, ND Estimated	1,134	-8.2%
88	South Jordan, UT Estimated	1,130	+5.8%
89	Chattanooga, TN Estimated	1,127	+159.1%
90	Springfield, MO Estimated	1,116	+15.3%
91	Fishers, IN Estimated	1,112	-15.4%
92	Conroe, TX Estimated	1,111	-8%
93	Dublin, CA Estimated	1,095	+60.8%
94	Bentonville, AR Estimated	1,089	+94.8%
95	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	1,086	+71.8%
96	Leander, TX Estimated	1,079	+64.5%
97	Carmel, IN Estimated	1,066	+51.4%
98	Tacoma, WA Estimated	1,059	+278.2%
99	Bossier City, LA Estimated	1,057	+7.7%
100	Peoria, AZ Estimated	1,039	+14.2%
101	Greenville, SC Estimated	1,037	+197.1%
102	Eugene, OR Estimated	1,032	+12.8%
103	Orem, UT Estimated	1,028	+843.1%
104	New Orleans, LA Estimated	1,026	+14.6%
105	Aurora, CO Estimated	1,024	-41.5%
106	Mesa, AZ Estimated	1,010	-10.7%
107	Birmingham, AL Estimated	1,005	+79.1%
108	Clarksville, TN Estimated	987	-27.4%
109	West Fargo, ND Estimated	982	+12%
110	Charleston, SC Estimated	978	+5.5%
111	Killeen, TX Estimated	963	-4.3%
112	Vineyard, UT Estimated	948	+1,131.2%
113	Overland Park, KS Estimated	936	-40.2%
114	Fresno, CA Estimated	918	-36.2%
115	Champaign, IL Estimated	914	+153.2%
116	West Palm Beach, FL Estimated	904	+3,248.1%
117	Tallahassee, FL Estimated	903	-4%
118	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	902	+61.1%
119	Grand Forks, ND Estimated	898	-8.7%
120	Little Elm, TX Estimated	892	+15.7%
121	Chesapeake, VA Estimated	886	-46.6%
121	Hillsboro, OR Estimated	886	+19.6%
123	Pflugerville, TX Estimated	873	+185.3%
124	Arlington, TX Estimated	870	+59.6%
125	Knoxville, TN Estimated	861	+66.9%
126	Issaquah, WA Estimated	855	+441.1%
127	Amarillo, TX Estimated	853	+8.7%
128	Fort Myers, FL Estimated	849	-0.1%
129	Bend, OR Estimated	847	-6.6%
130	Goodyear, AZ Estimated	842	-9.1%
131	Mount Juliet, TN Estimated	835	+119.2%
131	Victoria, TX Estimated	835	+80%
133	Rock Hill, SC Estimated	834	+244.6%
134	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	833	+245.6%
135	Denton, TX Estimated	830	-24.3%
136	Woodstock, GA Estimated	827	+174.8%
137	Lake Charles, LA Estimated	826	+30.5%
138	Castle Rock, CO Estimated	821	-0.8%
138	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	821	+49.5%
140	Broomfield, CO Estimated	820	-8.5%
140	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	820	+59.2%
140	Rio Rancho, NM Estimated	820	+0.4%
143	Vancouver, WA Estimated	818	-11.9%
144	Roseville, CA Estimated	809	+51.2%
145	Franklin, TN Estimated	801	+62.5%
146	Noblesville, IN Estimated	799	+13.2%
147	Round Rock, TX Estimated	797	+44.4%
148	St. George, UT Estimated	792	-4.7%
149	Greeley, CO Estimated	789	+83.5%
150	Missouri City, TX Estimated	783	+61.1%
150	Winston-Salem, NC Estimated	783	-19.9%
152	Redwood City, CA Estimated	781	+99.2%
153	Little Rock, AR Estimated	779	+28.1%
154	Loveland, CO Estimated	772	+115.6%
155	Anchorage, AK Estimated	770	+44.5%
156	St. Louis, MO Estimated	758	+215.8%
157	Greenville, NC Estimated	755	+79.3%
158	Vista, CA Estimated	753	+560.5%
159	Kyle, TX Estimated	751	+134.7%
160	Buckeye, AZ Estimated	749	-3.1%
161	Buda, TX Estimated	740	+62.3%
162	Hanahan, SC Estimated	734	+829.1%
163	Wichita, KS Estimated	732	-0.5%
164	New Brunswick, NJ Estimated	728	+192.4%
165	Ocoee, FL Estimated	723	+19.7%
166	Lehi, UT Estimated	719	+26.4%
166	Minot, ND Estimated	719	-44.3%
168	Jupiter, FL Estimated	706	-23.2%
169	Queen Creek, AZ Estimated	693	+7.4%
170	Camden, NJ Estimated	687	+29.1%
171	Pasadena, CA Estimated	684	+584%
172	Frederick, MD Estimated	672	-8.4%
173	Bozeman, MT Estimated	671	-29.5%
173	Kirkland, WA Estimated	671	+57.9%
175	Mountain View, CA Estimated	669	+23.9%
176	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	663	+33.1%
177	Temecula, CA Estimated	662	-0.3%
178	Corona, CA Estimated	654	+146.8%
178	Parker, CO Estimated	654	+95.2%
180	Norfolk, VA Estimated	650	-34.4%
181	Fayetteville, AR Estimated	649	+56%
182	Westfield, IN Estimated	647	-25.3%
183	Cedar Park, TX Estimated	639	+19.9%
183	Lenexa, KS Estimated	639	+89.6%
183	Marana, AZ Estimated	639	-9%
186	Secaucus, NJ Estimated	632	-5.2%
187	San Angelo, TX Estimated	629	+19.6%
188	Richardson, TX Estimated	627	-52%
189	Wentzville, MO Estimated	626	+27.2%
190	Broken Arrow, OK Estimated	622	+13.7%
190	Temple, TX Estimated	622	+8.9%
192	Auburn, AL Estimated	615	+36.7%
193	Herriman, UT Estimated	611	-4.4%
194	Brownsville, TX Estimated	609	-7.3%
195	Boulder, CO Estimated	608	-30.8%
195	McAllen, TX Estimated	608	+17.1%
197	Billings, MT Estimated	605	-41.8%
197	Doral, FL Estimated	605	-54.7%
197	Renton, WA Estimated	605	+49%
200	Clovis, CA Estimated	604	-27.6%
201	Cincinnati, OH Estimated	601	+266.5%
202	Jonesboro, AR Estimated	598	+36.8%
203	Arvada, CO Estimated	597	+5.9%
204	High Point, NC Estimated	594	+95.4%
204	Summerville, SC Estimated	594	+21.2%
206	Burleson, TX Estimated	593	+66.1%
206	Grand Prairie, TX Estimated	593	+25.6%
208	Fulshear, TX Estimated	589	+17.3%
209	Hayward, CA Estimated	586	+220.2%
210	Bluffton, SC Estimated	585	+49.6%
210	Columbus, GA Estimated	585	+6.9%
210	Edmond, OK Estimated	585	-8.3%
213	Apex, NC Estimated	578	-6.9%
213	Rockville, MD Estimated	578	-16.6%
215	Spring Hill, TN Estimated	575	+13.4%
216	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	571	+47.5%
216	Lee's Summit, MO Estimated	571	+71%
216	Montgomery, AL Estimated	571	+115.5%
219	Menifee, CA Estimated	570	+52.4%
220	Brownsburg, IN Estimated	564	+324.1%
221	West Valley City, UT Estimated	563	+42.9%
222	Rowlett, TX Estimated	562	+585.4%
223	Federal Way, WA Estimated	559	+412.8%
224	North Port, FL Estimated	557	+78%
224	Prosper, TX Estimated	557	+14.4%
226	Odessa, TX Estimated	556	-56.9%
226	Parkland, FL Estimated	556	+24.9%
228	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	554	+9.5%
228	Waukee, IA Estimated	554	+166.3%
230	Clermont, FL Estimated	551	+396.4%
230	Richmond, VA Estimated	551	-35.1%
232	Wake Forest, NC Estimated	548	-24.7%
233	Falls Church, VA Estimated	547	+3,318.8%
234	Columbia, SC Estimated	546	+205%
235	Rogers, AR Estimated	543	+17.3%
236	Englewood, NJ Estimated	542	+1,405.6%
237	Bellingham, WA Estimated	541	+28.5%
237	Moore, OK Estimated	541	-18.8%
239	St. Petersburg, FL Estimated	538	-70%
240	Dickinson, ND Estimated	535	-20.6%
241	Mansfield, TX Estimated	532	+62.2%
242	Johnstown, CO Estimated	527	+40.2%
243	Keller, TX Estimated	526	+97.7%
244	North Las Vegas, NV Estimated	522	+3.4%
245	Spokane, WA Estimated	519	+12.1%
246	Indio, CA Estimated	517	+10.7%
247	Bradenton, FL Estimated	511	+13.3%
248	Newark, NJ Estimated	507	+75.4%
249	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	503	-57.1%
249	New Providence, NJ Estimated	503	+2,547.4%

Showing the top 250 of 2996. 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. 91 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2014 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/Northeast%20Region/ne2014a.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. (2016). Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2014) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2014a.txt

MLA 9

Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2014. U.S. Census Bureau, 30 Sept. 2016, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2014a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2014. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2016. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2014. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2014a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2014.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2016) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2014 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2014a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2014 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_cities_by_housing_2014,
  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: US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2014}},
  year = {2016},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2014a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2014. 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/Northeast\%20Region/ne2014a.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: US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2014
PY  - 2016
DA  - 2016/09/30
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2014a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2014
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2014.
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/Northeast%20Region/ne2014a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

New York, NY, with 20,428 in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Zion, IL, with 0 in 2014.

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. 91 cities have no value for 2014 and are not ranked.