US cities by housing units authorized by building permits

New York, NY had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 3005 cities in 2016, at 16,280. Zion, IL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 56 and the figure for the United States was 1.21 million. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest16,280New York, NY

Lowest0Zion, IL

Median563005 cities

United States1,206,642History

Top 40 cities, 2016

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2016 count	Change on 2015
1	New York, NY Estimated	16,280	-71%
2	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	13,890	-13.3%
3	Dallas, TX Estimated	10,337	-21%
4	Seattle, WA Estimated	9,999	-11.8%
5	Houston, TX Estimated	9,498	-37.6%
6	Chicago, IL Estimated	9,104	+58.3%
7	Austin, TX Estimated	8,903	-11.9%
8	Atlanta, GA Estimated	8,031	+19.9%
9	Denver, CO Estimated	7,842	-0.7%
10	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	7,408	+21.6%
11	Phoenix, AZ Estimated	6,972	+51.2%
12	San Diego, CA Estimated	6,612	+6.9%
13	San Antonio, TX Estimated	6,363	+112.6%
14	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	5,517	+29.6%
15	Frisco, TX Estimated	5,071	+33.4%
16	Portland, OR Estimated	4,929	+11.7%
17	Irvine, CA Estimated	4,637	-0.5%
18	Tampa, FL Estimated	4,262	+35.1%
19	San Francisco, CA Estimated	4,087	+11.5%
20	Miami, FL Estimated	3,910	-39.8%
21	Columbus, OH Estimated	3,720	-5%
22	Henderson, NV Estimated	3,597	+66.1%
23	McKinney, TX Estimated	3,495	-17.5%
24	Raleigh, NC Estimated	3,448	-12.9%
25	Boston, MA Estimated	3,348	-32.4%
26	Kansas City, MO Estimated	3,340	+6.7%
27	Salt Lake City, UT Estimated	3,265	+170.7%
28	Oklahoma City, OK Estimated	3,190	-5.8%
29	Philadelphia, PA Estimated	3,175	-13.4%
30	Durham, NC Estimated	2,979	+2.5%
31	Minneapolis, MN Estimated	2,908	+95.3%
32	El Paso, TX Estimated	2,843	-33.1%
33	Mesa, AZ Estimated	2,811	+4.4%
34	San Jose, CA Estimated	2,728	+35.1%
35	Aurora, CO Estimated	2,709	+174.7%
36	Omaha, NE Estimated	2,564	-2.6%
37	Gilbert, AZ Estimated	2,539	+30.3%
38	Sioux Falls, SD Estimated	2,510	+60.7%
39	Lubbock, TX Estimated	2,406	+35.9%
40	Madison, WI Estimated	2,381	+43%
41	Reno, NV Estimated	2,374	+43.5%
42	Las Vegas, NV Estimated	2,280	+36.9%
43	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	2,256	+125.4%
44	Chandler, AZ Estimated	2,215	+4.4%
45	Lincoln, NE Estimated	2,166	-7.9%
46	Oakland, CA Estimated	2,136	+146.7%
47	College Station, TX Estimated	1,900	+57%
48	Fort Collins, CO Estimated	1,874	+92%
49	Leander, TX Estimated	1,806	+27.2%
50	Huntsville, AL Estimated	1,763	+17.1%
51	Sacramento, CA Estimated	1,682	+41.7%
52	Orlando, FL Estimated	1,660	-35.8%
53	Franklin, TN Estimated	1,658	+91.9%
54	Murfreesboro, TN Estimated	1,639	-28.9%
55	Peoria, AZ Estimated	1,636	+2.3%
56	Cary, NC Estimated	1,635	+54.5%
57	Bellevue, WA Estimated	1,587	+74.2%
57	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	1,587	+45.6%
59	Tempe, AZ Estimated	1,585	+69%
60	Virginia Beach, VA Estimated	1,583	+6%
61	Ankeny, IA Estimated	1,569	+47.9%
61	Meridian, ID Estimated	1,569	+6.7%
63	Mount Pleasant, SC Estimated	1,550	+15.6%
64	Scottsdale, AZ Estimated	1,549	+111.3%
65	Waco, TX Estimated	1,525	+18.6%
66	Buckeye, AZ Estimated	1,521	+37.5%
67	Greensboro, NC Estimated	1,509	+68%
68	Richardson, TX Estimated	1,506	-1.6%
69	Jersey City, NJ Estimated	1,494	-43.8%
70	Bend, OR Estimated	1,471	-6.2%
71	Pflugerville, TX Estimated	1,466	+72.3%
72	Des Moines, IA Estimated	1,445	+49.6%
73	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,438	-1.7%
74	Boise City, ID Estimated	1,399	-1.4%
75	Grand Rapids, MI Estimated	1,398	+207.3%
76	Rochester, MN Estimated	1,396	-4.8%
77	Fort Myers, FL Estimated	1,387	+12.9%
78	Norman, OK Estimated	1,386	+116.2%
79	Lexington, KY Estimated	1,365	+1.7%
80	Wichita, KS Estimated	1,346	+8.4%
81	Lawrence, KS Estimated	1,343	+70.9%
82	Georgetown, TX Estimated	1,336	+4.5%
83	Fargo, ND Estimated	1,333	-6.7%
84	St. Petersburg, FL Estimated	1,297	-2.1%
85	Albuquerque, NM Estimated	1,292	+13.1%
86	Fresno, CA Estimated	1,288	+29.6%
87	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	1,259	+24.2%
88	Castle Rock, CO Estimated	1,251	+34.1%
89	Tuscaloosa, AL Estimated	1,231	+117.1%
90	Edinburg, TX Estimated	1,230	+122.8%
91	Herriman, UT Estimated	1,228	-2.6%
92	Overland Park, KS Estimated	1,227	-17.4%
93	Pearland, TX Estimated	1,201	-32.4%
94	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	1,175	+70.5%
95	Chattanooga, TN Estimated	1,173	+92.3%
96	Apex, NC Estimated	1,171	+71.4%
97	Laredo, TX Estimated	1,158	-37.3%
98	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	1,138	+4.5%
99	Goodyear, AZ Estimated	1,128	-5.5%
100	Thornton, CO Estimated	1,124	+10%
101	Longmont, CO Estimated	1,117	+171.8%
102	Glendale, CA Estimated	1,116	+59.9%
103	Queen Creek, AZ Estimated	1,096	+11%
104	Clovis, CA Estimated	1,086	+20.8%
105	Little Elm, TX Estimated	1,081	-20.2%
106	Iowa City, IA Estimated	1,080	+57%
107	St. Louis, MO Estimated	1,070	+95.3%
108	Conroe, TX Estimated	1,068	-55%
109	Flower Mound, TX Estimated	1,067	+33.2%
110	Chesapeake, VA Estimated	1,065	-19.6%
111	Milwaukee, WI Estimated	1,051	+196.1%
112	Garland, TX Estimated	1,048	+546.9%
113	Kyle, TX Estimated	1,046	+14.7%
114	Norfolk, VA Estimated	1,045	+12.2%
115	Clarksville, TN Estimated	1,044	+38.1%
116	Charleston, SC Estimated	1,042	-0.3%
117	Carrollton, TX Estimated	1,020	+195.7%
118	Arlington, TX Estimated	997	+21.4%
119	Lake Charles, LA Estimated	987	+100.6%
119	League City, TX Estimated	987	-18.4%
121	Columbia, MO Estimated	973	-16.8%
122	Gainesville, GA Estimated	971	+122.7%
123	Cedar Park, TX Estimated	946	+4.1%
124	Baltimore, MD Estimated	943	n/a
125	Anaheim, CA Estimated	939	-6.1%
126	Doral, FL Estimated	938	+17%
126	North Las Vegas, NV Estimated	938	+34.8%
128	Nampa, ID Estimated	932	+148.5%
129	Anchorage, AK Estimated	930	+11.5%
129	Hillsboro, OR Estimated	930	+15.2%
129	St. Paul, MN Estimated	930	+0.8%
132	Roseville, CA Estimated	920	-4.9%
133	Fort Mill, SC Estimated	918	+67.2%
134	Redmond, WA Estimated	917	+2.3%
135	Bentonville, AR Estimated	908	+3.4%
136	Sparks, NV Estimated	907	+6.6%
137	St. George, UT Estimated	902	+17.4%
138	North Port, FL Estimated	898	+5.5%
138	Waukee, IA Estimated	898	+33%
140	Winston-Salem, NC Estimated	896	+27.5%
141	Bluffton, SC Estimated	891	+10%
142	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	886	+19.7%
143	Lacey, WA Estimated	879	+185.4%
144	Eagle Mountain, UT Estimated	877	+86.2%
145	Denton, TX Estimated	871	-24.5%
146	Bryan, TX Estimated	869	+114%
146	South Jordan, UT Estimated	869	+13.6%
146	Tallahassee, FL Estimated	869	+88.9%
149	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	859	+379.9%
150	Jonesboro, AR Estimated	858	+142.4%
151	Arvada, CO Estimated	856	+16.9%
152	Tulsa, OK Estimated	850	+50.7%
153	Knoxville, TN Estimated	849	+71.9%
154	Fulshear, TX Estimated	845	+7.9%
154	Westfield, IN Estimated	845	+41.3%
156	Farmers Branch, TX Estimated	843	-20.5%
157	Fayetteville, AR Estimated	841	+39.2%
158	Mansfield, TX Estimated	838	+161.9%
159	Sandy Springs, GA Estimated	837	+168.3%
160	Spokane, WA Estimated	836	+1.6%
161	Little Rock, AR Estimated	831	+7.9%
162	Fuquay-Varina, NC Estimated	830	+6.4%
163	Bowling Green, KY Estimated	824	+17%
164	Greer, SC Estimated	819	+181.4%
165	Saratoga Springs, UT Estimated	812	+112.6%
165	Wake Forest, NC Estimated	812	+7.7%
167	Plano, TX Estimated	811	-66.4%
168	Killeen, TX Estimated	810	-23.6%
169	Grand Prairie, TX Estimated	807	-41.3%
169	Spokane Valley, WA Estimated	807	+117.5%
171	Salem, OR Estimated	792	+80%
172	Olathe, KS Estimated	790	+17%
173	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	786	-31.4%
174	Manhattan, KS Estimated	781	+179.9%
174	Rocklin, CA Estimated	781	+28.9%
176	Wentzville, MO Estimated	775	+16.7%
177	Gilroy, CA Estimated	774	+14%
178	Missoula, MT Estimated	772	+82.1%
179	Grapevine, TX Estimated	770	+581.4%
179	Lakewood, CO Estimated	770	+17.9%
181	North Charleston, SC Estimated	767	+58.8%
182	Secaucus, NJ Estimated	766	+16.6%
183	Bradenton, FL Estimated	764	+217%
183	Clermont, FL Estimated	764	+134.4%
185	Hialeah, FL Estimated	763	+505.6%
186	Tucson, AZ Estimated	759	+35.5%
187	Greenville, SC Estimated	757	-62.8%
188	Round Rock, TX Estimated	751	-47.1%
189	Eugene, OR Estimated	747	+136.4%
190	Harrison, NJ Estimated	739	+139.2%
191	Bozeman, MT Estimated	738	-5.4%
192	Cincinnati, OH Estimated	733	+239.4%
193	Rio Rancho, NM Estimated	730	-5.8%
194	Littleton, CO Estimated	727	+151.6%
195	Morrisville, NC Estimated	726	+49.4%
196	Boynton Beach, FL Estimated	720	+27.7%
196	Stamford, CT Estimated	720	+12.7%
198	Vineyard, UT Estimated	717	+157%
199	Vancouver, WA Estimated	716	-34.1%
200	Prosper, TX Estimated	712	-25.8%
201	Spring Hill, TN Estimated	708	+31.8%
202	Suffolk, VA Estimated	707	-11.4%
203	Visalia, CA Estimated	705	+8.5%
204	Gallatin, TN Estimated	699	+42.7%
205	Prescott Valley, AZ Estimated	694	+64.8%
206	Allen, TX Estimated	690	-13.3%
206	Holly Springs, NC Estimated	690	+5%
208	Parker, CO Estimated	689	-5.4%
209	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	683	+172.1%
210	Midland, TX Estimated	672	-34.4%
211	Canton, GA Estimated	669	+158.3%
212	Post Falls, ID Estimated	658	+51.3%
213	Tigard, OR Estimated	656	+163.5%
214	Champaign, IL Estimated	655	-21.2%
215	Ontario, CA Estimated	654	+22.5%
216	Noblesville, IN Estimated	646	-33.5%
217	Apopka, FL Estimated	645	+102.8%
217	Kingsport, TN Estimated	645	+726.9%
219	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	644	+181.2%
220	Irving, TX Estimated	640	-61.3%
221	Amarillo, TX Estimated	639	-20.5%
222	Dublin, OH Estimated	630	+425%
223	Elizabeth, NJ Estimated	629	+234.6%
224	Frederick, MD Estimated	625	+63.2%
225	McAllen, TX Estimated	623	-40%
225	Surprise, AZ Estimated	623	+2.3%
227	Fremont, CA Estimated	622	+35.8%
227	Lewisville, TX Estimated	622	+57.5%
229	Alexandria, VA Estimated	621	+221.8%
230	Springfield, MO Estimated	620	-43%
231	Tacoma, WA Estimated	617	+65.4%
232	Lehi, UT Estimated	616	-13.6%
232	Pharr, TX Estimated	616	+42.9%
234	Dublin, CA Estimated	611	-32.7%
235	Bothell, WA Estimated	609	+96.5%
235	Hanahan, SC Estimated	609	-4.1%
237	Celina, TX Estimated	608	+350.4%
237	New Orleans, LA Estimated	608	+22.6%
239	Birmingham, AL Estimated	606	-22.1%
240	Casselberry, FL Estimated	605	+60,400%
241	Greenville, NC Estimated	601	+60.3%
242	Fishers, IN Estimated	599	-21.6%
243	Boca Raton, FL Estimated	598	-38.7%
244	Marana, AZ Estimated	596	-5.8%
245	Manteca, CA Estimated	593	+20%
246	Oxnard, CA Estimated	592	+11.3%
247	Happy Valley, OR Estimated	589	+65.4%
248	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	585	+29.4%
249	Centennial, CO Estimated	583	+1,434.2%
250	Plainfield, IN Estimated	581	+38.7%

Showing the top 250 of 3005. 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. 82 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2016 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/ne2016a.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. (2017). 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, 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2016a.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, 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 1 May 2017, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2016a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2017. 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, 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2016a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2017) 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, 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2016a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_cities_by_housing_2016,
  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, 2016}},
  year = {2017},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2016a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2016. 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/ne2016a.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, 2016
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2017/05/01
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2016a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2016.
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/ne2016a.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 16,280 in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Zion, IL, with 0 in 2016.

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. 82 cities have no value for 2016 and are not ranked.