Cities in Illinois by single-family housing units authorized by building permits

Chicago, IL had the highest single-family housing units authorized by building permits of 223 cities in 2015, at 503. Zion, IL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 10. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest503Chicago, IL

Lowest0Zion, IL

Median10223 cities

Top 40 cities, 2015

count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2015 count	Change on 2014
1	Chicago, IL Estimated	503	-6.2%
2	Naperville, IL Estimated	328	-12.5%
3	Pingree Grove, IL Estimated	285	+2.9%
4	Elgin, IL Estimated	272	-18.3%
5	New Lenox, IL Estimated	162	0%
6	Huntley, IL Estimated	158	-18.1%
7	Glenview, IL Estimated	157	+84.7%
8	Joliet, IL Estimated	143	+17.2%
9	Arlington Heights, IL Estimated	140	+45.8%
10	Orland Park, IL Estimated	139	+71.6%
10	Plainfield, IL Estimated	139	-14.7%
12	Elmhurst, IL Estimated	138	-4.8%
13	O'Fallon, IL Estimated	134	+6.3%
14	Bolingbrook, IL Estimated	124	0%
15	Lemont, IL Estimated	102	+30.8%
16	Bloomington, IL Estimated	99	-2.9%
17	Shorewood, IL Estimated	97	+5.4%
18	Aurora, IL Estimated	95	-5.9%
19	Mahomet, IL Estimated	90	+60.7%
20	Washington, IL Estimated	86	-82%
21	Frankfort, IL Estimated	84	-18.4%
21	Yorkville, IL Estimated	84	+13.5%
23	Champaign, IL Estimated	82	-10.9%
24	Springfield, IL Estimated	77	-13.5%
25	Downers Grove, IL Estimated	76	0%
25	Geneva, IL Estimated	76	+280%
25	Sycamore, IL Estimated	76	+153.3%
28	Chatham, IL Estimated	71	+6%
29	Oswego, IL Estimated	70	-41.2%
30	Normal, IL Estimated	69	-14.8%
31	Western Springs, IL Estimated	67	+24.1%
32	Woodridge, IL Estimated	66	+127.6%
33	Quincy, IL Estimated	64	-7.2%
34	Mokena, IL Estimated	62	+12.7%
34	South Elgin, IL Estimated	62	+55%
36	Hinsdale, IL Estimated	56	-16.4%
37	Columbia, IL Estimated	54	+31.7%
37	Manhattan, IL Estimated	54	+20%
39	Edwardsville, IL Estimated	52	+48.6%
40	Lisle, IL Estimated	51	-45.2%
41	Park Ridge, IL Estimated	49	+40%
41	Peoria, IL Estimated	49	-3.9%
43	Waterloo, IL Estimated	48	+33.3%
43	Wilmette, IL Estimated	48	+9.1%
45	Shiloh, IL Estimated	46	-25.8%
46	Wheaton, IL Estimated	45	-26.2%
47	Homer Glen, IL Estimated	44	+10%
48	Troy, IL Estimated	43	+16.2%
49	Lockport, IL Estimated	42	-14.3%
50	Glen Ellyn, IL Estimated	40	-23.1%
51	Swansea, IL Estimated	39	+34.5%
51	Woodstock, IL Estimated	39	-15.2%
53	Northbrook, IL Estimated	38	-17.4%
54	Morton, IL Estimated	34	-8.1%
54	Pekin, IL Estimated	34	+21.4%
56	Minooka, IL Estimated	33	-2.9%
57	Bourbonnais, IL Estimated	32	-27.3%
58	Hoffman Estates, IL Estimated	31	+3,000%
58	Palatine, IL Estimated	31	-8.8%
60	Glen Carbon, IL Estimated	30	-21.1%
61	North Aurora, IL Estimated	29	-27.5%
61	Oak Park, IL Estimated	29	+190%
63	Montgomery, IL Estimated	28	-9.7%
63	Waukegan, IL Estimated	28	+3.7%
65	Burr Ridge, IL Estimated	27	-3.6%
65	St. Charles, IL Estimated	27	+17.4%
67	Winnetka, IL Estimated	25	+31.6%
68	Algonquin, IL Estimated	24	+33.3%
68	Deerfield, IL Estimated	24	-38.5%
70	Buffalo Grove, IL Estimated	23	+187.5%
70	Lake Forest, IL Estimated	23	+53.3%
70	Lake Zurich, IL Estimated	23	+27.8%
73	East Peoria, IL Estimated	22	-53.2%
73	Herrin, IL Estimated	22	-24.1%
73	Tinley Park, IL Estimated	22	-35.3%
76	Ottawa, IL Estimated	21	-22.2%
76	Urbana, IL Estimated	21	-52.3%
78	Channahon, IL Estimated	20	+122.2%
78	Marion, IL Estimated	20	-9.1%
78	Westmont, IL Estimated	20	0%
81	Effingham, IL Estimated	19	+11.8%
81	Godfrey, IL Estimated	19	+280%
81	La Grange, IL Estimated	19	0%
81	Lombard, IL Estimated	19	+18.8%
81	Loves Park, IL Estimated	19	+72.7%
81	Romeoville, IL Estimated	19	+18.8%
87	Highland Park, IL Estimated	18	-35.7%
87	Libertyville, IL Estimated	18	-10%
87	Rockford, IL Estimated	18	-45.5%
90	Beach Park, IL Estimated	17	-46.9%
90	Evanston, IL Estimated	17	-10.5%
90	Roselle, IL Estimated	17	+30.8%
90	Vernon Hills, IL Estimated	17	-71.7%
94	Batavia, IL Estimated	16	-27.3%
94	Matteson, IL Estimated	16	+1,500%
94	Winfield, IL Estimated	16	-65.2%
97	Moline, IL Estimated	15	+50%
98	Rock Island, IL Estimated	14	0%
98	Summit, IL Estimated	14	n/a
98	Warrenville, IL Estimated	14	+100%
101	Bradley, IL Estimated	13	-18.8%
101	Dixon, IL Estimated	13	+1,200%
101	Morris, IL Estimated	13	-13.3%
104	Barrington, IL Estimated	12	-25%
104	Burbank, IL Estimated	12	-14.3%
104	Collinsville, IL Estimated	12	-33.3%
104	Highland, IL Estimated	12	+140%
108	Belleville, IL Estimated	11	-60.7%
108	Fairview Heights, IL Estimated	11	-83.8%
108	Mount Vernon, IL Estimated	11	+57.1%
111	Campton Hills, IL Estimated	10	+66.7%
111	Carol Stream, IL Estimated	10	-72.2%
111	Mundelein, IL Estimated	10	-86.3%
111	Oak Lawn, IL Estimated	10	+100%
111	Skokie, IL Estimated	10	+25%
116	Elmwood Park, IL Estimated	9	+50%
116	Morton Grove, IL Estimated	9	+28.6%
116	Norridge, IL Estimated	9	+50%
119	Des Plaines, IL Estimated	8	+100%
119	McHenry, IL Estimated	8	+14.3%
119	Rolling Meadows, IL Estimated	8	+60%
122	Bloomingdale, IL Estimated	7	+600%
122	Darien, IL Estimated	7	+600%
122	Granite City, IL Estimated	7	+16.7%
122	Niles, IL Estimated	7	+133.3%
122	Palos Hills, IL Estimated	7	+16.7%
122	Wood Dale, IL Estimated	7	+250%
122	Wood River, IL Estimated	7	+250%
129	Alton, IL Estimated	6	+500%
129	Decatur, IL Estimated	6	+200%
129	Kankakee, IL Estimated	6	0%
129	Lake in the Hills, IL Estimated	6	0%
129	Mount Prospect, IL Estimated	6	+20%
129	Sterling, IL Estimated	6	+100%
129	Villa Park, IL Estimated	6	+200%
136	DeKalb, IL Estimated	5	n/a
137	Addison, IL Estimated	4	-33.3%
137	Bartlett, IL Estimated	4	-75%
137	Bellwood, IL Estimated	4	n/a
137	Brookfield, IL Estimated	4	+300%
137	Canton, IL Estimated	4	+300%
137	Charleston, IL Estimated	4	-55.6%
137	La Grange Park, IL Estimated	4	0%
137	Macomb, IL Estimated	4	+100%
137	Markham, IL Estimated	4	-60%
137	Mattoon, IL Estimated	4	-42.9%
147	Cary, IL Estimated	3	-75%
147	Danville, IL Estimated	3	-40%
147	East St. Louis, IL Estimated	3	-40%
147	Fox Lake, IL Estimated	3	+200%
147	Homewood, IL Estimated	3	n/a
147	Oak Forest, IL Estimated	3	+50%
147	Streator, IL Estimated	3	+50%
147	West Chicago, IL Estimated	3	-50%
155	Antioch, IL Estimated	2	n/a
155	Crestwood, IL Estimated	2	n/a
155	Crystal Lake, IL Estimated	2	-88.9%
155	Forest Park, IL Estimated	2	+100%
155	Lincoln, IL Estimated	2	0%
155	Lincolnwood, IL Estimated	2	-71.4%
155	Lyons, IL Estimated	2	+100%
155	Prospect Heights, IL Estimated	2	-87.5%
155	Rantoul, IL Estimated	2	n/a
155	Schaumburg, IL Estimated	2	-93.3%
155	Taylorville, IL Estimated	2	0%
155	Wheeling, IL Estimated	2	n/a
167	Bensenville, IL Estimated	1	-80%
167	Carbondale, IL Estimated	1	-88.9%
167	Centralia, IL Estimated	1	n/a
167	Crest Hill, IL Estimated	1	-85.7%
167	Elk Grove Village, IL Estimated	1	n/a
167	Evergreen Park, IL Estimated	1	-66.7%
167	Franklin Park, IL Estimated	1	n/a
167	Grayslake, IL Estimated	1	0%
167	Gurnee, IL Estimated	1	-75%
167	Hanover Park, IL Estimated	1	n/a
167	Kewanee, IL Estimated	1	-66.7%
167	Northlake, IL Estimated	1	n/a
167	Palos Heights, IL Estimated	1	n/a
167	Schiller Park, IL Estimated	1	-50%
167	Wauconda, IL Estimated	1	n/a
182	Alsip, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Belvidere, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Berwyn, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Blue Island, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Bridgeview, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Calumet City, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Carpentersville, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Chicago Heights, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Chicago Ridge, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Cicero, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Country Club Hills, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Dolton, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	East Moline, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Freeport, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Galesburg, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Glendale Heights, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Harvey, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Hazel Crest, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Hickory Hills, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Jacksonville, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Justice, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Lansing, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Lindenhurst, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Machesney Park, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Maywood, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Melrose Park, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Midlothian, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	North Chicago, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Park Forest, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Plano, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	Pontiac, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Richton Park, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	River Forest, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	River Grove, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Riverdale, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Round Lake Beach, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Round Lake, IL Estimated	0	-100%
182	South Holland, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Streamwood, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Westchester, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Worth, IL Estimated	0	n/a
182	Zion, IL Estimated	0	n/a

Other periods

About this ranking

Annual number of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures (detached and attached single-family homes) authorized by building permits, from the US Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.

Part of building_permit_units, which also counts units in buildings with two or more units. Counts housing units, not starts, completions or sales.

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 2015 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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2015a.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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (Cities in Illinois by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2015a.txt

MLA 9

Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Illinois by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 30 Sept. 2016, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2015a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2015. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2016. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Cities in Illinois by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2015a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2015.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2016) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Illinois by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2015a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_illinois_by_2015,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in Illinois by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015}},
  year = {2016},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2015a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2015. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest\%20Region/mw2015a.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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in Illinois by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015
PY  - 2016
DA  - 2016/09/30
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2015a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2015.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2015a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

Chicago, IL, with 503 in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Zion, IL, with 0 in 2015.

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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12. 1 cities have no value for 2015 and are not ranked.