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 2018, at 439. Westchester, IL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 11. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest439Chicago, IL

Lowest0Westchester, IL

Median11223 cities

Top 40 cities, 2018

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	2018 count	Change on 2017
1	Chicago, IL Estimated	439	-16.4%
2	Pingree Grove, IL Estimated	379	+13.8%
3	Naperville, IL Estimated	273	-19%
4	Joliet, IL Estimated	247	+11.8%
5	Yorkville, IL Estimated	243	+59.9%
6	Plainfield, IL Estimated	180	+25%
7	O'Fallon, IL Estimated	166	+12.2%
8	Elgin, IL Estimated	146	+3.5%
9	New Lenox, IL Estimated	142	+0.7%
10	Champaign, IL Estimated	132	-0.8%
10	Frankfort, IL Estimated	132	+40.4%
12	Aurora, IL Estimated	121	-4.7%
12	Shorewood, IL Estimated	121	+51.2%
14	Oswego, IL Estimated	112	+115.4%
15	Manhattan, IL Estimated	105	+23.5%
16	Channahon, IL Estimated	102	-4.7%
17	Des Plaines, IL Estimated	96	+10.3%
17	Lockport, IL Estimated	96	-2%
19	Elmhurst, IL Estimated	95	-2.1%
20	Lemont, IL Estimated	93	+9.4%
21	Algonquin, IL Estimated	86	+160.6%
22	McHenry, IL Estimated	84	+16.7%
23	South Elgin, IL Estimated	79	-14.1%
24	Woodridge, IL Estimated	78	+13%
25	Springfield, IL Estimated	74	+29.8%
26	Hoffman Estates, IL Estimated	71	+20.3%
27	Loves Park, IL Estimated	70	+180%
28	Downers Grove, IL Estimated	63	-14.9%
29	Arlington Heights, IL Estimated	62	-64%
30	Shiloh, IL Estimated	60	+22.4%
31	North Aurora, IL Estimated	59	+68.6%
32	Vernon Hills, IL Estimated	54	+575%
33	Edwardsville, IL Estimated	53	+65.6%
34	Mahomet, IL Estimated	52	-20%
35	Sycamore, IL Estimated	51	+6.3%
36	Geneva, IL Estimated	50	+56.3%
36	Mokena, IL Estimated	50	-31.5%
38	Hinsdale, IL Estimated	48	+77.8%
39	Machesney Park, IL Estimated	47	+291.7%
39	Waterloo, IL Estimated	47	-35.6%
41	Homer Glen, IL Estimated	46	-11.5%
41	Minooka, IL Estimated	46	+228.6%
41	Woodstock, IL Estimated	46	-8%
44	Matteson, IL Estimated	45	-50.5%
44	Romeoville, IL Estimated	45	+45.2%
46	Quincy, IL Estimated	43	-30.6%
46	Troy, IL Estimated	43	-29.5%
48	Chatham, IL Estimated	41	-24.1%
48	Glenview, IL Estimated	41	+17.1%
50	Burr Ridge, IL Estimated	40	+60%
50	Urbana, IL Estimated	40	+42.9%
52	Bradley, IL Estimated	39	+178.6%
52	Columbia, IL Estimated	39	0%
52	Wheeling, IL Estimated	39	n/a
55	Cary, IL Estimated	37	n/a
55	Normal, IL Estimated	37	-37.3%
55	Northbrook, IL Estimated	37	-19.6%
58	Fox Lake, IL Estimated	36	+50%
58	Marion, IL Estimated	36	+50%
60	Belleville, IL Estimated	35	+2.9%
60	Plano, IL Estimated	35	+775%
60	Wilmette, IL Estimated	35	-27.1%
63	East Peoria, IL Estimated	34	+88.9%
64	Mundelein, IL Estimated	33	-49.2%
65	Glen Carbon, IL Estimated	32	+45.5%
65	Peoria, IL Estimated	32	0%
67	Addison, IL Estimated	30	+87.5%
68	Glen Ellyn, IL Estimated	29	+26.1%
68	Orland Park, IL Estimated	29	-54.7%
68	Ottawa, IL Estimated	29	0%
71	St. Charles, IL Estimated	28	+3.7%
72	Lombard, IL Estimated	27	+42.1%
72	Park Ridge, IL Estimated	27	-28.9%
72	Tinley Park, IL Estimated	27	+8%
75	Lake Forest, IL Estimated	26	+160%
75	Western Springs, IL Estimated	26	-7.1%
77	Bourbonnais, IL Estimated	24	0%
77	Winfield, IL Estimated	24	0%
79	Bloomingdale, IL Estimated	23	+2,200%
79	Campton Hills, IL Estimated	23	+130%
79	DeKalb, IL Estimated	23	+1,050%
79	Highland Park, IL Estimated	23	-8%
79	Swansea, IL Estimated	23	-23.3%
84	Bloomington, IL Estimated	22	-76.8%
84	Bolingbrook, IL Estimated	22	+69.2%
84	Gurnee, IL Estimated	22	-53.2%
84	Washington, IL Estimated	22	-12%
84	Wheaton, IL Estimated	22	-52.2%
89	Antioch, IL Estimated	21	-61.8%
90	Crystal Lake, IL Estimated	20	+185.7%
91	Forest Park, IL Estimated	19	+280%
91	Lisle, IL Estimated	19	-45.7%
93	Deerfield, IL Estimated	18	+28.6%
93	Herrin, IL Estimated	18	-21.7%
93	Warrenville, IL Estimated	18	-18.2%
93	Winnetka, IL Estimated	18	-5.3%
97	Waukegan, IL Estimated	17	+466.7%
98	Highland, IL Estimated	16	+14.3%
98	Rockford, IL Estimated	16	-68%
100	Godfrey, IL Estimated	15	-11.8%
100	Libertyville, IL Estimated	15	-54.5%
100	Moline, IL Estimated	15	-6.3%
100	Morton Grove, IL Estimated	15	+114.3%
104	Skokie, IL Estimated	14	+250%
105	Bartlett, IL Estimated	13	-55.2%
105	Montgomery, IL Estimated	13	+550%
107	Berwyn, IL Estimated	12	+200%
107	Centralia, IL Estimated	12	0%
107	La Grange, IL Estimated	12	0%
107	Morton, IL Estimated	12	-60%
111	Batavia, IL Estimated	11	0%
111	Collinsville, IL Estimated	11	+22.2%
111	Crestwood, IL Estimated	11	-26.7%
111	Lake in the Hills, IL Estimated	11	-26.7%
111	Morris, IL Estimated	11	-21.4%
111	Palatine, IL Estimated	11	-71.8%
111	Westmont, IL Estimated	11	-8.3%
118	Effingham, IL Estimated	10	-52.4%
119	Barrington, IL Estimated	9	-64%
119	Oak Park, IL Estimated	9	+200%
119	Roselle, IL Estimated	9	+125%
122	Burbank, IL Estimated	8	-46.7%
122	Fairview Heights, IL Estimated	8	-20%
124	Belvidere, IL Estimated	7	-50%
124	Carbondale, IL Estimated	7	+40%
124	Evergreen Park, IL Estimated	7	+250%
124	Mattoon, IL Estimated	7	0%
128	Granite City, IL Estimated	6	+20%
128	Palos Hills, IL Estimated	6	-14.3%
128	Wauconda, IL Estimated	6	+20%
131	Bridgeview, IL Estimated	5	+25%
131	Danville, IL Estimated	5	+66.7%
131	Darien, IL Estimated	5	-61.5%
131	Justice, IL Estimated	5	+400%
131	Markham, IL Estimated	5	-16.7%
131	Prospect Heights, IL Estimated	5	+150%
137	Dixon, IL Estimated	4	-42.9%
137	Evanston, IL Estimated	4	-50%
137	Galesburg, IL Estimated	4	-42.9%
137	La Grange Park, IL Estimated	4	0%
137	Lake Zurich, IL Estimated	4	0%
137	Lincolnwood, IL Estimated	4	+100%
137	Mount Prospect, IL Estimated	4	+33.3%
137	Oak Forest, IL Estimated	4	+100%
137	Pekin, IL Estimated	4	0%
137	Schaumburg, IL Estimated	4	-42.9%
137	Streator, IL Estimated	4	n/a
137	Villa Park, IL Estimated	4	-20%
149	East Moline, IL Estimated	3	+50%
149	Midlothian, IL Estimated	3	n/a
149	Oak Lawn, IL Estimated	3	-66.7%
149	River Forest, IL Estimated	3	-25%
149	Rock Island, IL Estimated	3	+200%
149	Sterling, IL Estimated	3	-40%
149	Taylorville, IL Estimated	3	-25%
156	Beach Park, IL Estimated	2	n/a
156	Bellwood, IL Estimated	2	-84.6%
156	Carol Stream, IL Estimated	2	n/a
156	Charleston, IL Estimated	2	-50%
156	Chicago Ridge, IL Estimated	2	-50%
156	Crest Hill, IL Estimated	2	-60%
156	Jacksonville, IL Estimated	2	-50%
156	Kewanee, IL Estimated	2	-33.3%
156	Lyons, IL Estimated	2	+100%
156	Mount Vernon, IL Estimated	2	-66.7%
156	Niles, IL Estimated	2	+100%
156	Summit, IL Estimated	2	n/a
156	West Chicago, IL Estimated	2	-33.3%
156	Wood Dale, IL Estimated	2	0%
156	Wood River, IL Estimated	2	-75%
171	Alton, IL Estimated	1	n/a
171	Bensenville, IL Estimated	1	-85.7%
171	Canton, IL Estimated	1	0%
171	Decatur, IL Estimated	1	-87.5%
171	Elmwood Park, IL Estimated	1	0%
171	Freeport, IL Estimated	1	0%
171	Grayslake, IL Estimated	1	-94.1%
171	Hanover Park, IL Estimated	1	n/a
171	Hickory Hills, IL Estimated	1	-90.9%
171	Huntley, IL Estimated	1	-96%
171	Lincoln, IL Estimated	1	-50%
171	Macomb, IL Estimated	1	0%
171	Norridge, IL Estimated	1	0%
171	Rantoul, IL Estimated	1	-50%
171	Rolling Meadows, IL Estimated	1	-85.7%
171	Round Lake Beach, IL Estimated	1	-50%
171	Worth, IL Estimated	1	0%
171	Zion, IL Estimated	1	0%
189	Alsip, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Blue Island, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	Brookfield, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	Buffalo Grove, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	Calumet City, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Carpentersville, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Chicago Heights, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Cicero, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Country Club Hills, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Dolton, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	East St. Louis, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Elk Grove Village, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Franklin Park, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Glendale Heights, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Harvey, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Hazel Crest, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Homewood, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	Kankakee, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Lansing, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Lindenhurst, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	Maywood, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Melrose Park, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	North Chicago, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	Northlake, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	Palos Heights, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Park Forest, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Pontiac, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	Richton Park, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	River Grove, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Riverdale, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Round Lake, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Schiller Park, IL Estimated	0	-100%
189	South Holland, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Streamwood, IL Estimated	0	n/a
189	Westchester, 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 2018 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/mw2018a.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. (2019). 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, 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2018a.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, 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 20 June 2019, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2018a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2018. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2019. 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, 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2018a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2019) 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, 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2018a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_illinois_by_2018,
  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, 2018}},
  year = {2019},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2018a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2018. 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/mw2018a.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, 2018
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/06/20
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2018a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2018.
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/mw2018a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Embed code

<iframe src="https://invokely.ai/embed/rankings/single-family-building-permits/illinois-cities?period=2018" width="760" height="500" title="Cities in Illinois by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2018, chart from Invokely" loading="lazy" style="border:0;width:100%;max-width:760px" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe>

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Cities in Illinois by single-family housing units authorized by building permits using official data, and cite the source.

rank_places {"indicator":"building_permit_single_family_units","level":"municipality","within":"Illinois","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=building_permit_single_family_units&level=municipality&within=Illinois&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

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

Chicago, IL, with 439 in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Westchester, IL, with 0 in 2018.

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 2018 and are not ranked.