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

Fort Worth, TX had the highest single-family housing units authorized by building permits of 253 cities in 2021, at 7,236. Sherman, TX had the lowest, at 0. The median was 157. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest7,236Fort Worth, TX
Median157253 cities

Top 40 cities, 2021

Fort Worth, TX: 7,236 countFort Worth, TX7,236Houston, TX: 7,146 countHouston, TX7,146San Antonio, TX: 6,567 countSan Antonio, TX6,567Austin, TX: 4,180 countAustin, TX4,180Fulshear, TX: 3,008 countFulshear, TX3,008Celina, TX: 2,825 countCelina, TX2,825Conroe, TX: 2,574 countConroe, TX2,574Lubbock, TX: 2,454 countLubbock, TX2,454Leander, TX: 2,399 countLeander, TX2,399Georgetown, TX: 2,333 countGeorgetown, TX2,333Dallas, TX: 2,245 countDallas, TX2,245Hutto, TX: 2,080 countHutto, TX2,080El Paso, TX: 1,961 countEl Paso, TX1,961Frisco, TX: 1,879 countFrisco, TX1,879New Braunfels, TX: 1,787 countNew Braunfels, TX1,787McKinney, TX: 1,727 countMcKinney, TX1,727Corpus Christi, TX: 1,470 countCorpus Christi, TX1,470Laredo, TX: 1,462 countLaredo, TX1,462Kyle, TX: 1,417 countKyle, TX1,417Odessa, TX: 1,373 countOdessa, TX1,373Royse City, TX: 1,370 countRoyse City, TX1,370Little Elm, TX: 1,267 countLittle Elm, TX1,267Grand Prairie, TX: 1,233 countGrand Prairie, TX1,233Prosper, TX: 1,220 countProsper, TX1,220Denton, TX: 1,203 countDenton, TX1,203Anna, TX: 1,121 countAnna, TX1,121Forney, TX: 1,082 countForney, TX1,082Temple, TX: 1,068 countTemple, TX1,068Mansfield, TX: 1,050 countMansfield, TX1,050Liberty Hill, TX: 1,037 countLiberty Hill, TX1,037Bryan, TX: 1,007 countBryan, TX1,007Seguin, TX: 986 countSeguin, TX986Arlington, TX: 976 countArlington, TX976Manvel, TX: 931 countManvel, TX931Northlake, TX: 923 countNorthlake, TX923Princeton, TX: 916 countPrinceton, TX916Brownsville, TX: 883 countBrownsville, TX883Midland, TX: 858 countMidland, TX858Waxahachie, TX: 834 countWaxahachie, TX834Texas City, TX: 829 countTexas City, TX829Fort Worth, TX: 7,236 countFort Worth, TX7,236Houston, TX: 7,146 countHouston, TX7,146San Antonio, TX: 6,567 countSan Antonio, TX6,567Austin, TX: 4,180 countAustin, TX4,180Fulshear, TX: 3,008 countFulshear, TX3,008Celina, TX: 2,825 countCelina, TX2,825Conroe, TX: 2,574 countConroe, TX2,574Lubbock, TX: 2,454 countLubbock, TX2,454Leander, TX: 2,399 countLeander, TX2,399Georgetown, TX: 2,333 countGeorgetown, TX2,333Dallas, TX: 2,245 countDallas, TX2,245Hutto, TX: 2,080 countHutto, TX2,080El Paso, TX: 1,961 countEl Paso, TX1,961Frisco, TX: 1,879 countFrisco, TX1,879New Braunfels, TX: 1,787 countNew Braunfels, TX1,787McKinney, TX: 1,727 countMcKinney, TX1,727Corpus Christi, TX: 1,470 countCorpus Christi, TX1,470Laredo, TX: 1,462 countLaredo, TX1,462Kyle, TX: 1,417 countKyle, TX1,417Odessa, TX: 1,373 countOdessa, TX1,373Royse City, TX: 1,370 countRoyse City, TX1,370Little Elm, TX: 1,267 countLittle Elm, TX1,267Grand Prairie, TX: 1,233 countGrand Prairie, TX1,233Prosper, TX: 1,220 countProsper, TX1,220Denton, TX: 1,203 countDenton, TX1,203Anna, TX: 1,121 countAnna, TX1,121Forney, TX: 1,082 countForney, TX1,082Temple, TX: 1,068 countTemple, TX1,068Mansfield, TX: 1,050 countMansfield, TX1,050Liberty Hill, TX: 1,037 countLiberty Hill, TX1,037Bryan, TX: 1,007 countBryan, TX1,007Seguin, TX: 986 countSeguin, TX986Arlington, TX: 976 countArlington, TX976Manvel, TX: 931 countManvel, TX931Northlake, TX: 923 countNorthlake, TX923Princeton, TX: 916 countPrinceton, TX916Brownsville, TX: 883 countBrownsville, TX883Midland, TX: 858 countMidland, TX858Waxahachie, TX: 834 countWaxahachie, TX834Texas City, TX: 829 countTexas City, TX829
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

RankCities2021
count
Change on 2020
1Fort Worth, TX Estimated7,236-0.7%
2Houston, TX Estimated7,146+20.6%
3San Antonio, TX Estimated6,567+53.6%
4Austin, TX Estimated4,180+1.6%
5Fulshear, TX Estimated3,008+28.3%
6Celina, TX Estimated2,825+41%
7Conroe, TX Estimated2,574+66.6%
8Lubbock, TX Estimated2,454+34.5%
9Leander, TX Estimated2,399+19.1%
10Georgetown, TX Estimated2,333+5.4%
11Dallas, TX Estimated2,245+52.2%
12Hutto, TX Estimated2,080+144.4%
13El Paso, TX Estimated1,961+24.9%
14Frisco, TX Estimated1,879-23.1%
15New Braunfels, TX Estimated1,787-9.9%
16McKinney, TX Estimated1,727+10.5%
17Corpus Christi, TX Estimated1,470+23.5%
18Laredo, TX Estimated1,462+14.8%
19Kyle, TX Estimated1,417+14.9%
20Odessa, TX Estimated1,373+52.9%
21Royse City, TX Estimated1,370+74.5%
22Little Elm, TX Estimated1,267+8.3%
23Grand Prairie, TX Estimated1,233+195%
24Prosper, TX Estimated1,220+9.4%
25Denton, TX Estimated1,203+22.1%
26Anna, TX Estimated1,121+16.8%
27Forney, TX Estimated1,082+97.8%
28Temple, TX Estimated1,068-15.6%
29Mansfield, TX Estimated1,050+24.3%
30Liberty Hill, TX Estimated1,037-17.6%
31Bryan, TX Estimated1,007+35%
32Seguin, TX Estimated986+96.8%
33Arlington, TX Estimated976+34.6%
34Manvel, TX Estimated931+20.3%
35Northlake, TX Estimated923+44.4%
36Princeton, TX Estimated916+11.3%
37Brownsville, TX Estimated883+14.4%
38Midland, TX Estimated858-33.4%
39Waxahachie, TX Estimated834+10.3%
40Texas City, TX Estimated829+6.6%
41Round Rock, TX Estimated816+80.9%
42McAllen, TX Estimated807+52.3%
43Josephine, TX Estimated797+3.2%
44Melissa, TX Estimated784-8.5%
45Iowa Colony, TX Estimated759-4.6%
46San Marcos, TX Estimated721+15.4%
47Pearland, TX Estimated715+34.7%
48Fate, TX Estimated705-13.7%
49Midlothian, TX Estimated693+40.3%
49Missouri City, TX Estimated693+9.3%
51College Station, TX Estimated674+39.3%
52Waco, TX Estimated661+1.1%
53Weslaco, TX Estimated657+186.9%
54Killeen, TX Estimated592-33.3%
55Allen, TX Estimated565+5%
56Mesquite, TX Estimated560+117.9%
57Amarillo, TX Estimated542-3.2%
58Lewisville, TX Estimated536+49.7%
58Mission, TX Estimated536+40.7%
60Socorro, TX Estimated535-1.1%
61Katy, TX Estimated527-8.5%
62Manor, TX Estimated526-24.9%
63Rosenberg, TX Estimated511+43.9%
64Wylie, TX Estimated502+1.6%
65Greenville, TX Estimated495+70.7%
66Cibolo, TX Estimated493+36.9%
67Abilene, TX Estimated492+31.9%
68Edinburg, TX Estimated473-12.2%
69Dripping Springs, TX Estimated472+9.5%
70Tomball, TX Estimated448+28%
71Weatherford, TX Estimated446+58.7%
72Glenn Heights, TX Estimated444+5%
73Flower Mound, TX Estimated441+2.8%
74Bastrop, TX Estimated434+87.1%
75Pflugerville, TX Estimated433-40.3%
75Tyler, TX Estimated433+19.6%
77Garland, TX Estimated427+9.8%
77Rockwall, TX Estimated427+10.1%
79Lavon, TX Estimated405+47.8%
80Sachse, TX Estimated403+153.5%
81League City, TX Estimated388-54.2%
82Boerne, TX Estimated387+23.2%
83Lago Vista, TX Estimated386+20.6%
84Denison, TX Estimated384+124.6%
85Converse, TX Estimated377+7.1%
86Irving, TX Estimated366-41.6%
87Elgin, TX Estimated357+61.5%
88Lakeway, TX Estimated346+7.8%
89Alvin, TX Estimated345+21.9%
90San Angelo, TX Estimated333-51.5%
91Rowlett, TX Estimated331-9.6%
92Carrollton, TX Estimated327+59.5%
93Ennis, TX Estimated323+47.5%
94Plano, TX Estimated321+10.3%
95La Porte, TX Estimated320+25.5%
96Baytown, TX Estimated309+9.2%
96Farmers Branch, TX Estimated309+34.9%
98Belton, TX Estimated304+115.6%
99DeSoto, TX Estimated281+14.7%
100Beaumont, TX Estimated280+15.2%
101Seagoville, TX Estimated269+22.8%
102Cleburne, TX Estimated264-9%
103Port Arthur, TX Estimated259-55.2%
104North Richland Hills, TX Estimated254-9.9%
105Galveston, TX Estimated251+5.9%
106Huntsville, TX Estimated247+111.1%
107Schertz, TX Estimated234-38.6%
108Mont Belvieu, TX Estimated230-4.2%
109Heath, TX Estimated229+68.4%
109Pharr, TX Estimated229+108.2%
111La Marque, TX Estimated225-6.6%
111Longview, TX Estimated225+6.6%
113Burleson, TX Estimated220-46.9%
114Fair Oaks Ranch, TX Estimated216+12.5%
115San Juan, TX Estimated213+37.4%
116Granbury, TX Estimated198-16.8%
117Providence Village, TX Estimated196+355.8%
118Red Oak, TX Estimated195-42.8%
119Azle, TX Estimated194+173.2%
120Alamo, TX Estimated190+22.6%
120Brenham, TX Estimated190+111.1%
122Victoria, TX Estimated181+37.1%
123Taylor, TX Estimated176+15.8%
124Harker Heights, TX Estimated160+90.5%
125Rockport, TX Estimated159+21.4%
126Mercedes, TX Estimated158+132.4%
127Helotes, TX Estimated157+248.9%
128The Colony, TX Estimated156-34.7%
129Angleton, TX Estimated154+85.5%
130Sugar Land, TX Estimated151+2%
131Euless, TX Estimated141+104.3%
132Alton, TX Estimated1390%
132Lumberton, TX Estimated139+14.9%
134Richmond, TX Estimated136+1,842.9%
135Sanger, TX Estimated128-31.6%
136Eagle Pass, TX Estimated126+4.1%
137Crowley, TX Estimated122+93.7%
138Canyon, TX Estimated120-20%
139Pasadena, TX Estimated119-17.4%
140Terrell, TX Estimated114+81%
141Hidalgo, TX Estimated112+13.1%
142Horizon City, TX Estimated108-48.6%
143Cedar Park, TX Estimated103-51.9%
143Universal City, TX Estimated103+17%
145Dickinson, TX Estimated101-42.6%
145Haltom City, TX Estimated101-17.9%
145Keller, TX Estimated101+27.8%
148Del Rio, TX Estimated100+56.3%
149Lockhart, TX Estimated98+2.1%
150Kennedale, TX Estimated97+385%
151Southlake, TX Estimated96+50%
152Kerrville, TX Estimated95+21.8%
153Wichita Falls, TX Estimated93-28.5%
154Buda, TX Estimated90-35.7%
155Fairview, TX Estimated89-21.2%
156Fredericksburg, TX Estimated85+21.4%
157Robinson, TX Estimated82-7.9%
157Robstown, TX Estimated82+121.6%
159Friendswood, TX Estimated81-48.1%
160Hewitt, TX Estimated77+45.3%
161Cedar Hill, TX Estimated74-25.3%
162Corinth, TX Estimated73+73.8%
163Lufkin, TX Estimated72-12.2%
164Portland, TX Estimated71-21.1%
165Santa Fe, TX Estimated70+12.9%
166Copperas Cove, TX Estimated69-74.1%
167Live Oak, TX Estimated65+54.8%
168University Park, TX Estimated64+10.3%
169Bellaire, TX Estimated60-1.6%
169San Benito, TX Estimated60+15.4%
171Clute, TX Estimated58+26.1%
171Dayton, TX Estimated58+70.6%
171Selma, TX Estimated58+18.4%
174Corsicana, TX Estimated57+39%
174Highland Village, TX Estimated57+54.1%
176Donna, TX Estimated56+16.7%
176Grapevine, TX Estimated56+19.1%
178Texarkana, TX Estimated54+14.9%
179Kaufman, TX Estimated53+89.3%
179White Settlement, TX Estimated53+23.3%
181Bay City, TX Estimated52+126.1%
181Colleyville, TX Estimated52-38.1%
183Benbrook, TX Estimated49+63.3%
183Stafford, TX Estimated49+1,533.3%
185West University Place, TX Estimated48+6.7%
186Palmview, TX Estimated47+20.5%
186Sulphur Springs, TX Estimated47+370%
188Webster, TX Estimated46+1,433.3%
189Richardson, TX Estimated40-11.1%
190Marshall, TX Estimated38+137.5%
191Lancaster, TX Estimated37-47.9%
191Port Neches, TX Estimated37-43.9%
191Stephenville, TX Estimated370%
194Groves, TX Estimated36+5.9%
195Seabrook, TX Estimated35+2.9%
196Burkburnett, TX Estimated33+50%
197Addison, TX Estimated31+287.5%
198Bonham, TX Estimated30+36.4%
198South Houston, TX Estimated30+76.5%
200Athens, TX Estimated29+52.6%
200El Campo, TX Estimated29+163.6%
200Town of Pecos, TX Estimated29n/a
203Nacogdoches, TX Estimated28+21.7%
204Kingsville, TX Estimated27+12.5%
205Ingleside, TX Estimated26-23.5%
205Palestine, TX Estimated26+23.8%
205Saginaw, TX Estimated26-73.2%
208Gatesville, TX Estimated24-63.6%
208Orange, TX Estimated24+14.3%
208Uvalde, TX Estimated24+26.3%
211Gainesville, TX Estimated22-48.8%
211Pleasanton, TX Estimated22-8.3%
213Lake Jackson, TX Estimated21-40%
214Andrews, TX Estimated20+25%
214Coppell, TX Estimated20-39.4%
214Nederland, TX Estimated20-20%
217Freeport, TX Estimated18+12.5%
217Port Lavaca, TX Estimated18-40%
219Roanoke, TX Estimated17-76.1%
220Deer Park, TX Estimated15-11.8%
220Forest Hill, TX Estimated15-16.7%
220Kilgore, TX Estimated15-50%
220Paris, TX Estimated15-21.1%
224Mineral Wells, TX Estimated13+18.2%
225Brownwood, TX Estimated11+22.2%
225Levelland, TX Estimated11+22.2%
227Balch Springs, TX Estimated9+28.6%
227Raymondville, TX Estimated9+12.5%
229Mount Pleasant, TX Estimated8-75%
230Bellmead, TX Estimated7+16.7%
231Beeville, TX Estimated6-68.4%
231Duncanville, TX Estimated6+20%
231Jacksonville, TX Estimated6+20%
234Hurst, TX Estimated5-72.2%
234Trophy Club, TX Estimated5-87.2%
236Borger, TX Estimated4+300%
236Dumas, TX Estimated4-42.9%
236Galena Park, TX Estimated4+100%
236Snyder, TX Estimated4+33.3%
240Henderson, TX Estimated30%
240Murphy, TX Estimated3-91.9%
240Watauga, TX Estimated3+200%
243Bedford, TX Estimated2-33.3%
243Big Spring, TX Estimated2-95%
243Hereford, TX Estimated20%
246Humble, TX Estimated1-75%
246Plainview, TX Estimated1-50%
246Sweetwater, TX Estimated1-75%
249Alice, TX Estimated0-100%
249Harlingen, TX Estimated0-100%

Showing the top 250 of 253. The Excel download has every row.

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. 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/South%20Region/so2021a.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. (2022). 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 Texas by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.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 Texas by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Apr. 2022, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/texas-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2022. 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 Texas by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/texas-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2022) 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 Texas by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/texas-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_texas_by_2021,
  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 Texas by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2021}},
  year = {2022},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/texas-cities?period=2021. 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/South\%20Region/so2021a.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 Texas by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2021
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/04/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/texas-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/texas-cities?period=2021.
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/South%20Region/so2021a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Rank Cities in Texas by single-family housing units authorized by building permits using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

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

Fort Worth, TX, with 7,236 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Sherman, TX, with 0 in 2021.

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.

Single-family housing units authorized by building permits: other rankings

Cities in Texas: more rankings