US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits

Houston, TX had the highest single-family housing units authorized by building permits of 2996 cities in 2014, at 5,398. Zion, IL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 30. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest5,398Houston, TX

Lowest0Zion, IL

Median302996 cities

Top 40 cities, 2014

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	2014 count	Change on 2013
1	Houston, TX Estimated	5,398	+3.8%
2	Oklahoma City, OK Estimated	3,306	-8.4%
3	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	3,121	-6%
4	Austin, TX Estimated	2,800	+8.8%
5	San Antonio, TX Estimated	2,270	+8%
6	Frisco, TX Estimated	2,165	-2.5%
7	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	2,106	+14.2%
8	El Paso, TX Estimated	2,021	-11%
9	Scranton, PA Estimated	1,733	+8,565%
10	Denver, CO Estimated	1,710	+33.2%
11	McKinney, TX Estimated	1,708	-8.3%
12	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	1,668	+45.8%
13	Phoenix, AZ Estimated	1,608	-3.9%
14	Irvine, CA Estimated	1,564	-2.7%
15	Las Vegas, NV Estimated	1,453	-4.2%
16	Gilbert, AZ Estimated	1,435	-27.2%
17	Raleigh, NC Estimated	1,318	-20.7%
18	Omaha, NE Estimated	1,306	-16.7%
19	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,277	+9.5%
20	Henderson, NV Estimated	1,264	-0.8%
21	Georgetown, TX Estimated	1,208	+17.3%
22	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	1,182	+0.2%
23	Dallas, TX Estimated	1,181	+9.9%
24	Durham, NC Estimated	1,154	+3.8%
25	Cary, NC Estimated	1,130	-2.5%
26	Albuquerque, NM Estimated	1,110	+155.8%
27	Leander, TX Estimated	1,079	+64.5%
28	Pearland, TX Estimated	1,068	+11.8%
29	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	1,055	+17.5%
30	Peoria, AZ Estimated	1,033	+18.7%
31	Mesa, AZ Estimated	1,006	-8.3%
32	League City, TX Estimated	990	-8.3%
33	Ankeny, IA Estimated	974	+14.7%
34	Laredo, TX Estimated	954	+4.3%
35	Midland, TX Estimated	917	+25.3%
36	Orlando, FL Estimated	915	-11.8%
37	Seattle, WA Estimated	898	+9.2%
38	Huntsville, AL Estimated	897	-10.3%
39	Little Elm, TX Estimated	892	+15.7%
40	Lubbock, TX Estimated	888	-5.3%
41	Conroe, TX Estimated	871	+42.8%
42	Reno, NV Estimated	858	+24.9%
43	Lincoln, NE Estimated	854	+1.2%
44	Clarksville, TN Estimated	850	+9.1%
45	Chesapeake, VA Estimated	846	-7.1%
46	Sioux Falls, SD Estimated	842	-17.9%
47	Aurora, CO Estimated	832	-0.5%
48	Killeen, TX Estimated	829	-7.5%
49	Castle Rock, CO Estimated	821	-0.2%
49	Murfreesboro, TN Estimated	821	+4.3%
51	Dublin, CA Estimated	816	+22.7%
52	South Jordan, UT Estimated	806	+9.2%
53	Goodyear, AZ Estimated	792	-13.5%
53	Portland, OR Estimated	792	+3.8%
55	Bend, OR Estimated	791	-0.4%
56	Meridian, ID Estimated	764	-15.2%
57	Philadelphia, PA Estimated	756	+19.6%
58	St. George, UT Estimated	753	-3.6%
59	Buckeye, AZ Estimated	749	-3.1%
60	Fort Collins, CO Estimated	742	+21.2%
61	Rio Rancho, NM Estimated	741	-0.5%
62	Mount Pleasant, SC Estimated	739	-7.2%
63	Columbus, OH Estimated	724	-6%
64	College Station, TX Estimated	722	+25.6%
65	Fort Myers, FL Estimated	716	+27.6%
66	San Diego, CA Estimated	712	-13.3%
66	Tampa, FL Estimated	712	+3.8%
68	Queen Creek, AZ Estimated	693	+7.4%
69	Virginia Beach, VA Estimated	688	-6.1%
70	Lexington, KY Estimated	687	+1.6%
71	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	663	+34.8%
72	Kansas City, MO Estimated	656	-6.7%
73	Denton, TX Estimated	655	+19.5%
74	Chandler, AZ Estimated	653	+15.4%
75	Roseville, CA Estimated	645	+20.6%
76	Fresno, CA Estimated	641	-44.7%
77	Marana, AZ Estimated	639	-9%
78	Temple, TX Estimated	619	+8.4%
79	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	605	+26.6%
80	Clovis, CA Estimated	604	-27.1%
81	Charleston, SC Estimated	600	+4.2%
82	Arvada, CO Estimated	597	+23.6%
82	Pflugerville, TX Estimated	597	+95.1%
84	Cedar Park, TX Estimated	596	+11.8%
85	Fulshear, TX Estimated	589	+17.3%
86	Bossier City, LA Estimated	586	+4.1%
87	Bluffton, SC Estimated	585	+49.6%
88	Apex, NC Estimated	578	-6.9%
89	Bismarck, ND Estimated	574	-23.2%
89	New Orleans, LA Estimated	574	-22%
91	Anchorage, AK Estimated	572	+20.4%
92	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	571	+47.5%
92	Spring Hill, TN Estimated	571	+15.4%
94	Fishers, IN Estimated	564	-10.9%
94	Wentzville, MO Estimated	564	+17.5%
96	Edmond, OK Estimated	561	-8%
97	North Port, FL Estimated	557	+78%
97	Prosper, TX Estimated	557	+14.4%
99	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	554	+9.5%
100	Wichita, KS Estimated	550	+2.6%
101	Brownsville, TX Estimated	549	+0.7%
101	Fayetteville, AR Estimated	549	+32%
103	Parkland, FL Estimated	547	+22.9%
104	Atlanta, GA Estimated	545	+15.2%
104	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	545	+11.5%
106	New York, NY Estimated	541	+34.6%
106	West Fargo, ND Estimated	541	-10%
108	Norman, OK Estimated	539	+25.9%
109	Chicago, IL Estimated	536	+19.6%
110	Herriman, UT Estimated	525	+1.9%
111	Plano, TX Estimated	524	+27.8%
112	Indio, CA Estimated	517	+46.9%
112	Tucson, AZ Estimated	517	0%
114	Winston-Salem, NC Estimated	514	+8%
115	Kyle, TX Estimated	505	+57.8%
116	Allen, TX Estimated	503	+8.6%
117	Fuquay-Varina, NC Estimated	499	-3.1%
117	Scottsdale, AZ Estimated	499	+2.9%
119	Olathe, KS Estimated	494	-2.2%
120	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	491	-24.3%
121	Irving, TX Estimated	490	+2.5%
121	Menifee, CA Estimated	490	+31%
123	Moore, OK Estimated	488	-26.7%
124	Broken Arrow, OK Estimated	486	-11.2%
125	Franklin, TN Estimated	477	-3.2%
125	Washington, IL Estimated	477	+736.8%
127	Brentwood, CA Estimated	476	-0.4%
128	Billings, MT Estimated	473	-1.7%
129	North Las Vegas, NV Estimated	471	-5.2%
130	Arlington, TX Estimated	470	-13.8%
131	Amarillo, TX Estimated	469	-14.6%
132	Boise City, ID Estimated	467	-6.2%
133	Wake Forest, NC Estimated	464	-0.9%
134	Winter Garden, FL Estimated	456	+38.6%
135	Beaumont, CA Estimated	454	-9.2%
136	Lehi, UT Estimated	453	-16.9%
137	Morrisville, NC Estimated	451	+21.2%
138	Bentonville, AR Estimated	449	-11.8%
139	Missouri City, TX Estimated	446	+48.2%
140	Columbia, MO Estimated	444	-29.6%
141	Myrtle Beach, SC Estimated	443	+29.9%
141	Noblesville, IN Estimated	443	-21.2%
143	Broomfield, CO Estimated	439	+29.9%
144	Buda, TX Estimated	437	-4.2%
145	Odessa, TX Estimated	430	-40.1%
146	Hutto, TX Estimated	429	+16.9%
147	Eastvale, CA Estimated	428	+92.8%
148	Auburn, AL Estimated	427	+6.8%
148	Manteca, CA Estimated	427	+43.8%
148	Visalia, CA Estimated	427	-0.5%
151	Jackson, MS Estimated	420	+1,100%
152	Round Rock, TX Estimated	419	+82.2%
153	Greensboro, NC Estimated	415	+17.2%
153	Leland, NC Estimated	415	0%
153	Westfield, IN Estimated	415	+7.8%
156	Burleson, TX Estimated	413	+15.7%
156	Hoover, AL Estimated	413	+48%
158	McAllen, TX Estimated	412	+10.2%
159	Caldwell, ID Estimated	411	+28.4%
160	Doral, FL Estimated	410	+5.7%
161	Holly Springs, NC Estimated	406	-4.7%
162	Tulsa, OK Estimated	402	-7.8%
163	Eagle, ID Estimated	397	+35%
164	Grand Prairie, TX Estimated	394	-1.5%
165	Norfolk, VA Estimated	393	+1%
165	Washington, UT Estimated	393	-34.7%
167	North Charleston, SC Estimated	386	-9.6%
168	Waco, TX Estimated	385	+1%
169	Overland Park, KS Estimated	384	-9%
169	San Jose, CA Estimated	384	+40.1%
171	Cibolo, TX Estimated	379	-2.8%
172	Fargo, ND Estimated	377	-25.9%
173	Naperville, IL Estimated	375	+26.3%
174	Thornton, CO Estimated	370	+17.8%
175	Sparks, NV Estimated	369	+11.5%
176	Gallatin, TN Estimated	368	+17.6%
177	Jupiter, FL Estimated	364	-3.7%
177	Texas City, TX Estimated	364	+250%
179	Carrollton, TX Estimated	363	+40.7%
180	Auburn, WA Estimated	362	-16%
180	Mount Juliet, TN Estimated	362	+0.6%
182	Greeley, CO Estimated	361	+77.8%
183	Winter Haven, FL Estimated	359	+50.2%
184	Eagle Mountain, UT Estimated	355	-4.3%
184	Flower Mound, TX Estimated	355	+42%
186	Beaumont, TX Estimated	354	+132.9%
186	Happy Valley, OR Estimated	354	+14.6%
188	Youngsville, LA Estimated	353	-2.8%
189	Carmel, IN Estimated	352	-16.8%
189	Rochester, MN Estimated	352	+9%
191	Chattanooga, TN Estimated	349	+17.1%
192	Parker, CO Estimated	348	+3.9%
193	Lakeville, MN Estimated	347	-12.8%
194	Commerce City, CO Estimated	346	-8.9%
194	Fayetteville, NC Estimated	346	-20.8%
196	Milton, GA Estimated	344	+11.3%
196	O'Fallon, MO Estimated	344	-2.5%
198	Blaine, MN Estimated	343	+9.2%
199	Savannah, GA Estimated	341	+28.7%
200	Keller, TX Estimated	339	+27.4%
200	Palm Coast, FL Estimated	339	+27.9%
202	Little Rock, AR Estimated	338	-5.1%
202	Madison, AL Estimated	338	+3.4%
204	Groveland, FL Estimated	337	+30.6%
205	Fontana, CA Estimated	336	+50.7%
206	DeLand, FL Estimated	335	0%
207	Columbus, GA Estimated	333	+4.7%
207	Elgin, IL Estimated	333	-2.9%
207	Summerville, SC Estimated	333	+35.4%
207	Williston, ND Estimated	333	+168.5%
211	Prescott Valley, AZ Estimated	329	+16.3%
212	Rogers, AR Estimated	328	-22.3%
213	Jonesboro, AR Estimated	327	+9.4%
214	Cedar Rapids, IA Estimated	325	+34.3%
215	Lee's Summit, MO Estimated	321	-3.9%
216	Surprise, AZ Estimated	320	-42.2%
217	Pooler, GA Estimated	317	+23.8%
218	Fairfield, CA Estimated	316	+45.6%
218	Newnan, GA Estimated	316	-2.5%
220	Lacey, WA Estimated	314	+47.4%
220	Waxahachie, TX Estimated	314	+39.6%
222	Plymouth, MN Estimated	312	+16%
223	Loveland, CO Estimated	311	+22%
223	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	311	+4.7%
225	Manvel, TX Estimated	310	+66.7%
225	Southaven, MS Estimated	310	+11.5%
227	Greenwood, IN Estimated	308	-3.8%
228	Maple Grove, MN Estimated	306	-3.2%
228	Nampa, ID Estimated	306	+7%
230	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	303	-1.3%
231	Kennewick, WA Estimated	302	-5%
232	Folsom, CA Estimated	300	-11%
232	Yuma, AZ Estimated	300	-5.4%
234	Mission, TX Estimated	299	+28.3%
234	Schertz, TX Estimated	299	+11.6%
236	Azusa, CA Estimated	297	+42.8%
236	Chino, CA Estimated	297	+12.5%
236	Montgomery, AL Estimated	297	+12.1%
236	Rocklin, CA Estimated	297	+149.6%
236	Suffolk, VA Estimated	297	-49.8%
236	Woodbury, MN Estimated	297	-22.5%
242	Anna, TX Estimated	296	-3%
242	Centerton, AR Estimated	296	+28.1%
244	Bozeman, MT Estimated	295	-31.7%
245	Waukee, IA Estimated	294	+41.3%
246	Apopka, FL Estimated	292	-36%
247	Alpharetta, GA Estimated	288	+138%
248	Erie, CO Estimated	287	+20.6%
248	Las Cruces, NM Estimated	287	-27.7%
250	Lincoln, CA Estimated	286	+15.3%

Showing the top 250 of 2996. 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. 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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2014a.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 (US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2014) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2014a.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, US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2014. U.S. Census Bureau, 30 Sept. 2016, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2014a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2014. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2014a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2014.

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, US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2014 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2014a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2014 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_cities_by_single_2014,
  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: US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2014}},
  year = {2016},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2014a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2014. 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/so2014a.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: US cities by single-family 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/South%20Region/so2014a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2014
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2014.
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/so2014a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

Houston, TX, with 5,398 in 2014, 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 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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12. 91 cities have no value for 2014 and are not ranked.