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

Fort Worth, TX had the highest single-family housing units authorized by building permits of 3014 cities in 2021, at 7,236. Zion, IL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 43. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest7,236Fort Worth, TX

Lowest0Zion, IL

Median433014 cities

Top 40 cities, 2021

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	2021 count	Change on 2020
1	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	7,236	-0.7%
2	Houston, TX Estimated	7,146	+20.6%
3	San Antonio, TX Estimated	6,567	+53.6%
4	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	6,191	+11.6%
5	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	5,160	+38.7%
6	Phoenix, AZ Estimated	4,922	+5.5%
7	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	4,279	+58.9%
8	Austin, TX Estimated	4,180	+1.6%
9	Oklahoma City, OK Estimated	4,127	+8.6%
10	Nashville, TN Estimated	3,932	+11.3%
11	Henderson, NV Estimated	3,356	+48.2%
12	Fulshear, TX Estimated	3,008	+28.3%
13	North Las Vegas, NV Estimated	2,835	-6.7%
14	Celina, TX Estimated	2,825	+41%
15	Las Vegas, NV Estimated	2,700	+39.1%
16	Surprise, AZ Estimated	2,685	+8.8%
17	Buckeye, AZ Estimated	2,618	-21.6%
18	Conroe, TX Estimated	2,574	+66.6%
19	Palm Bay, FL Estimated	2,486	+94.5%
20	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	2,475	+33.5%
21	Lubbock, TX Estimated	2,454	+34.5%
22	Leander, TX Estimated	2,399	+19.1%
23	Georgetown, TX Estimated	2,333	+5.4%
24	Dallas, TX Estimated	2,245	+52.2%
25	Queen Creek, AZ Estimated	2,196	+10.6%
26	Aurora, CO Estimated	2,096	+1.6%
27	Hutto, TX Estimated	2,080	+144.4%
28	Murfreesboro, TN Estimated	2,064	+21.1%
29	Mesa, AZ Estimated	2,046	-27.6%
30	North Port, FL Estimated	2,013	+29%
31	Goodyear, AZ Estimated	1,974	+2.4%
32	El Paso, TX Estimated	1,961	+24.9%
33	Durham, NC Estimated	1,960	-0.6%
34	Palm Coast, FL Estimated	1,938	+55.5%
35	Fresno, CA Estimated	1,911	+57.4%
36	Roseville, CA Estimated	1,883	+49%
37	Frisco, TX Estimated	1,879	-23.1%
38	Meridian, ID Estimated	1,847	-3.3%
39	Maricopa, AZ Estimated	1,846	+21.9%
40	Fuquay-Varina, NC Estimated	1,807	+74.6%
41	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	1,787	-9.9%
42	McKinney, TX Estimated	1,727	+10.5%
43	Omaha, NE Estimated	1,620	-3.9%
44	Lehi, UT Estimated	1,562	+49.6%
44	Peoria, AZ Estimated	1,562	+6%
46	Philadelphia, PA Estimated	1,553	+58%
47	Denver, CO Estimated	1,550	+32.8%
48	Casa Grande, AZ Estimated	1,539	+44.2%
49	Saratoga Springs, UT Estimated	1,533	+5.7%
50	Haines City, FL Estimated	1,515	+97.3%
51	Huntsville, AL Estimated	1,483	-13%
52	Eagle Mountain, UT Estimated	1,482	+5.7%
53	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	1,470	+23.5%
53	Gilbert, AZ Estimated	1,470	+19.8%
53	St. George, UT Estimated	1,470	+6.4%
56	Laredo, TX Estimated	1,462	+14.8%
57	Clarksville, TN Estimated	1,452	-24.6%
58	Nampa, ID Estimated	1,437	+12.3%
59	Westfield, IN Estimated	1,418	+40.4%
60	Kyle, TX Estimated	1,417	+14.9%
61	Reno, NV Estimated	1,414	+6.3%
62	Odessa, TX Estimated	1,373	+52.9%
63	Royse City, TX Estimated	1,370	+74.5%
64	Raleigh, NC Estimated	1,354	+16.5%
65	Sioux Falls, SD Estimated	1,313	+10.3%
66	Tampa, FL Estimated	1,312	+0.3%
67	Little Elm, TX Estimated	1,267	+8.3%
68	Menifee, CA Estimated	1,264	-10.4%
69	Lebanon, TN Estimated	1,258	+70.5%
70	Marana, AZ Estimated	1,252	+37.1%
71	Grand Prairie, TX Estimated	1,233	+195%
72	Daytona Beach, FL Estimated	1,225	+61.2%
73	Prosper, TX Estimated	1,220	+9.4%
74	Apex, NC Estimated	1,214	-14.9%
75	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	1,209	+10.2%
76	Denton, TX Estimated	1,203	+22.1%
77	Castle Rock, CO Estimated	1,154	+11.8%
78	Tucson, AZ Estimated	1,134	+8.7%
79	Irvine, CA Estimated	1,129	+9%
80	Anna, TX Estimated	1,121	+16.8%
80	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,121	-22.8%
82	South Jordan, UT Estimated	1,114	-0.7%
83	Lincoln, NE Estimated	1,093	+13.4%
84	Charleston, SC Estimated	1,091	+13.8%
85	Winston-Salem, NC Estimated	1,087	-30.1%
86	Forney, TX Estimated	1,082	+97.8%
87	Fort Mill, SC Estimated	1,074	+13.8%
88	Temple, TX Estimated	1,068	-15.6%
89	Rio Rancho, NM Estimated	1,060	+76.7%
90	Mansfield, TX Estimated	1,050	+24.3%
91	Davenport, FL Estimated	1,043	+102.5%
92	Liberty Hill, TX Estimated	1,037	-17.6%
93	Lincoln, CA Estimated	1,016	+86.1%
94	Bryan, TX Estimated	1,007	+35%
94	Winter Haven, FL Estimated	1,007	+13.5%
96	Sacramento, CA Estimated	1,004	+7.4%
97	Commerce City, CO Estimated	999	+12%
98	Orlando, FL Estimated	990	+3.6%
99	Seguin, TX Estimated	986	+96.8%
100	Greer, SC Estimated	977	-15.9%
101	Arlington, TX Estimated	976	+34.6%
102	Cary, NC Estimated	964	+20.8%
103	Folsom, CA Estimated	949	+90.6%
104	Chesapeake, VA Estimated	942	-16.5%
105	Manvel, TX Estimated	931	+20.3%
106	Northlake, TX Estimated	923	+44.4%
107	Princeton, TX Estimated	916	+11.3%
108	Columbus, OH Estimated	913	+9.5%
109	Ankeny, IA Estimated	911	-18.7%
110	Kansas City, MO Estimated	890	-1.1%
111	Washington, UT Estimated	886	+9.2%
112	Brownsville, TX Estimated	883	+14.4%
113	Lakeland, FL Estimated	858	+15.8%
113	Midland, TX Estimated	858	-33.4%
115	Boise City, ID Estimated	856	+13.2%
116	Atlanta, GA Estimated	855	+129.2%
117	Lathrop, CA Estimated	849	+87.8%
118	Anchorage, AK Estimated	840	+14.3%
119	Waxahachie, TX Estimated	834	+10.3%
120	Texas City, TX Estimated	829	+6.6%
121	Caldwell, ID Estimated	828	-8.5%
121	Suffolk, VA Estimated	828	+15.8%
123	Waukee, IA Estimated	825	+29.5%
124	Clovis, CA Estimated	824	-21.4%
125	Bluffton, SC Estimated	821	-45.3%
126	Round Rock, TX Estimated	816	+80.9%
127	McAllen, TX Estimated	807	+52.3%
128	Windsor, CO Estimated	806	+14.7%
129	Columbia, SC Estimated	804	+48.6%
130	South Fulton, GA Estimated	802	-10.6%
131	Hardeeville, SC Estimated	800	+30.5%
132	Josephine, TX Estimated	797	+3.2%
133	Columbia, TN Estimated	796	+26.3%
134	Lexington, KY Estimated	792	+12.8%
135	Melissa, TX Estimated	784	-8.5%
136	Albuquerque, NM Estimated	773	-10.6%
137	DeLand, FL Estimated	763	+46.4%
137	Gallatin, TN Estimated	763	+11.2%
137	Las Cruces, NM Estimated	763	+3.5%
140	Wichita, KS Estimated	760	+14.8%
141	Iowa Colony, TX Estimated	759	-4.6%
142	Wake Forest, NC Estimated	753	+34%
143	Visalia, CA Estimated	748	+24.5%
144	Bend, OR Estimated	747	+14.6%
145	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	742	+55.6%
146	Avondale, AZ Estimated	741	+35%
147	Carencro, LA Estimated	738	+4.2%
147	Ontario, CA Estimated	738	+14.4%
149	Auburn, AL Estimated	731	+13.7%
150	Lakeville, MN Estimated	729	-9%
151	Broken Arrow, OK Estimated	727	-14.2%
152	Edmond, OK Estimated	723	+32.7%
152	Merced, CA Estimated	723	0%
154	San Marcos, TX Estimated	721	+15.4%
155	New Orleans, LA Estimated	716	+15.3%
156	Pearland, TX Estimated	715	+34.7%
157	Glendale, AZ Estimated	713	+30.6%
158	Holly Springs, NC Estimated	712	-12.7%
159	Fate, TX Estimated	705	-13.7%
160	Garner, NC Estimated	704	+76%
161	Manteca, CA Estimated	701	+7.8%
161	Venice, FL Estimated	701	+106.2%
163	Thornton, CO Estimated	700	-14.2%
164	Leland, NC Estimated	699	-9.1%
165	Mount Pleasant, SC Estimated	698	+5.8%
166	Midlothian, TX Estimated	693	+40.3%
166	Missouri City, TX Estimated	693	+9.3%
168	Tracy, CA Estimated	692	+6%
169	Myrtle Beach, SC Estimated	691	+36.8%
170	Star, ID Estimated	684	+16.1%
171	West Haven, UT Estimated	675	-13.6%
172	College Station, TX Estimated	674	+39.3%
172	Groveland, FL Estimated	674	+25%
174	Paradise, CA Estimated	672	-18.6%
175	Chandler, AZ Estimated	670	-18.4%
176	Little Rock, AR Estimated	666	+60.5%
177	Fayetteville, AR Estimated	665	+14.1%
178	Clermont, FL Estimated	662	+37.9%
179	Waco, TX Estimated	661	+1.1%
180	Weslaco, TX Estimated	657	+186.9%
181	Erie, CO Estimated	652	+36.1%
181	Fontana, CA Estimated	652	-23%
181	Tulsa, OK Estimated	652	+25.1%
184	Ridgefield, WA Estimated	648	-3.3%
185	Foley, AL Estimated	645	-11.3%
186	Victorville, CA Estimated	642	+27.4%
187	Hillsboro, OR Estimated	641	+50.1%
188	Olathe, KS Estimated	640	+13.5%
189	Parker, CO Estimated	639	+59.8%
190	Fishers, IN Estimated	638	+9.4%
190	Lee's Summit, MO Estimated	638	+49.1%
192	Overland Park, KS Estimated	635	+68.9%
192	Spring Hill, TN Estimated	635	-32.2%
194	Coolidge, AZ Estimated	631	+19.3%
195	Yuma, AZ Estimated	628	+8.8%
196	Herriman, UT Estimated	622	-13.6%
197	Gastonia, NC Estimated	618	+26.9%
198	Noblesville, IN Estimated	615	+20.4%
199	Mount Juliet, TN Estimated	609	-6.2%
200	Apopka, FL Estimated	604	+29.9%
201	Valdosta, GA Estimated	603	+21.6%
202	Sparks, NV Estimated	595	-9.3%
203	Killeen, TX Estimated	592	-33.3%
204	Cottage Grove, MN Estimated	590	+53.2%
205	Stonecrest, GA Estimated	588	-5.9%
206	Castle Pines, CO Estimated	585	+63.4%
207	Bella Vista, AR Estimated	584	+40.4%
207	Centerton, AR Estimated	584	-7.9%
209	Antioch, CA Estimated	578	+94%
210	Rogers, AR Estimated	576	+15.2%
211	Chattanooga, TN Estimated	575	+13.4%
212	Mauldin, SC Estimated	573	+161.6%
213	Vancouver, WA Estimated	572	+10.6%
214	Southaven, MS Estimated	569	+20%
215	Conway, AR Estimated	568	+63.2%
216	Allen, TX Estimated	565	+5%
216	Norman, OK Estimated	565	+5.2%
218	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	563	-25.9%
218	Pasco, WA Estimated	563	+7.2%
220	Mesquite, TX Estimated	560	+117.9%
221	Homestead, FL Estimated	559	-0.5%
222	Carmel, IN Estimated	558	+71.2%
223	Idaho Falls, ID Estimated	555	+71.3%
224	Scottsdale, AZ Estimated	553	+14.7%
225	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	552	-3.5%
226	St. John, IN Estimated	550	+39.6%
227	Stockton, CA Estimated	548	+5.8%
228	Amarillo, TX Estimated	542	-3.2%
229	Tallahassee, FL Estimated	540	+14.4%
230	San Diego, CA Estimated	539	+21.1%
230	Woodbury, MN Estimated	539	+52.3%
232	Lewisville, TX Estimated	536	+49.7%
232	Mission, TX Estimated	536	+40.7%
234	Socorro, TX Estimated	535	-1.1%
235	New Smyrna Beach, FL Estimated	534	+14.1%
235	Prescott Valley, AZ Estimated	534	+3.7%
237	Jonesboro, AR Estimated	533	+14.1%
237	Sahuarita, AZ Estimated	533	-7.8%
239	Simpsonville, SC Estimated	532	+75.6%
240	Billings, MT Estimated	530	+47.6%
240	Loveland, CO Estimated	530	+9.7%
242	Greensboro, NC Estimated	529	-19.6%
243	Katy, TX Estimated	527	-8.5%
244	Manor, TX Estimated	526	-24.9%
245	High Point, NC Estimated	524	+35.8%
246	Indio, CA Estimated	522	+32.5%
247	Holly Springs, GA Estimated	521	+41.6%
247	Nolensville, TN Estimated	521	+14.8%
249	Clayton, NC Estimated	513	-21.9%
250	Rosenberg, TX Estimated	511	+43.9%

Showing the top 250 of 3014. 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. 73 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2021 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/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 (US cities 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, US cities 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/us-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. US cities 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/us-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, US cities 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/us-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_cities_by_single_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: US cities 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/us-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: US cities 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/us-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-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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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?

Zion, IL, 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. 73 cities have no value for 2021 and are not ranked.