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 3041 cities in 2024, at 6,808. Ypsilanti, MI had the lowest, at 0. The median was 34. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest6,808Houston, TX

Lowest0Ypsilanti, MI

Median343041 cities

Top 40 cities, 2024

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	2024 count	Change on 2023
1	Houston, TX Estimated	6,808	+3%
2	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	6,257	-5.6%
3	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	5,037	+19.3%
4	San Antonio, TX Estimated	5,000	+16.3%
5	Phoenix, AZ Estimated	4,062	-3.3%
6	Fulshear, TX Estimated	3,970	+3%
7	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	3,528	-7.6%
8	Oklahoma City, OK Estimated	3,460	+3.6%
9	Henderson, NV Estimated	3,216	-8.4%
10	Surprise, AZ Estimated	3,140	+31%
11	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	3,041	+4.2%
12	Celina, TX Estimated	2,905	+17.8%
13	Buckeye, AZ Estimated	2,747	+29%
14	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	2,671	+32%
15	Nashville, TN Estimated	2,662	-14.3%
16	Las Vegas, NV Estimated	2,655	+2.5%
17	Palm Bay, FL Estimated	2,402	-11.6%
18	McKinney, TX Estimated	2,388	+6.1%
19	North Port, FL Estimated	2,323	+24.9%
20	Georgetown, TX Estimated	2,120	+43.5%
21	Conroe, TX Estimated	2,069	+14.1%
22	Goodyear, AZ Estimated	2,000	+88.1%
23	Dallas, TX Estimated	1,957	-1.9%
24	Princeton, TX Estimated	1,948	-25.7%
25	Austin, TX Estimated	1,946	+8.2%
26	Palm Coast, FL Estimated	1,891	+24.1%
27	Durham, NC Estimated	1,822	+8%
28	Haines City, FL Estimated	1,733	-7.3%
29	Aurora, CO Estimated	1,711	+4.8%
30	Omaha, NE Estimated	1,692	+30.8%
31	Queen Creek, AZ Estimated	1,663	-8%
32	Raleigh, NC Estimated	1,653	-6.2%
33	El Paso, TX Estimated	1,644	+4.6%
34	North Las Vegas, NV Estimated	1,587	+11.1%
35	Lubbock, TX Estimated	1,570	-4%
36	Westfield, IN Estimated	1,560	+4.5%
37	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,547	+9.6%
38	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	1,543	+36.4%
39	Midland, TX Estimated	1,504	+86.8%
40	Peoria, AZ Estimated	1,495	+107.6%
41	Apopka, FL Estimated	1,439	+219.8%
42	Meridian, ID Estimated	1,385	-7.4%
43	Mesa, AZ Estimated	1,367	+77.5%
44	Clarksville, TN Estimated	1,366	+69.7%
45	Caldwell, ID Estimated	1,348	+43.6%
46	Hardeeville, SC Estimated	1,345	+14.5%
47	Manteca, CA Estimated	1,294	+126.6%
48	Frisco, TX Estimated	1,285	+24%
49	Wendell, NC Estimated	1,277	+32.7%
50	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	1,271	+84.5%
51	Melissa, TX Estimated	1,263	+57.5%
52	Saratoga Springs, UT Estimated	1,257	+18.5%
53	Temple, TX Estimated	1,256	+25.7%
54	Huntsville, AL Estimated	1,245	-11.3%
55	Maricopa, AZ Estimated	1,227	+6.4%
56	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	1,216	+14.3%
56	Roseville, CA Estimated	1,216	+0.2%
58	Lebanon, TN Estimated	1,207	+0.3%
59	Marana, AZ Estimated	1,192	+35.5%
60	Garner, NC Estimated	1,190	+12.9%
60	Leander, TX Estimated	1,190	-30%
62	Casa Grande, AZ Estimated	1,187	+9.6%
63	Nampa, ID Estimated	1,184	+24.2%
64	Lavon, TX Estimated	1,177	+261%
65	Anna, TX Estimated	1,173	+7.7%
66	Winston-Salem, NC Estimated	1,168	+35.8%
67	Greer, SC Estimated	1,166	+64.7%
68	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	1,161	+83.7%
69	Laredo, TX Estimated	1,154	+5%
70	Gulfport, MS Estimated	1,152	+2.7%
71	Eagle Mountain, UT Estimated	1,136	+42.5%
72	Reno, NV Estimated	1,087	+2.6%
73	Star, ID Estimated	1,078	+40.7%
74	Apache Junction, AZ Estimated	1,064	+12.8%
75	Apex, NC Estimated	1,059	-21.7%
76	Mansfield, TX Estimated	1,035	+65.1%
77	Kyle, TX Estimated	1,031	-17.5%
78	Murfreesboro, TN Estimated	1,026	+1.2%
79	Rio Rancho, NM Estimated	1,014	+0.9%
80	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	1,010	+23%
80	Hutto, TX Estimated	1,010	-10.5%
82	Odessa, TX Estimated	1,004	+45.5%
83	Seguin, TX Estimated	998	+37.8%
84	Fresno, CA Estimated	983	-19.8%
85	Foley, AL Estimated	976	-2.9%
86	Texas City, TX Estimated	974	+63.4%
87	Irvine, CA Estimated	959	+145.3%
88	Monroe, NC Estimated	943	+11.6%
89	Menifee, CA Estimated	942	+7.7%
90	Lincoln, NE Estimated	937	+34%
91	Daytona Beach, FL Estimated	928	-0.1%
91	League City, TX Estimated	928	+10.2%
93	St. George, UT Estimated	927	+12.8%
94	Leland, NC Estimated	924	-23.1%
95	Tucson, AZ Estimated	923	+10%
96	Fort Mill, SC Estimated	919	+4.7%
97	Orlando, FL Estimated	914	+3%
98	Tampa, FL Estimated	912	+23.6%
99	Gallatin, TN Estimated	905	+18.1%
100	Round Rock, TX Estimated	902	-15.1%
101	Kuna, ID Estimated	885	+106.3%
102	Erie, CO Estimated	883	+30%
102	Iowa Colony, TX Estimated	883	+13.2%
104	North Charleston, SC Estimated	881	-3.3%
105	Sioux Falls, SD Estimated	880	+17.3%
106	Charleston, SC Estimated	878	-1.5%
107	Denver, CO Estimated	872	-25.7%
108	Auburn, AL Estimated	863	+65.6%
109	Fuquay-Varina, NC Estimated	862	-11.8%
110	Denton, TX Estimated	856	-34.7%
111	Midlothian, TX Estimated	852	-0.9%
112	Little Elm, TX Estimated	850	-8.4%
113	Winter Haven, FL Estimated	845	+5.5%
114	Baton Rouge, LA Estimated	844	+265.4%
115	Columbia, SC Estimated	833	-5.7%
116	Columbus, OH Estimated	828	-12.2%
117	Washington, UT Estimated	825	+6.7%
118	Smyrna, TN Estimated	819	+0.6%
119	Portland, OR Estimated	815	-7.1%
120	Homestead, FL Estimated	813	+583.2%
121	Glendale, AZ Estimated	800	+13.5%
122	Moncks Corner, SC Estimated	796	+32.7%
123	Atlanta, GA Estimated	791	-30.6%
124	South Fulton, GA Estimated	783	+22.3%
125	Edinburg, TX Estimated	777	+31.7%
126	San Diego, CA Estimated	775	+50.2%
127	Frederick, MD Estimated	769	-2.5%
128	Avondale, AZ Estimated	749	-11.3%
129	Columbia, TN Estimated	747	+8.3%
130	Folsom, CA Estimated	739	-17.7%
131	Springdale, AR Estimated	737	+89.9%
132	Lehi, UT Estimated	733	+9.9%
133	Bryan, TX Estimated	728	+18.4%
134	Broken Arrow, OK Estimated	725	+34.8%
134	Lathrop, CA Estimated	725	+28.1%
136	Mesquite, TX Estimated	719	+23.8%
137	Providence Village, TX Estimated	717	+91.7%
138	Sacramento, CA Estimated	708	+8.4%
139	Brownsville, TX Estimated	706	-6%
140	Royse City, TX Estimated	693	-1.4%
141	North Myrtle Beach, SC Estimated	684	+60.2%
142	Waukee, IA Estimated	681	-17.5%
143	Killeen, TX Estimated	680	+29%
143	Suffolk, VA Estimated	680	+12%
145	Fayetteville, AR Estimated	679	-0.7%
146	Palm Beach Gardens, FL Estimated	675	+97.9%
147	Plant City, FL Estimated	672	-10.5%
148	Wake Forest, NC Estimated	671	+1.4%
149	McAllen, TX Estimated	669	+56.3%
150	Forney, TX Estimated	663	+47%
151	Idaho Falls, ID Estimated	662	+166.9%
151	West New York, NJ Estimated	662	+163.7%
153	Ankeny, IA Estimated	658	+7.3%
154	Brighton, CO Estimated	655	+64.6%
155	College Station, TX Estimated	650	+45.1%
156	Clovis, CA Estimated	649	-7.4%
157	Edmond, OK Estimated	648	+69.2%
157	Sherman, TX Estimated	648	+122.7%
159	Tracy, CA Estimated	646	+375%
160	San Jose, CA Estimated	642	+10.5%
161	Zebulon, NC Estimated	639	+34.5%
162	Bella Vista, AR Estimated	637	+28.2%
162	Northlake, TX Estimated	637	+6.9%
164	Manvel, TX Estimated	630	-8.2%
165	Commerce City, CO Estimated	626	+2.5%
166	Manor, TX Estimated	623	+8%
167	Greensboro, NC Estimated	618	-12.2%
168	Knightdale, NC Estimated	617	+123.6%
169	Las Cruces, NM Estimated	615	+12%
170	Sparks, NV Estimated	612	+48.2%
171	Spring Hill, TN Estimated	611	+44.8%
172	Greenville, NC Estimated	606	+2.7%
173	Port Wentworth, GA Estimated	602	+267.1%
174	White House, TN Estimated	600	+35.4%
175	Chesapeake, VA Estimated	597	+18.2%
176	Mauldin, SC Estimated	592	-17.3%
176	Waxahachie, TX Estimated	592	+15.6%
178	Lake Alfred, FL Estimated	588	+21%
179	Davenport, FL Estimated	587	-11.3%
180	Lincoln, CA Estimated	585	-6.7%
181	Cleburne, TX Estimated	582	+162.2%
182	Hillsboro, OR Estimated	580	+82.4%
183	Fate, TX Estimated	575	+3.4%
184	Lancaster, CA Estimated	570	-17.3%
185	Madison, AL Estimated	567	+56.2%
186	Schertz, TX Estimated	566	+304.3%
186	Windsor, CO Estimated	566	+285%
188	Savannah, GA Estimated	565	-4.1%
189	Eagle, ID Estimated	563	+104%
190	Amarillo, TX Estimated	562	+13.1%
191	Boerne, TX Estimated	560	+80.6%
191	Centerton, AR Estimated	560	+0.2%
191	St. Petersburg, FL Estimated	560	+17.9%
194	Wichita, KS Estimated	558	-7.8%
195	San Marcos, TX Estimated	557	-28.8%
196	Valdosta, GA Estimated	545	+1.9%
197	Garland, TX Estimated	544	+56.8%
198	Opelika, AL Estimated	543	-5.6%
199	Philadelphia, PA Estimated	539	+33.1%
200	Delaware, OH Estimated	535	+24.7%
200	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	535	+195.6%
202	Clermont, FL Estimated	534	+11.7%
203	Yuma, AZ Estimated	532	+57.4%
204	McCordsville, IN Estimated	528	+245.1%
205	Stockton, CA Estimated	527	+7.3%
206	Albuquerque, NM Estimated	525	-10.6%
207	Knoxville, TN Estimated	523	+151.4%
208	Venice, FL Estimated	518	+17.5%
209	Graham, NC Estimated	517	+8.2%
210	Bend, OR Estimated	513	-17.1%
211	Bartow, FL Estimated	511	+63.3%
212	San Luis, AZ Estimated	507	+76%
213	Goose Creek, SC Estimated	503	+47.5%
214	Chattanooga, TN Estimated	493	+4.7%
215	Athens, AL Estimated	492	+1%
215	Lexington, KY Estimated	492	-21.2%
217	Dripping Springs, TX Estimated	491	-7.5%
217	Greenville, TX Estimated	491	+22.1%
219	Waco, TX Estimated	489	+3.6%
220	Detroit, MI Estimated	483	+21.7%
220	Josephine, TX Estimated	483	-12.3%
222	Holly Springs, NC Estimated	481	-19.7%
222	South Jordan, UT Estimated	481	+29.3%
224	Rockville, MD Estimated	476	+1,486.7%
225	Papillion, NE Estimated	473	+39.1%
225	Rogers, AR Estimated	473	+1.1%
227	Noblesville, IN Estimated	470	+16.6%
227	Whitestown, IN Estimated	470	-12.5%
229	Minneola, FL Estimated	469	-4.5%
230	Boise City, ID Estimated	468	+4.7%
230	Little Rock, AR Estimated	468	-33.4%
232	Aurora, IL Estimated	464	+46.8%
233	Tallahassee, FL Estimated	463	+5%
234	Columbia, MO Estimated	461	+46.8%
234	Victorville, CA Estimated	461	-9.4%
236	Plainfield, IL Estimated	460	+17.9%
237	Fontana, CA Estimated	454	-52.9%
238	Woodbury, MN Estimated	451	+1.6%
239	Jonesboro, AR Estimated	449	+3%
239	Vacaville, CA Estimated	449	+106.9%
241	DeLand, FL Estimated	447	-54.2%
242	Pooler, GA Estimated	446	-37.7%
243	Johnstown, CO Estimated	444	+28%
244	Chino, CA Estimated	441	+175.6%
245	Lake Charles, LA Estimated	440	+102.8%
246	Maple Grove, MN Estimated	435	+51.6%
246	Sanford, NC Estimated	435	+22.2%
248	Lakeville, MN Estimated	434	-10.3%
249	Shafter, CA Estimated	433	+143.3%
250	Fayetteville, NC Estimated	431	-16.3%

Showing the top 250 of 3041. 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. 46 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2024 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/so2024a.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. (2025). 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, 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2024a.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, 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 1 May 2025, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2024a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2024. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. 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, 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2024a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2024.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) 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, 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2024a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2024 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_cities_by_single_2024,
  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, 2024}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2024a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2024. 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/so2024a.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, 2024
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/05/01
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2024a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2024
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2024.
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/so2024a.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 6,808 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Ypsilanti, MI, with 0 in 2024.

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. 46 cities have no value for 2024 and are not ranked.