What does this homes built vs. growth ranking show?

It orders states by 5-year home permits vs. population growth. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey; Population Estimates Program supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Highest homes built vs. growth by state

5-year home permits vs. population growth.

This measure has no better end. The order describes the states, it does not rank them — see the other direction.

A five-year housing-production balance: 2021–2025 permitted homes as a share of the current surveyed housing stock, minus Census population change from the 2020 base to 2025, in percentage points. Positive means permitted homes rose faster than population; negative means population rose faster. It is a pace comparison, not a count of completed homes, a measure of vacancies, affordability, household size, zoning, demand, or whether construction matched the homes people need. Permits can expire or never be built, and population change also includes births and deaths. State values use statewide summed permits and housing stock, not an average of county balances.

How to read this ranking

Hawaii has the highest published homes built vs. growth in this comparison, at +4.9 pp. The next states shown are District of Columbia (+4.6 pp) and Louisiana (+4.5 pp).

The table orders 51 states by 5-year home permits vs. population growth. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. A five-year housing-production balance: 2021–2025 permitted homes as a share of the current surveyed housing stock, minus Census population change from the 2020 base to 2025, in percentage points. Positive means permitted homes rose faster than population; negative means population rose faster. It is a pace comparison, not a count of completed homes, a measure of vacancies, affordability, household size, zoning, demand, or whether construction matched the homes people need. Permits can expire or never be built, and population change also includes births and deaths. State values use statewide summed permits and housing stock, not an average of county balances.

1Hawaii+4.9 pp
2District of Columbia+4.6 pp
3Louisiana+4.5 pp
4California+4.3 pp
5Colorado+4.0 pp
6Oregon+3.9 pp
7Utah+3.8 pp
8West Virginia+3.8 pp
9New York+3.6 pp
10South Dakota+3.3 pp
11Vermont+3.3 pp
12Mississippi+3.2 pp
13Nebraska+3.1 pp
14Minnesota+3.0 pp
15Iowa+2.9 pp
16Wisconsin+2.9 pp
17Arizona+2.8 pp
18Washington+2.7 pp
19Illinois+2.6 pp
20New Mexico+2.6 pp
21Kansas+2.4 pp
22North Carolina+2.3 pp
23Maryland+2.2 pp
24Pennsylvania+2.2 pp
25Wyoming+2.2 pp
26Virginia+2.1 pp
27Indiana+2.0 pp
28Ohio+2.0 pp
29Tennessee+2.0 pp
30Georgia+1.9 pp
31Michigan+1.9 pp
32Nevada+1.9 pp
33New Jersey+1.7 pp
34Arkansas+1.6 pp
35Kentucky+1.6 pp
36Idaho+1.5 pp
37Missouri+1.5 pp
38North Dakota+1.2 pp
39Texas+1.1 pp
40Alaska+1.0 pp
41Alabama+1.0 pp
42New Hampshire+1.0 pp
43Massachusetts+0.8 pp
44South Carolina+0.7 pp
45Florida+0.5 pp
46Maine+0.5 pp
47Delaware+0.3 pp
48Rhode Island0.0 pp
49Oklahoma-0.1 pp
50Montana-0.2 pp
51Connecticut-1.0 pp

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by 5-year home permits vs. population growth. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey; Population Estimates Program. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey; Population Estimates Program. · How this is built

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