What does this multifamily share of permits ranking show?

It orders states by Share of permitted homes in multifamily buildings. 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 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.

Rankings · Housing

Lowest multifamily share of permits by state

Share of permitted homes in multifamily buildings.

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

How much of the new housing is flats and multi-unit buildings rather than detached houses. A useful read on what a place is becoming: a county permitting mostly single houses is spreading outward, one permitting mostly multifamily is densifying. Withheld below 25 units authorised, where a couple of duplexes would read as a construction boom in flats.

How to read this ranking

West Virginia has the lowest published multifamily share of permits in this comparison, at 8.6%. The next states shown are Mississippi (12.8%) and South Carolina (13.0%).

The table orders 51 states by share of permitted homes in multifamily buildings. 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. How much of the new housing is flats and multi-unit buildings rather than detached houses. A useful read on what a place is becoming: a county permitting mostly single houses is spreading outward, one permitting mostly multifamily is densifying. Withheld below 25 units authorised, where a couple of duplexes would read as a construction boom in flats.

1West Virginia8.6%
2Mississippi12.8%
3South Carolina13.0%
4Delaware16.2%
5Alabama19.2%
6Louisiana21.2%
7Idaho21.4%
8Wyoming21.6%
9North Carolina24.2%
10Oklahoma25.1%
11Tennessee26.0%
12Georgia27.5%
13North Dakota27.6%
14New Mexico29.1%
15Alaska29.4%
16Maryland30.1%
17Indiana31.6%
18Maine32.3%
19Michigan32.7%
20Texas33.1%
21Arkansas33.4%
22Missouri34.3%
23Nevada34.3%
24Hawaii34.7%
25New Hampshire34.8%
26Arizona35.2%
27South Dakota37.4%
28Utah37.4%
29Florida37.6%
30Virginia38.1%
31Oregon38.3%
32Minnesota38.4%
33Pennsylvania38.5%
34Kansas40.3%
35Kentucky40.6%
36Illinois41.4%
37Vermont43.8%
38California44.4%
39Iowa45.9%
40Nebraska47.0%
41Wisconsin47.6%
42Colorado48.4%
43Ohio48.4%
44Montana48.7%
45Washington49.1%
46New Jersey53.6%
47Rhode Island58.0%
48Massachusetts59.8%
49New York70.3%
50Connecticut71.4%
51District of Columbia88.6%

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Share of permitted homes in multifamily buildings. 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. 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. · How this is built

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