Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Coverage.
Across the United States, a persistent shortage of housing has fueled an ongoing affordability crisis, particularly in high-growth metropolitan areas. Over the past several years, high housing costs have stretched budgets for both homebuyers and renters alike.
From the first quarter of 2020 to the first quarter of 2025, the median home sales price rose by nearly $88,000, while rents continue to increase faster than the overall rate of inflation.
Although higher interest rates since 2022 have cooled the housing market somewhat, they have done little to address the underlying supply shortage. Most estimates place the shortfall between 2.5 and 5.5 million units, reflecting years of underbuilding relative to population growth.
While existing home inventory has increased, it remains well below pre-pandemic norms. At the same time, new construction continues to face significant headwinds. As of June 2025, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index fell to 32, reflecting weakened builder confidence in the face of elevated mortgage rates and high construction costs.
In this challenging environment, some U.S. cities have taken more aggressive steps to expand their housing stock.
To determine the metros building the most homes, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Zillow. See their methodology at the end.
Here are the U.S. metropolitan areas building the most homes.
15. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 13.4
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 19.8
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 20,950
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 29,968
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -30.1%
- Median home price: $368,374
14. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 13.6
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 23.0
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 14,857
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 24,336
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -39.0%
- Median home price: $286,497
13. Richmond, VA
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 14.7
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 18.3
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 8,642
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 10,414
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -17.0%
- Median home price: $388,273
12. Columbus, OH
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 14.7
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 13.0
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 13,962
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 12,075
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +15.6%
- Median home price: $330,668
11. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 15.1
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 13.7
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 14,754
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 13,066
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +12.9%
- Median home price: $440,327
10. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 15.8
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 19.5
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 40,687
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 48,501
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -16.1%
- Median home price: $389,097
9. Jacksonville, FL
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 19.4
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 31.7
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 15,002
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 23,163
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -35.2%
- Median home price: $357,233
8. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 20.2
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 25.0
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 24,135
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 28,683
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -15.9%
- Median home price: $393,884
7. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 21.1
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 31.5
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 20,038
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 28,314
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -29.2%
- Median home price: $459,668
6. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 21.3
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 23.4
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 25,935
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 27,212
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -4.7%
- Median home price: $390,896
5. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 21.4
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 23.1
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 45,884
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 47,804
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -4.0%
- Median home price: $456,834
4. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 21.6
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 26.0
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 65,747
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 75,633
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -13.1%
- Median home price: $314,262
3. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 22.2
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 25.2
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 71,788
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 77,927
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -7.9%
- Median home price: $377,186
2. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 28.6
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 40.5
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 32,294
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 42,362
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -23.8%
- Median home price: $451,858
1. Raleigh-Cary, NC
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 28.8
- New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 36.2
- Total new housing units authorized (2024): 18,979
- Total new housing units authorized (2022): 22,390
- Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -15.2%
- Median home price: $450,409
Methodology
To determine the locations building the most homes, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 Building Permit Survey, U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 Population and Housing Unit Estimates, and Zillow’s Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI).
The researchers ranked locations according to the number of new housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes in 2024. In the event of a tie, the location with the higher total new housing units authorized in 2024 was ranked higher.
Researchers also calculated the number of new housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes in 2022, the total new housing units authorized in 2022, the percentage change in housing units authorized from 2022 to 2024, and the median home price in May 2024.
For relevance, only metropolitan areas with available data were included in the analysis. Additionally, large metro areas are based on population size of 1 million or more.
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