15 Small Towns in America Building the Most New Homes

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.

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.

In this challenging environment, some small towns have taken more aggressive steps to expand their housing stock. This analysis conducted by Construction Coverage examines the pace of new home construction in small metro areas.

15. Rapid City, SD

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 21.1
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 23.6
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 1,553
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 1,645
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -5.6%
• Median home price: $366,377

14. Hinesville, GA

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 21.3
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 24.4
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 769
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 844
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -8.9%
• Median home price: $253,803

13. Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 21.6
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 19.1
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 2,690
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 2,288
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +17.6%
• Median home price: $347,949

12. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 23.9
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 25.1
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 4,151
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 4,122
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +0.7%
• Median home price: $445,314

11. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 24.5
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 25.0
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 3,046
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 2,951
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +3.2%
• Median home price: $521,693

See Also:

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10. Greeley, CO

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 25.1
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 47.7
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 3,468
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 6,166
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -43.8%
• Median home price: $509,648

9. Bowling Green, KY

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 27.4
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 20.2
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 2,305
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 1,636
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +40.9%
• Median home price: $261,136

8. Homosassa Springs, FL

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 27.6
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 19.2
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 2,443
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 1,628
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +50.1%
• Median home price: $279,951

7. Gainesville, GA

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 27.7
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 25.5
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 2,339
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 2,067
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +13.2%
• Median home price: $390,255

6. Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 27.7
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 25.8
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 3,883
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 3,417
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +13.6%
• Median home price: $384,740

5. Burlington, NC

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 30.5
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 25.3
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 2,466
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 1,949
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +26.5%
• Median home price: $292,814

4. Sherman-Denison, TX

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 32.2
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 36.3
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 2,142
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 2,220
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -3.5%
• Median home price: $302,359

3. St. George, UT

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 35.6
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 38.7
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 3,152
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 3,196
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -1.4%
• Median home price: $536,093

2. Punta Gorda, FL

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 35.9
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 48.1
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 4,585
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 5,676
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): -19.2%
• Median home price: $319,011

1. Idaho Falls, ID

• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2024): 40.7
• New housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes (2022): 23.2
• Total new housing units authorized (2024): 2,546
• Total new housing units authorized (2022): 1,380
• Percentage change in housing units authorized (2022-2024): +84.5%
• Median home price: $408,775

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, small metro areas are based on a population size of less than 350,000.