HousingPermits

Metro area in Ohio · part of the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH combined area

Akron, OH

The Akron metro area authorized 751 new housing units in 2025. Permits fell 41% between 2024 and 2025, the second-steepest decline among the 55 metro areas of 500,000 to 999,999 residents. Its 2025 total was only 25% of the 2022 high of 3,047 units, the second-furthest below a series peak among the 55 metro areas of 500,000 to 999,999 residents.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 2,934 units (2,480 single-family, 172 in 2–4 unit, 282 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,724 units (2,310 single-family, 203 in 2–4 unit, 211 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,209 units (1,746 single-family, 124 in 2–4 unit, 339 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,594 units (1,379 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 182 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,039 units (871 single-family, 27 in 2–4 unit, 141 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 741 units (670 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 736 units (657 single-family, 29 in 2–4 unit, 50 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,122 units (637 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 479 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 618 units (611 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 690 units (666 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 16 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 763 units (684 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 63 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 967 units (792 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 159 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 909 units (905 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 920 units (901 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,210 units (1,011 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 179 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 945 units (856 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 55 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 914 units (788 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 89 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,215 units (881 single-family, 117 in 2–4 unit, 217 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,047 units (796 single-family, 505 in 2–4 unit, 1,746 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 940 units (709 single-family, 107 in 2–4 unit, 124 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,282 units (761 single-family, 109 in 2–4 unit, 412 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 751 units (638 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 78 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252022 high · 3,0472012 low · 61801,5003,0004,5002004: 2,934 units (2,480 single-family, 172 in 2–4 unit, 282 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,724 units (2,310 single-family, 203 in 2–4 unit, 211 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,209 units (1,746 single-family, 124 in 2–4 unit, 339 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,594 units (1,379 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 182 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,039 units (871 single-family, 27 in 2–4 unit, 141 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 741 units (670 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 736 units (657 single-family, 29 in 2–4 unit, 50 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,122 units (637 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 479 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 618 units (611 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 690 units (666 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 16 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 763 units (684 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 63 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 967 units (792 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 159 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 909 units (905 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 920 units (901 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,210 units (1,011 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 179 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 945 units (856 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 55 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 914 units (788 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 89 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,215 units (881 single-family, 117 in 2–4 unit, 217 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,047 units (796 single-family, 505 in 2–4 unit, 1,746 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 940 units (709 single-family, 107 in 2–4 unit, 124 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,282 units (761 single-family, 109 in 2–4 unit, 412 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 751 units (638 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 78 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252022 high · 3,047

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 13 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Summit County (unincorporated), with 5,024 units or 69% of the total, followed by Portage County (unincorporated) with 819. Among the three largest, Summit County (unincorporated) put 45% of its units in five-plus buildings, Portage County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Summit County (unincorporated)69% (5,024 units)
  • Portage County (unincorporated)11% (819 units)
  • Aurora5.9% (430 units)
  • Barberton3.4% (246 units)
  • Twinsburg2.6% (191 units)
  • Stow2.5% (181 units)
  • Streetsboro2.4% (173 units)
  • Fairlawn1.1% (79 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

Relative to population

With 701,780 residents in July 2025, Akron authorized 2.1 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Bridgeport (2.1) and Milwaukee (2.1).

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 19 other metro areas, among them Winston, Harrisburg, Salem. Annual permits fell from 2,934 during the mid-2000s boom to 618 in 2012, a drop of 79%. The nearest bust profile in the East North Central states was Bloomington, IN's (79%). The 2021–2025 pace of 1,447 units a year is 45% below the 2004–2006 pace.

The wider Cleveland-Akron-Canton region

The Census Bureau groups Akron with 3 neighboring metro areas in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 6,399 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Akron accounted for 23%. The others, with their yearly averages: Cleveland, OH (3,901), Canton (689), Sandusky (361).

Where in the metro

Summit County accounted for 80% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Portage County for 20%.

  • Summit County80% (546 in 2025)
  • Portage County20% (205 in 2025)

Houses or apartments

In Akron, 52% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 36% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Phoenix (36% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 11%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 12% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (1,746), single-family houses in 2004 (2,480).

2021–202552.3%52%12.1%12%35.6%36%2004–200683.1%83%6.3%10.6%11%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202552.3%52%12.1%35.6%36%2004–200683.1%83%6.3%10.6%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY2,2203.261%
Winston-Salem, NC4,6997.220%
Madison, WI6,9478.970%
Akron, OH7512.136%
Ogden, UT3,5996.440%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Akron beside Madison

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: Ohio. Counting rules.