HousingPermits

Metro area in Alaska

Anchorage, AK

The Anchorage metro area authorized 297 new housing units in 2025. Its 2025 total was only 14% of the 2004 high of 2,042 units, the second-furthest below a series peak among the 85 metro areas of 250,000 to 499,999 residents. Per 1,000 residents it authorized 1.3 units a year in 2021–2025, 28% of the national rate of 4.7.

06001,2001,8002,4002004: 2,042 units (922 single-family, 580 in 2–4 unit, 540 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,899 units (859 single-family, 600 in 2–4 unit, 440 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,588 units (665 single-family, 254 in 2–4 unit, 669 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 970 units (379 single-family, 279 in 2–4 unit, 312 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 460 units (267 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 64 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 551 units (297 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 161 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 533 units (424 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 74 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 524 units (401 single-family, 32 in 2–4 unit, 91 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 575 units (530 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 576 units (500 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 20 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 887 units (671 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 176 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 933 units (695 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 148 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,046 units (751 single-family, 79 in 2–4 unit, 216 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,148 units (851 single-family, 89 in 2–4 unit, 208 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,259 units (938 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 208 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,163 units (878 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 225 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,030 units (771 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 189 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,183 units (877 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 244 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 213 units (166 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 29 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 457 units (338 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 89 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 426 units (198 single-family, 109 in 2–4 unit, 119 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 297 units (226 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 36 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 2,0422022 low · 21308001,6002,4002004: 2,042 units (922 single-family, 580 in 2–4 unit, 540 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,899 units (859 single-family, 600 in 2–4 unit, 440 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,588 units (665 single-family, 254 in 2–4 unit, 669 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 970 units (379 single-family, 279 in 2–4 unit, 312 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 460 units (267 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 64 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 551 units (297 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 161 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 533 units (424 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 74 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 524 units (401 single-family, 32 in 2–4 unit, 91 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 575 units (530 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 576 units (500 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 20 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 887 units (671 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 176 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 933 units (695 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 148 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,046 units (751 single-family, 79 in 2–4 unit, 216 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,148 units (851 single-family, 89 in 2–4 unit, 208 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,259 units (938 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 208 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,163 units (878 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 225 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,030 units (771 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 189 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,183 units (877 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 244 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 213 units (166 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 29 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 457 units (338 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 89 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 426 units (198 single-family, 109 in 2–4 unit, 119 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 297 units (226 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 36 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 2,042

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 4 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Municipality of Anchorage, with 2,146 units or 83% of the total, followed by Wasilla with 272.

  • Municipality of Anchorage83% (2,146 units)
  • Wasilla11% (272 units)
  • Palmer4.5% (117 units)
  • Houston1.6% (41 units)

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

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Flint, Canton, Naples. Annual permits fell from 2,042 during the mid-2000s boom to 460 in 2008, a drop of 78%. The nearest bust profile in the Pacific states was Eugene's (77%). Its quietest year came later, in 2022 (213 units). The 2021–2025 pace of 515 units a year is 72% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 7 years in a row up to 2018. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 30%.

Houses or apartments

In Anchorage, 70% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 20% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Springfield, MO (20% in five-plus buildings). Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 9.9% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2006 (669), single-family houses in 2018 (938).

2021–202570.1%70%9.9%10%20.1%20%2004–200644.2%44%25.9%26%29.8%30%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202570.1%70%9.9%20.1%20%2004–200644.2%44%25.9%26%29.8%30%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Where in the metro

Anchorage Municipality accounted for 83% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Matanuska-Susitna Borough for 17%.

  • Anchorage Municipality83% (218 in 2025)
  • Matanuska-Susitna Borough17% (79 in 2025)

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Mobile, AL1,1022.78.6%
Spartanburg, SC4,3598.73.4%
Anchorage, AK2971.320%
Flint, MI4441.111%
Canton-Massillon, OH6431.723%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Anchorage beside Spartanburg

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