HousingPermits

Metro area in Idaho · part of the Boise City-Mountain Home-Ontario, ID-OR combined area

Boise City, ID

The Boise City metro area authorized 9,438 new housing units in 2025, the third-largest total of the 55 metro areas of 500,000 to 999,999 residents. Relative to population, the rate was 12.3 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the third-highest rate of the 39 metro areas based in the Mountain states. Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 6.4% above the 2004–2006 average, the largest recovery by this measure among the 6 metro areas based in Idaho.

04,0008,00012k16k2004: 8,895 units (7,843 single-family, 972 in 2–4 unit, 80 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 11,549 units (10,948 single-family, 533 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 8,352 units (7,440 single-family, 651 in 2–4 unit, 261 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 4,864 units (3,762 single-family, 927 in 2–4 unit, 175 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,797 units (2,377 single-family, 256 in 2–4 unit, 164 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,904 units (1,769 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 8 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,693 units (1,630 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 48 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,840 units (1,578 single-family, 147 in 2–4 unit, 115 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 3,556 units (2,887 single-family, 329 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 4,365 units (3,522 single-family, 119 in 2–4 unit, 724 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 5,183 units (3,481 single-family, 391 in 2–4 unit, 1,311 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 5,499 units (4,295 single-family, 346 in 2–4 unit, 858 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 6,758 units (5,383 single-family, 330 in 2–4 unit, 1,045 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 7,909 units (6,275 single-family, 323 in 2–4 unit, 1,311 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 8,917 units (6,923 single-family, 357 in 2–4 unit, 1,637 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 10,632 units (7,570 single-family, 302 in 2–4 unit, 2,760 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 9,762 units (8,158 single-family, 495 in 2–4 unit, 1,109 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 12,196 units (8,342 single-family, 653 in 2–4 unit, 3,201 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 10,475 units (5,925 single-family, 476 in 2–4 unit, 4,074 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 9,891 units (6,508 single-family, 268 in 2–4 unit, 3,115 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 9,063 units (8,252 single-family, 201 in 2–4 unit, 610 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 9,438 units (7,970 single-family, 250 in 2–4 unit, 1,218 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252021 high · 12,1962010 low · 1,69305,00010k15k2004: 8,895 units (7,843 single-family, 972 in 2–4 unit, 80 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 11,549 units (10,948 single-family, 533 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 8,352 units (7,440 single-family, 651 in 2–4 unit, 261 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 4,864 units (3,762 single-family, 927 in 2–4 unit, 175 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,797 units (2,377 single-family, 256 in 2–4 unit, 164 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,904 units (1,769 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 8 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,693 units (1,630 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 48 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,840 units (1,578 single-family, 147 in 2–4 unit, 115 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 3,556 units (2,887 single-family, 329 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 4,365 units (3,522 single-family, 119 in 2–4 unit, 724 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 5,183 units (3,481 single-family, 391 in 2–4 unit, 1,311 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 5,499 units (4,295 single-family, 346 in 2–4 unit, 858 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 6,758 units (5,383 single-family, 330 in 2–4 unit, 1,045 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 7,909 units (6,275 single-family, 323 in 2–4 unit, 1,311 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 8,917 units (6,923 single-family, 357 in 2–4 unit, 1,637 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 10,632 units (7,570 single-family, 302 in 2–4 unit, 2,760 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 9,762 units (8,158 single-family, 495 in 2–4 unit, 1,109 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 12,196 units (8,342 single-family, 653 in 2–4 unit, 3,201 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 10,475 units (5,925 single-family, 476 in 2–4 unit, 4,074 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 9,891 units (6,508 single-family, 268 in 2–4 unit, 3,115 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 9,063 units (8,252 single-family, 201 in 2–4 unit, 610 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 9,438 units (7,970 single-family, 250 in 2–4 unit, 1,218 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252021 high · 12,196

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its population grew 12% between 2020 and 2025, the fastest growth among the 6 metro areas based in Idaho.

Houses or apartments

In Boise City, 72% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 24% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Little Rock (24% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 1.4%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (4,074), single-family houses in 2005 (10,948).

2021–202572.5%72%3.6%23.9%24%2004–200691.1%91%7.5%1.4%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202572.5%72%3.6%23.9%24%2004–200691.1%91%7.5%1.4%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Where in the metro

Ada County accounted for 60% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Canyon County for 37%.

  • Ada County60% (5,221 in 2025)
  • Canyon County37% (3,929 in 2025)
  • Gem County1.7% (144 in 2025)
  • Boise County1% (108 in 2025)
  • Owyhee County0.5% (36 in 2025)

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 25 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Meridian, with 11,057 units or 22% of the total, followed by Nampa with 8,403. Among the three largest, Boise City put 58% of its units in five-plus buildings, Nampa 24%.

  • Meridian22% (11,057 units)
  • Nampa16% (8,403 units)
  • Boise City14% (7,216 units)
  • Caldwell13% (6,859 units)
  • Star8.3% (4,258 units)
  • Kuna6.8% (3,473 units)
  • Eagle4.1% (2,118 units)
  • Canyon County (unincorporated)4.1% (2,110 units)

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

Boom, bust and since

Boise City authorized the most units in 2021 (12,196); 2025 reached 77% of that. Its peak year is shared by 27 other metro areas, among them Colorado Springs, Provo, Des Moines. Annual permits fell from 11,549 during the mid-2000s boom to 1,693 in 2010, a drop of 85%. The nearest bust profile in the Mountain states was Idaho Falls's (86%). Permits rose 9 years in a row up to 2019.

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
El Paso, TX2,0502.87.4%
Columbia, SC6,0707.017%
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL13,54716.527%
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL8,23613.821%
Boise City, ID9,43812.324%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Boise City beside Lakeland

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