HousingPermits

Metro area in Montana

Bozeman, MT

The Bozeman metro area authorized 1,544 new housing units in 2025, the largest total of the 5 metro areas based in Montana. Relative to population, the rate was 15.7 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the seventh-highest rate of the 387 US metro areas. Its 2025 total reached 62% of the 2021 high, the closest to a series peak among the 5 metro areas based in Montana.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 1,930 units (1,321 single-family, 358 in 2–4 unit, 251 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,681 units (1,054 single-family, 360 in 2–4 unit, 267 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,750 units (1,064 single-family, 365 in 2–4 unit, 321 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,411 units (854 single-family, 198 in 2–4 unit, 359 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 506 units (336 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 391 units (259 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 74 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 398 units (322 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 36 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 387 units (346 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 17 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 739 units (524 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 121 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,349 units (777 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 459 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,191 units (701 single-family, 187 in 2–4 unit, 303 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,496 units (872 single-family, 192 in 2–4 unit, 432 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,550 units (1,072 single-family, 229 in 2–4 unit, 249 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,612 units (1,045 single-family, 343 in 2–4 unit, 224 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,620 units (919 single-family, 348 in 2–4 unit, 353 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,712 units (977 single-family, 273 in 2–4 unit, 462 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,038 units (918 single-family, 418 in 2–4 unit, 702 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 2,475 units (1,126 single-family, 280 in 2–4 unit, 1,069 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,322 units (1,100 single-family, 239 in 2–4 unit, 983 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,864 units (935 single-family, 185 in 2–4 unit, 744 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,706 units (1,006 single-family, 167 in 2–4 unit, 533 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,544 units (843 single-family, 134 in 2–4 unit, 567 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252021 high · 2,4752011 low · 38701,0002,0003,0002004: 1,930 units (1,321 single-family, 358 in 2–4 unit, 251 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,681 units (1,054 single-family, 360 in 2–4 unit, 267 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,750 units (1,064 single-family, 365 in 2–4 unit, 321 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,411 units (854 single-family, 198 in 2–4 unit, 359 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 506 units (336 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 391 units (259 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 74 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 398 units (322 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 36 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 387 units (346 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 17 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 739 units (524 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 121 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,349 units (777 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 459 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,191 units (701 single-family, 187 in 2–4 unit, 303 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,496 units (872 single-family, 192 in 2–4 unit, 432 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,550 units (1,072 single-family, 229 in 2–4 unit, 249 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,612 units (1,045 single-family, 343 in 2–4 unit, 224 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,620 units (919 single-family, 348 in 2–4 unit, 353 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,712 units (977 single-family, 273 in 2–4 unit, 462 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,038 units (918 single-family, 418 in 2–4 unit, 702 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 2,475 units (1,126 single-family, 280 in 2–4 unit, 1,069 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,322 units (1,100 single-family, 239 in 2–4 unit, 983 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,864 units (935 single-family, 185 in 2–4 unit, 744 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,706 units (1,006 single-family, 167 in 2–4 unit, 533 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,544 units (843 single-family, 134 in 2–4 unit, 567 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252021 high · 2,475

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

The housing bust cut annual permits by 80%, from 1,930 at the 2004–2006 high to 387 in 2011, the deepest drop among the 5 metro areas based in Montana.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 6 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Bozeman, with 5,226 units or 53% of the total, followed by Gallatin County (unincorporated) with 3,099. Among the three largest, Bozeman put 58% of its units in five-plus buildings, Gallatin County (unincorporated) 11%.

  • Bozeman53% (5,226 units)
  • Gallatin County (unincorporated)31% (3,099 units)
  • Belgrade14% (1,431 units)
  • Manhattan town0.8% (80 units)
  • Three Forks0.6% (56 units)
  • West Yellowstone town0.2% (19 units)

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

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 27 other metro areas, among them Missoula, Morristown, Napa. The 2021–2025 pace of 1,982 units a year is 11% above the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 7 years in a row up to 2021. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 9.5%.

Houses or apartments

In Bozeman, 50% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 39% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is San Antonio (39% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 16%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 10% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2021 (1,069), single-family houses in 2004 (1,321).

2021–202550.5%50%10.1%10%39.3%39%2004–200664.1%64%20.2%20%15.7%16%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202550.5%50%10.1%39.3%39%2004–200664.1%64%20.2%20%15.7%16%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Johnstown, PA610.50%
Morristown, TN5896.04.1%
Bozeman, MT1,54415.739%
Missoula, MT8898.259%
Elizabethtown, KY4917.345%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Bozeman beside Missoula

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