HousingPermits

Metro area in Illinois, Indiana · part of the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI combined area

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area authorized 15,778 new housing units in 2025, the largest total of the 60 metro areas based in the East North Central states. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 65% below the 2004–2006 average, the weakest recovery by this measure among the 56 metro areas with 1 million or more residents. Its 2025 total was only 30% of the 2005 high of 52,808 units, the furthest below a series peak among the 56 metro areas with 1 million or more residents.

015k30k45k60k2004: 46,235 units (34,976 single-family, 2,939 in 2–4 unit, 8,320 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 52,808 units (36,608 single-family, 3,789 in 2–4 unit, 12,411 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 45,814 units (27,960 single-family, 2,747 in 2–4 unit, 15,107 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 33,416 units (17,598 single-family, 1,826 in 2–4 unit, 13,992 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 15,769 units (7,360 single-family, 798 in 2–4 unit, 7,611 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 5,922 units (4,218 single-family, 266 in 2–4 unit, 1,438 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 7,019 units (4,085 single-family, 276 in 2–4 unit, 2,658 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 7,366 units (4,025 single-family, 289 in 2–4 unit, 3,052 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 9,129 units (5,511 single-family, 434 in 2–4 unit, 3,184 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 11,424 units (7,108 single-family, 512 in 2–4 unit, 3,804 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 15,412 units (7,572 single-family, 563 in 2–4 unit, 7,277 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 15,525 units (7,498 single-family, 790 in 2–4 unit, 7,237 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 19,413 units (7,850 single-family, 877 in 2–4 unit, 10,686 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 21,932 units (8,222 single-family, 1,018 in 2–4 unit, 12,692 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 17,370 units (8,318 single-family, 945 in 2–4 unit, 8,107 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,401 units (7,352 single-family, 1,103 in 2–4 unit, 8,946 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 14,769 units (7,898 single-family, 851 in 2–4 unit, 6,020 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 17,539 units (9,790 single-family, 983 in 2–4 unit, 6,766 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 17,355 units (8,356 single-family, 942 in 2–4 unit, 8,057 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 14,801 units (8,294 single-family, 1,002 in 2–4 unit, 5,505 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 18,064 units (9,509 single-family, 736 in 2–4 unit, 7,819 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 15,778 units (9,497 single-family, 957 in 2–4 unit, 5,324 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 52,808020k40k60k2004: 46,235 units (34,976 single-family, 2,939 in 2–4 unit, 8,320 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 52,808 units (36,608 single-family, 3,789 in 2–4 unit, 12,411 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 45,814 units (27,960 single-family, 2,747 in 2–4 unit, 15,107 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 33,416 units (17,598 single-family, 1,826 in 2–4 unit, 13,992 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 15,769 units (7,360 single-family, 798 in 2–4 unit, 7,611 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 5,922 units (4,218 single-family, 266 in 2–4 unit, 1,438 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 7,019 units (4,085 single-family, 276 in 2–4 unit, 2,658 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 7,366 units (4,025 single-family, 289 in 2–4 unit, 3,052 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 9,129 units (5,511 single-family, 434 in 2–4 unit, 3,184 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 11,424 units (7,108 single-family, 512 in 2–4 unit, 3,804 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 15,412 units (7,572 single-family, 563 in 2–4 unit, 7,277 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 15,525 units (7,498 single-family, 790 in 2–4 unit, 7,237 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 19,413 units (7,850 single-family, 877 in 2–4 unit, 10,686 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 21,932 units (8,222 single-family, 1,018 in 2–4 unit, 12,692 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 17,370 units (8,318 single-family, 945 in 2–4 unit, 8,107 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,401 units (7,352 single-family, 1,103 in 2–4 unit, 8,946 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 14,769 units (7,898 single-family, 851 in 2–4 unit, 6,020 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 17,539 units (9,790 single-family, 983 in 2–4 unit, 6,766 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 17,355 units (8,356 single-family, 942 in 2–4 unit, 8,057 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 14,801 units (8,294 single-family, 1,002 in 2–4 unit, 5,505 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 18,064 units (9,509 single-family, 736 in 2–4 unit, 7,819 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 15,778 units (9,497 single-family, 957 in 2–4 unit, 5,324 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 52,808

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 105 other metro areas, among them Boston, Tampa, Orlando. Annual permits fell from 52,808 during the mid-2000s boom to 5,922 in 2009, a drop of 89%. The nearest bust profile in the East North Central states was Lansing's (89%). Permits rose 8 years in a row up to 2017. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 13%.

Relative to population

With 9,434,123 residents in July 2025, Chicago authorized 1.8 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Urban Honolulu (1.8) and Watertown (1.8).

Where in the metro

Cook County accounted for 38% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Will County for 11%. The part in Indiana supplied 13%.

  • Cook County, IL38% (4,969 in 2025)
  • Will County, IL11% (1,993 in 2025)
  • Kane County, IL10% (1,629 in 2025)
  • Lake County, IN8.7% (1,262 in 2025)
  • McHenry County, IL7.7% (1,393 in 2025)
  • DuPage County, IL7.6% (1,265 in 2025)
  • Lake County, IL6.2% (1,468 in 2025)
  • Kendall County, IL4.8% (733 in 2025)
  • Porter County, IN3.4% (564 in 2025)
  • DeKalb County, IL1.6% (264 in 2025)
  • Jasper County, IN0.6% (90 in 2025)
  • Grundy County, IL0.5% (114 in 2025)

1 smaller counties not shown.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 297 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Chicago, with 24,368 units or 29% of the total, followed by Plainfield village with 2,365. Among the three largest, Chicago put 81% of its units in five-plus buildings, Plainfield village 0%.

  • Chicago29% (24,368 units)
  • Plainfield village2.8% (2,365 units)
  • Naperville2.4% (2,042 units)
  • Oswego village2.4% (1,978 units)
  • St. John town2% (1,679 units)
  • Yorkville2% (1,670 units)
  • Joliet2% (1,638 units)
  • Elgin1.7% (1,452 units)

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

The wider Chicago-Naperville region

The Census Bureau groups Chicago with 3 neighboring metro areas in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 17,608 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Chicago accounted for 95%. The others, with their yearly averages: Kenosha (526), Michigan City (256), Kankakee (119).

Houses or apartments

In Chicago, 54% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 40% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Kahului (40% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 25%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 5.5% of units, against 3.5% nationally.

2021–202554.4%54%5.5%40.1%40%2004–200668.7%69%6.5%24.7%25%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202554.4%54%5.5%40.1%40%2004–200668.7%69%6.5%24.7%25%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN15,7781.840%
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX66,1798.935%
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX65,0759.125%
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA33,6706.434%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV17,9904.053%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Chicago beside Dallas

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