HousingPermits

Metro area in Minnesota, Wisconsin · part of the Duluth-Grand Rapids, MN-WI combined area

Duluth, MN-WI

The Duluth metro area authorized 647 new housing units in 2025. Its 2025 total was only 38% of the 2004 high of 1,715 units, the furthest below a series peak among the 5 metro areas based in Minnesota. Per 1,000 residents it authorized 2.5 units a year in 2021–2025, 55% of the national rate of 4.7.

05001,0001,5002,0002004: 1,715 units (1,270 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 329 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,477 units (1,165 single-family, 72 in 2–4 unit, 240 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,192 units (938 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 190 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,001 units (829 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 137 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 785 units (627 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 134 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 552 units (460 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 82 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 486 units (399 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 444 units (333 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 78 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 474 units (340 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 120 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 472 units (354 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 106 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 598 units (436 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 138 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 841 units (467 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 368 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 621 units (526 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 87 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 665 units (508 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 153 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 736 units (535 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 189 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 970 units (489 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 471 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 494 units (318 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 160 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 627 units (485 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 140 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 671 units (470 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 187 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 770 units (466 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 276 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 858 units (484 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 360 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 647 units (424 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 206 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 1,7152011 low · 44406001,2001,8002004: 1,715 units (1,270 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 329 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,477 units (1,165 single-family, 72 in 2–4 unit, 240 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,192 units (938 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 190 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,001 units (829 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 137 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 785 units (627 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 134 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 552 units (460 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 82 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 486 units (399 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 444 units (333 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 78 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 474 units (340 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 120 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 472 units (354 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 106 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 598 units (436 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 138 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 841 units (467 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 368 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 621 units (526 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 87 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 665 units (508 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 153 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 736 units (535 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 189 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 970 units (489 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 471 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 494 units (318 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 160 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 627 units (485 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 140 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 671 units (470 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 187 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 770 units (466 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 276 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 858 units (484 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 360 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 647 units (424 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 206 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 1,715

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them San Luis Obispo, Cedar Rapids, Slidell. Annual permits fell from 1,715 during the mid-2000s boom to 444 in 2011, a drop of 74%. The nearest bust profile in the West North Central states was Lincoln's (73%). The 2021–2025 pace of 715 units a year is 51% below the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 25%.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 37 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Duluth, with 1,342 units or 38% of the total, followed by St. Louis County Part (unincorporated) with 623. Among the three largest, Duluth put 77% of its units in five-plus buildings, St. Louis County Part (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Duluth38% (1,342 units)
  • St. Louis County Part (unincorporated)17% (623 units)
  • Douglas County (unincorporated)11% (399 units)
  • Carlton County Part (unincorporated)9.1% (324 units)
  • Thomson township4.1% (148 units)
  • Hermantown3.9% (141 units)
  • Rice Lake2% (72 units)
  • Duluth township1.7% (60 units)

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

Where in the metro

St. Louis County accounted for 69% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Carlton County for 16%. The part in Wisconsin supplied 14%.

  • St. Louis County, MN69% (412 in 2025)
  • Carlton County, MN16% (155 in 2025)
  • Douglas County, WI14% (80 in 2025)

Houses or apartments

In Duluth, 65% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 33% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Allentown (33% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 17%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2019 (471), single-family houses in 2004 (1,270).

2021–202565.2%65%2.1%32.7%33%2004–200676.9%77%5.7%17.3%17%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202565.2%65%2.1%32.7%33%2004–200676.9%77%5.7%17.3%17%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA6633.529%
Tuscaloosa, AL6163.224%
Laredo, TX1,3405.314%
Duluth, MN-WI6472.533%
Cedar Rapids, IA9873.436%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Duluth beside Laredo

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