HousingPermits

Metro area in Indiana · part of the Lafayette-West Lafayette-Frankfort, IN combined area

Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

The Lafayette-West Lafayette metro area authorized 4,058 new housing units in 2025, the largest total of the 191 metro areas under 250,000 residents. No year in the 2004–2025 record brought more permits than 2025, a distinction it shares with 16 other metro areas. Relative to population, the rate was 17.8 units per 1,000 residents in 2025, the third-highest rate of the 387 US metro areas.

01,5003,0004,5006,0002004: 1,548 units (1,371 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 127 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,108 units (1,077 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 8 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 964 units (762 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 162 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 941 units (645 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 260 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 681 units (558 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 123 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 502 units (469 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 29 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 542 units (462 single-family, 80 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,258 units (751 single-family, 126 in 2–4 unit, 381 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 543 units (509 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 32 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,101 units (487 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 614 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,100 units (615 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 468 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 542 units (490 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 28 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 648 units (516 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 106 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,005 units (596 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 383 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,836 units (517 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 1,313 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,350 units (502 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 836 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,397 units (481 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 916 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,212 units (580 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 626 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,538 units (510 single-family, 5 in 2–4 unit, 1,023 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 2,093 units (506 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 1,585 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,607 units (516 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 1,073 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 4,058 units (632 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 3,395 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252025 high · 4,0582009 low · 50201,5003,0004,5002004: 1,548 units (1,371 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 127 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,108 units (1,077 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 8 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 964 units (762 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 162 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 941 units (645 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 260 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 681 units (558 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 123 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 502 units (469 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 29 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 542 units (462 single-family, 80 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,258 units (751 single-family, 126 in 2–4 unit, 381 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 543 units (509 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 32 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,101 units (487 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 614 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,100 units (615 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 468 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 542 units (490 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 28 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 648 units (516 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 106 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,005 units (596 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 383 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,836 units (517 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 1,313 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,350 units (502 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 836 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,397 units (481 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 916 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,212 units (580 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 626 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,538 units (510 single-family, 5 in 2–4 unit, 1,023 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 2,093 units (506 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 1,585 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,607 units (516 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 1,073 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 4,058 units (632 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 3,395 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252025 high · 4,058

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Buildings with five or more units accounted for 73% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the third-highest share among the 387 US metro areas.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is New Haven (73% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 8.2%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2025 (3,395), single-family houses in 2004 (1,371).

2021–202526.1%26%0.6%73.3%73%2004–200688.7%89%3.1%8.2%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202526.1%26%0.6%73.3%73%2004–200688.7%89%3.1%8.2%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 16 other metro areas, among them Burlington, VT, Abilene, Goldsboro. Annual permits fell from 1,548 during the mid-2000s boom to 502 in 2009, a drop of 68%. The nearest bust profile in the East North Central states was Eau Claire's (68%). The 2021–2025 pace of 2,102 units a year is 74% above the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 152%.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 7 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was West Lafayette, with 3,773 units or 36% of the total, followed by Tippecanoe County (unincorporated) with 3,390. Among the three largest, Lafayette put 97% of its units in five-plus buildings, Tippecanoe County (unincorporated) 37%.

  • West Lafayette36% (3,773 units)
  • Tippecanoe County (unincorporated)32% (3,390 units)
  • Lafayette28% (2,984 units)
  • Carroll County (unincorporated)2% (205 units)
  • Warren County1.4% (144 units)
  • Fowler town0.1% (9 units)
  • Flora town0% (3 units)

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

Where in the metro

Tippecanoe County accounted for 97% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Carroll County for 2%.

  • Tippecanoe County97% (3,979 in 2025)
  • Carroll County2% (52 in 2025)
  • Warren County1.4% (21 in 2025)
  • Benton County0.1% (6 in 2025)

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Las Cruces, NM8334.51.9%
Charlottesville, VA2,1356.834%
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN4,0589.373%
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ1,8179.21.9%
Burlington-South Burlington, VT1,2585.054%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Lafayette, IN beside Charlottesville

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