HousingPermits

Metro area in New Hampshire · part of the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH combined area

Manchester-Nashua, NH

The Manchester-Nashua metro area authorized 632 new housing units in 2025. Its 2025 total was only 29% of the 2004 high of 2,160 units, the furthest below a series peak among the 17 metro areas based in the New England states. Permits fell 28% between 2024 and 2025, the third-steepest decline among the 17 metro areas based in the New England states.

06001,2001,8002,4002004: 2,160 units (1,570 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 461 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,862 units (1,518 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 274 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,346 units (1,085 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 186 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 971 units (697 single-family, 66 in 2–4 unit, 208 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 690 units (409 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 259 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 513 units (321 single-family, 96 in 2–4 unit, 96 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 682 units (367 single-family, 140 in 2–4 unit, 175 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 702 units (334 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 344 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 620 units (365 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 222 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 567 units (468 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 66 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 968 units (464 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 480 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 921 units (557 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,097 units (701 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 358 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,033 units (717 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 264 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,406 units (709 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 613 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,252 units (691 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 486 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 868 units (666 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 141 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,342 units (683 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 569 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 844 units (620 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 174 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,382 units (532 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 786 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 872 units (427 single-family, 96 in 2–4 unit, 349 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 632 units (380 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 188 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 2,1602009 low · 51308001,6002,4002004: 2,160 units (1,570 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 461 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,862 units (1,518 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 274 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,346 units (1,085 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 186 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 971 units (697 single-family, 66 in 2–4 unit, 208 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 690 units (409 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 259 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 513 units (321 single-family, 96 in 2–4 unit, 96 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 682 units (367 single-family, 140 in 2–4 unit, 175 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 702 units (334 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 344 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 620 units (365 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 222 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 567 units (468 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 66 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 968 units (464 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 480 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 921 units (557 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,097 units (701 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 358 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,033 units (717 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 264 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,406 units (709 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 613 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,252 units (691 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 486 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 868 units (666 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 141 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,342 units (683 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 569 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 844 units (620 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 174 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,382 units (532 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 786 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 872 units (427 single-family, 96 in 2–4 unit, 349 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 632 units (380 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 188 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 2,160

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Relative to population

With 433,415 residents in July 2025, Manchester authorized 2.4 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Pueblo (2.4) and Pittsburgh (2.4).

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Reading, Santa Maria, Youngstown. Annual permits fell from 2,160 during the mid-2000s boom to 513 in 2009, a drop of 76%. The nearest bust profile in the New England states was Lewiston, ME's (76%). The 2021–2025 pace of 1,014 units a year is 43% below the 2004–2006 pace.

The wider Boston-Worcester-Providence region

The Census Bureau groups Manchester with 4 neighboring metro areas in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 18,406 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Manchester accounted for 5.5%. The others, with their yearly averages: Boston (12,465), Providence (2,365), Worcester (1,886), Barnstable Town (675).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 30 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Merrimack town, with 1,115 units or 22% of the total, followed by Manchester with 1,066. Among the three largest, Merrimack town put 84% of its units in five-plus buildings, Manchester 51%.

  • Merrimack town22% (1,115 units)
  • Manchester21% (1,066 units)
  • Nashua14% (693 units)
  • Hudson town5.8% (296 units)
  • Pelham town5.1% (259 units)
  • Milford town4.9% (251 units)
  • Hollis town2.9% (146 units)
  • Litchfield town2.4% (122 units)

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

Houses or apartments

In Manchester, 52% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 41% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Sheboygan (41% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 17%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 7.2% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2023 (786), single-family houses in 2004 (1,570).

2021–202552.1%52%7.2%40.7%41%2004–200677.7%78%5.1%17.2%17%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202552.1%52%7.2%40.7%41%2004–200677.7%78%5.1%17.2%17%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Savannah, GA5,3719.026%
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX2,7025.418%
Salinas, CA7751.928%
Manchester-Nashua, NH6322.441%
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS3,3127.07.2%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Manchester beside Salinas

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