HousingPermits

Metro area in Kansas

Manhattan, KS

The Manhattan metro area authorized 495 new housing units in 2025. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 76% below the 2004–2006 average, the weakest recovery by this measure among the 34 metro areas based in the West North Central states. Single-family houses made up 78% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 4 metro areas based in Kansas.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 645 units (421 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 193 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 734 units (585 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 108 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,808 units (1,963 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 755 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,634 units (638 single-family, 408 in 2–4 unit, 588 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,031 units (622 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 376 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,001 units (503 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 446 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 830 units (471 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 767 units (406 single-family, 57 in 2–4 unit, 304 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 675 units (445 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 222 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 567 units (496 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 655 units (548 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 79 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 528 units (372 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 146 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 979 units (314 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 657 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 393 units (316 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 71 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 253 units (245 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 336 units (262 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 67 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 405 units (236 single-family, 47 in 2–4 unit, 122 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 278 units (266 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 301 units (242 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 257 units (215 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 32 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 336 units (279 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 35 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 495 units (300 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 191 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252006 high · 2,8082018 low · 25301,0002,0003,0002004: 645 units (421 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 193 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 734 units (585 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 108 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,808 units (1,963 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 755 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,634 units (638 single-family, 408 in 2–4 unit, 588 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,031 units (622 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 376 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,001 units (503 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 446 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 830 units (471 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 767 units (406 single-family, 57 in 2–4 unit, 304 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 675 units (445 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 222 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 567 units (496 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 655 units (548 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 79 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 528 units (372 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 146 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 979 units (314 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 657 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 393 units (316 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 71 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 253 units (245 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 336 units (262 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 67 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 405 units (236 single-family, 47 in 2–4 unit, 122 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 278 units (266 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 301 units (242 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 257 units (215 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 32 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 336 units (279 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 35 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 495 units (300 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 191 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252006 high · 2,808

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total was only 18% of the 2006 high of 2,808 units, the furthest below a series peak among the 4 metro areas based in Kansas.

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 30 other metro areas, among them Salisbury, Hammond, Alexandria. Annual permits fell from 2,808 during the mid-2000s boom to 675 in 2012, a drop of 76%. The nearest bust profile in the West North Central states was Dubuque's (76%). Its quietest year came later, in 2018 (253 units). From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 47%.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Fayetteville, NC (18% in five-plus buildings).

2021–202578.1%78%3.5%18.4%18%2004–200670.9%71%3.9%25.2%25%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202578.1%78%3.5%18.4%18%2004–200670.9%71%3.9%25.2%25%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Relative to population

With 136,122 residents in July 2025, Manhattan authorized 2.5 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Boston (2.5) and Dayton (2.5).

Where in the metro

Riley County accounted for 42% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Pottawatomie County for 40%.

  • Riley County42% (243 in 2025)
  • Pottawatomie County40% (132 in 2025)
  • Geary County18% (120 in 2025)

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 16 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Manhattan, with 592 units or 36% of the total, followed by Pottawatomie County (unincorporated) with 547. Among the three largest, Manhattan put 45% of its units in five-plus buildings, Pottawatomie County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Manhattan36% (592 units)
  • Pottawatomie County (unincorporated)33% (547 units)
  • Junction City8.6% (143 units)
  • Geary County (unincorporated)8.3% (139 units)
  • Riley County (unincorporated)5.3% (89 units)
  • Wamego2.5% (42 units)
  • St. George2.3% (38 units)
  • St. Marys1% (17 units)

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

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Manhattan, KS4952.518%
Springfield, OH3871.828%
Wheeling, WV-OH50.260%
Cleveland, TN9386.81.4%
Battle Creek, MI1200.80%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Manhattan beside Springfield, OH

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