HousingPermits

Metro area in Minnesota · part of the Mankato-New Ulm, MN combined area

Mankato, MN

The Mankato metro area authorized 356 new housing units in 2025. Single-family houses made up 40% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the second-lowest share among the 34 metro areas based in the West North Central states. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 9.5% of its units in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 5 metro areas based in Minnesota.

02505007501,0002004: 716 units (621 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 708 units (611 single-family, 29 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 606 units (454 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 136 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 389 units (370 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 245 units (229 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 263 units (247 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 331 units (196 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 121 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 281 units (185 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 529 units (208 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 295 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 506 units (291 single-family, 42 in 2–4 unit, 173 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 430 units (232 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 180 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 808 units (245 single-family, 142 in 2–4 unit, 421 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 404 units (245 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 151 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 516 units (342 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 162 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 487 units (273 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 200 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 237 units (172 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 450 units (259 single-family, 29 in 2–4 unit, 162 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 480 units (252 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 187 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 609 units (177 single-family, 65 in 2–4 unit, 367 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 561 units (156 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 403 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 377 units (123 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 179 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 356 units (234 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 78 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252015 high · 8082019 low · 23703006009002004: 716 units (621 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 708 units (611 single-family, 29 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 606 units (454 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 136 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 389 units (370 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 245 units (229 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 263 units (247 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 331 units (196 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 121 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 281 units (185 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 529 units (208 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 295 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 506 units (291 single-family, 42 in 2–4 unit, 173 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 430 units (232 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 180 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 808 units (245 single-family, 142 in 2–4 unit, 421 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 404 units (245 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 151 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 516 units (342 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 162 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 487 units (273 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 200 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 237 units (172 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 450 units (259 single-family, 29 in 2–4 unit, 162 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 480 units (252 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 187 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 609 units (177 single-family, 65 in 2–4 unit, 367 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 561 units (156 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 403 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 377 units (123 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 179 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 356 units (234 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 78 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252015 high · 808

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

The housing bust cut annual permits by 66%, from 716 at the 2004–2006 high to 245 in 2008, the mildest drop among the 5 metro areas based in Minnesota.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 15 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Mankato, with 1,390 units or 58% of the total, followed by St. Peter with 335. Among the three largest, St. Peter put 75% of its units in five-plus buildings, North Mankato 19%.

  • Mankato58% (1,390 units)
  • St. Peter14% (335 units)
  • North Mankato9.5% (227 units)
  • Eagle Lake5.1% (121 units)
  • Blue Earth County Part (unincorporated)4.9% (116 units)
  • Madison Lake3.2% (76 units)
  • Nicollet County (unincorporated)1.8% (43 units)
  • Lake Crystal0.9% (21 units)

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

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Kenosha (51% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 13%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2015 (421), single-family houses in 2004 (621).

2021–202539.5%40%9.5%10%50.9%51%2004–200683.1%83%3.9%13.1%13%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202539.5%40%9.5%50.9%51%2004–200683.1%83%3.9%13.1%13%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Mankato authorized the most units in 2015 (808); 2025 reached 44% of that. Its peak year is shared by 3 other metro areas, among them Paducah, Kokomo, New York. Its quietest year came later, in 2019 (237 units). The 2021–2025 pace of 477 units a year is 30% below the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 5.6%.

Where in the metro

Blue Earth County accounted for 74% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Nicollet County for 26%.

  • Blue Earth County74% (274 in 2025)
  • Nicollet County26% (82 in 2025)

Relative to population

With 104,907 residents in July 2025, Mankato authorized 4.6 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, close to the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Lake Charles (4.6) and Wichita (4.5).

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Kankakee, IL1131.12%
Sumter, SC3583.71.9%
Grand Forks, ND-MN2281.912%
Mankato, MN3564.651%
Fond du Lac, WI1901.78.4%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Mankato beside Grand Forks

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