HousingPermits

Metro area in Wisconsin · part of the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI combined area

Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

The Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area authorized 3,105 new housing units in 2025. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 9.9% of its units in 2021–2025, the second-highest share among the 56 metro areas with 1 million or more residents. Permits fell 24% between 2024 and 2025, the second-steepest decline among the 56 metro areas with 1 million or more residents.

02,0004,0006,0008,0002004: 5,902 units (3,840 single-family, 467 in 2–4 unit, 1,595 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 5,444 units (3,361 single-family, 502 in 2–4 unit, 1,581 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 4,290 units (2,624 single-family, 338 in 2–4 unit, 1,328 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 3,266 units (2,082 single-family, 203 in 2–4 unit, 981 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,444 units (1,234 single-family, 109 in 2–4 unit, 1,101 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,443 units (891 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 478 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,941 units (967 single-family, 71 in 2–4 unit, 903 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,593 units (915 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 594 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,793 units (1,064 single-family, 65 in 2–4 unit, 664 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 2,000 units (1,326 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 604 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 2,416 units (1,318 single-family, 80 in 2–4 unit, 1,018 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 3,048 units (1,416 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 1,588 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,055 units (1,671 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 2,328 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 3,693 units (1,588 single-family, 110 in 2–4 unit, 1,995 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 3,791 units (1,734 single-family, 151 in 2–4 unit, 1,906 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,440 units (1,509 single-family, 225 in 2–4 unit, 706 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,753 units (1,586 single-family, 362 in 2–4 unit, 805 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 2,981 units (1,811 single-family, 383 in 2–4 unit, 787 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,201 units (1,576 single-family, 376 in 2–4 unit, 1,249 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 2,864 units (1,426 single-family, 284 in 2–4 unit, 1,154 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 4,058 units (1,712 single-family, 330 in 2–4 unit, 2,016 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,105 units (1,734 single-family, 239 in 2–4 unit, 1,132 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 5,9022009 low · 1,44302,5005,0007,5002004: 5,902 units (3,840 single-family, 467 in 2–4 unit, 1,595 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 5,444 units (3,361 single-family, 502 in 2–4 unit, 1,581 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 4,290 units (2,624 single-family, 338 in 2–4 unit, 1,328 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 3,266 units (2,082 single-family, 203 in 2–4 unit, 981 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,444 units (1,234 single-family, 109 in 2–4 unit, 1,101 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,443 units (891 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 478 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,941 units (967 single-family, 71 in 2–4 unit, 903 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,593 units (915 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 594 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,793 units (1,064 single-family, 65 in 2–4 unit, 664 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 2,000 units (1,326 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 604 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 2,416 units (1,318 single-family, 80 in 2–4 unit, 1,018 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 3,048 units (1,416 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 1,588 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,055 units (1,671 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 2,328 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 3,693 units (1,588 single-family, 110 in 2–4 unit, 1,995 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 3,791 units (1,734 single-family, 151 in 2–4 unit, 1,906 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,440 units (1,509 single-family, 225 in 2–4 unit, 706 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,753 units (1,586 single-family, 362 in 2–4 unit, 805 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 2,981 units (1,811 single-family, 383 in 2–4 unit, 787 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,201 units (1,576 single-family, 376 in 2–4 unit, 1,249 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 2,864 units (1,426 single-family, 284 in 2–4 unit, 1,154 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 4,058 units (1,712 single-family, 330 in 2–4 unit, 2,016 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,105 units (1,734 single-family, 239 in 2–4 unit, 1,132 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 5,902

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Relative to population

With 1,575,010 residents in July 2025, Milwaukee authorized 2.1 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Akron (2.1) and Amherst Town (2.1).

Boom, bust and since

Milwaukee authorized the most units in 2004 (5,902); 2025 reached 53% of that. Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Oklahoma City, Louisville, Grand Rapids. Annual permits fell from 5,902 during the mid-2000s boom to 1,443 in 2009, a drop of 76%. The nearest bust profile in the East North Central states was Oshkosh's (76%). The 2021–2025 pace of 3,242 units a year is 38% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2016.

Where in the metro

Waukesha County accounted for 45% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Milwaukee County for 29%.

  • Waukesha County45% (1,178 in 2025)
  • Milwaukee County29% (1,046 in 2025)
  • Washington County13% (398 in 2025)
  • Ozaukee County13% (483 in 2025)

The wider Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha region

The Census Bureau groups Milwaukee with one neighboring metro area in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 3,617 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Milwaukee accounted for 90%. The other, with its yearly average: Racine (375).

Houses or apartments

In Milwaukee, 51% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 39% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is San Antonio (39% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 29%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2016 (2,328), single-family houses in 2004 (3,840).

2021–202551.0%51%9.9%10%39.1%39%2004–200662.8%63%8.4%28.8%29%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202551.0%51%9.9%39.1%39%2004–200662.8%63%8.4%28.8%29%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 89 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Menomonee Falls village, with 1,395 units or 8.6% of the total, followed by Oak Creek with 1,062. Among the three largest, Oak Creek put 84% of its units in five-plus buildings, Menomonee Falls village 48%.

  • Menomonee Falls village8.6% (1,395 units)
  • Oak Creek6.6% (1,062 units)
  • Grafton village5.6% (908 units)
  • Glendale5.3% (854 units)
  • West Allis4.9% (801 units)
  • Milwaukee4.8% (784 units)
  • Oconomowoc4.3% (700 units)
  • Franklin3.9% (632 units)

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

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA2,8941.424%
Raleigh-Cary, NC17,54313.336%
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI3,1052.139%
Oklahoma City, OK8,5765.29.5%
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN6,1034.537%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Milwaukee beside Raleigh

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