HousingPermits

Metro area in Montana

Missoula, MT

The Missoula metro area authorized 889 new housing units in 2025. Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 78% above the 2004–2006 average, the sixth-largest recovery by this measure among the 387 US metro areas. Permits rose 14% between 2024 and 2025, the largest increase among the 5 metro areas based in Montana.

05001,0001,5002,0002004: 592 units (404 single-family, 47 in 2–4 unit, 141 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 644 units (497 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 102 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 520 units (405 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 71 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 667 units (513 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 109 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 440 units (324 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 91 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 225 units (207 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 368 units (190 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 138 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 565 units (134 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 396 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 337 units (179 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 569 units (251 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 581 units (230 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 247 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 574 units (292 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 257 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 931 units (362 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 530 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 972 units (395 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 515 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 691 units (461 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 160 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 665 units (423 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 190 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 800 units (422 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 361 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,798 units (436 single-family, 46 in 2–4 unit, 1,316 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,078 units (347 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 696 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 660 units (313 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 323 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 777 units (384 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 354 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 889 units (426 single-family, 76 in 2–4 unit, 387 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252021 high · 1,7982009 low · 22508001,6002,4002004: 592 units (404 single-family, 47 in 2–4 unit, 141 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 644 units (497 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 102 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 520 units (405 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 71 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 667 units (513 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 109 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 440 units (324 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 91 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 225 units (207 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 368 units (190 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 138 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 565 units (134 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 396 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 337 units (179 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 569 units (251 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 581 units (230 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 247 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 574 units (292 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 257 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 931 units (362 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 530 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 972 units (395 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 515 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 691 units (461 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 160 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 665 units (423 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 190 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 800 units (422 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 361 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,798 units (436 single-family, 46 in 2–4 unit, 1,316 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,078 units (347 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 696 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 660 units (313 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 323 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 777 units (384 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 354 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 889 units (426 single-family, 76 in 2–4 unit, 387 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252021 high · 1,798

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Buildings with five or more units accounted for 59% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the third-highest share among the 39 metro areas based in the Mountain states.

Boom, bust and since

Missoula authorized the most units in 2021 (1,798); 2025 reached 49% of that. Its peak year is shared by 27 other metro areas, among them Bozeman, Morristown, Napa. Annual permits fell from 644 during the mid-2000s boom to 225 in 2009, a drop of 65%. The nearest bust profile in the Mountain states was Salt Lake City's (67%).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, three permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Missoula, with 3,952 units or 76% of the total, followed by Missoula County (unincorporated) with 1,239. Among the three largest, Missoula put 75% of its units in five-plus buildings, Alberton town 0%.

  • Missoula76% (3,952 units)
  • Missoula County (unincorporated)24% (1,239 units)
  • Alberton town0.2% (11 units)

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

Relative to population

With 128,698 residents in July 2025, Missoula authorized 8.2 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, 1.8 times the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Prescott Valley (8.2) and Palm Bay (8.2).

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Ithaca (60% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 18%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2021 (1,316), single-family houses in 2007 (513).

2021–202536.6%37%4.2%59.1%59%2004–200674.4%74%7.7%17.9%18%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202536.6%37%4.2%59.1%59%2004–200674.4%74%7.7%17.9%18%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Where in the metro

Missoula County accounted for 100% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Mineral County for 0.2%.

  • Missoula County100% (886 in 2025)
  • Mineral County0.2% (3 in 2025)

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Johnstown, PA610.50%
Morristown, TN5896.04.1%
Bozeman, MT1,54415.739%
Missoula, MT8898.259%
Elizabethtown, KY4917.345%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Missoula beside Elizabethtown

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