HousingPermits

Metro area in Connecticut · part of the New Haven-Hartford-Waterbury, CT combined area

New Haven, CT

The New Haven metro area authorized 1,020 new housing units in 2025. Single-family houses made up 19% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the lowest share among the 387 US metro areas. The housing bust cut annual permits by 83%, from 1,703 at the 2004–2006 high to 297 in 2009, the second-deepest drop among the 17 metro areas based in the New England states.

05001,0001,5002,0002004: 1,703 units (952 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 683 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,304 units (803 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 456 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 937 units (534 single-family, 49 in 2–4 unit, 354 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 719 units (352 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 341 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 527 units (232 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 297 units (188 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 95 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 770 units (205 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 541 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 484 units (260 single-family, 130 in 2–4 unit, 94 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 441 units (290 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 135 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 560 units (235 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 299 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 839 units (228 single-family, 42 in 2–4 unit, 569 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 818 units (199 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 591 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 712 units (187 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 518 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 482 units (213 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 265 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 957 units (215 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 682 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,203 units (202 single-family, 100 in 2–4 unit, 901 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,123 units (219 single-family, 32 in 2–4 unit, 872 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 722 units (255 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 441 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,041 units (219 single-family, 54 in 2–4 unit, 768 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,427 units (180 single-family, 107 in 2–4 unit, 1,140 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,014 units (191 single-family, 101 in 2–4 unit, 722 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,020 units (161 single-family, 97 in 2–4 unit, 762 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 1,7032009 low · 29706001,2001,8002004: 1,703 units (952 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 683 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,304 units (803 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 456 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 937 units (534 single-family, 49 in 2–4 unit, 354 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 719 units (352 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 341 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 527 units (232 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 297 units (188 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 95 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 770 units (205 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 541 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 484 units (260 single-family, 130 in 2–4 unit, 94 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 441 units (290 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 135 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 560 units (235 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 299 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 839 units (228 single-family, 42 in 2–4 unit, 569 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 818 units (199 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 591 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 712 units (187 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 518 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 482 units (213 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 265 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 957 units (215 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 682 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,203 units (202 single-family, 100 in 2–4 unit, 901 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,123 units (219 single-family, 32 in 2–4 unit, 872 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 722 units (255 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 441 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,041 units (219 single-family, 54 in 2–4 unit, 768 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,427 units (180 single-family, 107 in 2–4 unit, 1,140 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,014 units (191 single-family, 101 in 2–4 unit, 722 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,020 units (161 single-family, 97 in 2–4 unit, 762 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 1,703

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 7.4% of its units in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 5 metro areas based in Connecticut.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Lafayette, IN (73% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 38%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2023 (1,140), single-family houses in 2004 (952).

2021–202519.3%19%7.4%73.4%73%2004–200658.0%58%4.1%37.9%38%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202519.3%19%7.4%73.4%73%2004–200658.0%58%4.1%37.9%38%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Relative to population

With 578,741 residents in July 2025, New Haven authorized 1.8 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Kalamazoo (1.8) and Cleveland, OH (1.8).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 15 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was New Haven, with 2,511 units or 48% of the total, followed by Milford town with 742. Among the three largest, New Haven put 91% of its units in five-plus buildings, Branford town 70%.

  • New Haven48% (2,511 units)
  • Milford town14% (742 units)
  • Branford town9.1% (475 units)
  • North Haven town5.7% (297 units)
  • Meriden4.9% (258 units)
  • Guilford town3.4% (179 units)
  • Wallingford town2.4% (127 units)
  • Madison town2.2% (117 units)

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

Boom, bust and since

New Haven authorized the most units in 2004 (1,703); 2025 reached 60% of that. Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Lancaster, Toledo, Jackson, MS. The 2021–2025 pace of 1,045 units a year is 20% below the 2004–2006 pace.

The wider New Haven-Hartford-Waterbury region

The Census Bureau groups New Haven with 3 neighboring metro areas in the New Haven-Hartford-Waterbury, CT combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 3,706 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); New Haven accounted for 28%. The others, with their yearly averages: Hartford (1,754), Waterbury (481), Norwich (427).

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
New Haven, CT1,0201.873%
Reno, NV2,9518.545%
Portland-South Portland, ME3,4876.032%
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA6391.17.5%
Port St. Lucie, FL4,85312.116%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put New Haven beside Reno

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