HousingPermits

Metro area in Maine · part of the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland, ME combined area

Portland-South Portland, ME

The Portland-South Portland metro area authorized 3,487 new housing units in 2025, the second-largest total of the 17 metro areas based in the New England states. Relative to population, the rate was 6.0 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the highest rate of the 17 metro areas based in the New England states. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 4.2% below the 2004–2006 average, the second-largest recovery by this measure among the 17 metro areas based in the New England states.

01,0002,0003,0004,0002004: 3,677 units (3,290 single-family, 149 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 3,780 units (3,188 single-family, 248 in 2–4 unit, 344 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 3,202 units (2,750 single-family, 226 in 2–4 unit, 226 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,672 units (2,124 single-family, 130 in 2–4 unit, 418 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,259 units (1,114 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 84 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,207 units (1,123 single-family, 73 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,260 units (1,225 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,112 units (956 single-family, 21 in 2–4 unit, 135 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,390 units (1,204 single-family, 91 in 2–4 unit, 95 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,818 units (1,485 single-family, 72 in 2–4 unit, 261 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,696 units (1,419 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 207 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,980 units (1,584 single-family, 97 in 2–4 unit, 299 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 2,397 units (1,838 single-family, 128 in 2–4 unit, 431 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 2,517 units (1,973 single-family, 82 in 2–4 unit, 462 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,624 units (1,952 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 559 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,875 units (1,818 single-family, 141 in 2–4 unit, 916 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,855 units (2,062 single-family, 142 in 2–4 unit, 651 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,712 units (2,634 single-family, 222 in 2–4 unit, 856 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,762 units (2,120 single-family, 160 in 2–4 unit, 1,482 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 3,072 units (1,905 single-family, 218 in 2–4 unit, 949 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 2,978 units (1,934 single-family, 230 in 2–4 unit, 814 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,487 units (1,945 single-family, 159 in 2–4 unit, 1,383 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 3,7802011 low · 1,11201,5003,0004,5002004: 3,677 units (3,290 single-family, 149 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 3,780 units (3,188 single-family, 248 in 2–4 unit, 344 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 3,202 units (2,750 single-family, 226 in 2–4 unit, 226 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,672 units (2,124 single-family, 130 in 2–4 unit, 418 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,259 units (1,114 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 84 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,207 units (1,123 single-family, 73 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,260 units (1,225 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,112 units (956 single-family, 21 in 2–4 unit, 135 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,390 units (1,204 single-family, 91 in 2–4 unit, 95 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,818 units (1,485 single-family, 72 in 2–4 unit, 261 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,696 units (1,419 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 207 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,980 units (1,584 single-family, 97 in 2–4 unit, 299 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 2,397 units (1,838 single-family, 128 in 2–4 unit, 431 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 2,517 units (1,973 single-family, 82 in 2–4 unit, 462 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,624 units (1,952 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 559 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,875 units (1,818 single-family, 141 in 2–4 unit, 916 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,855 units (2,062 single-family, 142 in 2–4 unit, 651 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,712 units (2,634 single-family, 222 in 2–4 unit, 856 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,762 units (2,120 single-family, 160 in 2–4 unit, 1,482 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 3,072 units (1,905 single-family, 218 in 2–4 unit, 949 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 2,978 units (1,934 single-family, 230 in 2–4 unit, 814 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,487 units (1,945 single-family, 159 in 2–4 unit, 1,383 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 3,780

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total reached 92% of the 2005 high, the third-closest to a series peak among the 17 metro areas based in the New England states.

Where in the metro

Cumberland County accounted for 51% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, York County for 44%.

  • Cumberland County51% (1,756 in 2025)
  • York County44% (1,473 in 2025)
  • Sagadahoc County5.6% (258 in 2025)

The wider Portland-Lewiston-South Portland region

The Census Bureau groups Portland, ME with one neighboring metro area in the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland, ME combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 3,772 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Portland, ME accounted for 90%. The other, with its yearly average: Lewiston, ME (370).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 67 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Portland, with 1,704 units or 10% of the total, followed by Scarborough town with 1,145. Among the three largest, Portland put 89% of its units in five-plus buildings, Scarborough town 67%.

  • Portland10% (1,704 units)
  • Scarborough town6.7% (1,145 units)
  • Kittery town5.5% (935 units)
  • Windham town4.5% (757 units)
  • Westbrook4.1% (690 units)
  • Wells town4% (680 units)
  • York town3.2% (538 units)
  • Old Orchard Beach town3.2% (536 units)

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

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 105 other metro areas, among them Reno, Port St. Lucie, Chattanooga. Annual permits fell from 3,780 during the mid-2000s boom to 1,112 in 2011, a drop of 71%. The nearest bust profile in the New England states was Springfield, MA's (70%). Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2019. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 17%.

Houses or apartments

In Portland, ME, 62% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 32% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Detroit (32% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 7.6%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 5.8% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (1,482), single-family houses in 2004 (3,290).

2021–202561.9%62%5.8%32.2%32%2004–200686.6%87%5.8%7.6%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202561.9%62%5.8%32.2%32%2004–200686.6%87%5.8%7.6%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

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 Portland, ME beside Reno

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