HousingPermits

Metro area in Maryland · part of the Salisbury-Ocean Pines, MD combined area

Salisbury, MD

The Salisbury metro area authorized 205 new housing units in 2025. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 5.7% of its units in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 4 metro areas based in Maryland. Permits fell 37% between 2024 and 2025, the steepest decline among the 4 metro areas based in Maryland.

04008001,2001,6002004: 1,185 units (859 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 313 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,212 units (1,027 single-family, 3 in 2–4 unit, 182 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,217 units (836 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 381 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 677 units (374 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 303 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 392 units (252 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 136 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 325 units (184 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 139 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 194 units (190 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 169 units (167 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 342 units (102 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 240 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 734 units (138 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 594 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 308 units (160 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 140 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 318 units (124 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 186 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 196 units (105 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 74 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 145 units (141 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 223 units (207 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 291 units (251 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 40 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 320 units (262 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 48 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 285 units (285 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 445 units (211 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 174 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 252 units (191 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 326 units (280 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 44 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 205 units (164 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 33 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252006 high · 1,2172017 low · 14505001,0001,5002004: 1,185 units (859 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 313 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,212 units (1,027 single-family, 3 in 2–4 unit, 182 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,217 units (836 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 381 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 677 units (374 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 303 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 392 units (252 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 136 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 325 units (184 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 139 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 194 units (190 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 169 units (167 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 342 units (102 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 240 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 734 units (138 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 594 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 308 units (160 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 140 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 318 units (124 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 186 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 196 units (105 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 74 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 145 units (141 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 223 units (207 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 291 units (251 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 40 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 320 units (262 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 48 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 285 units (285 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 445 units (211 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 174 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 252 units (191 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 326 units (280 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 44 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 205 units (164 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 33 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252006 high · 1,217

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total was only 17% of the 2006 high of 1,217 units, the furthest below a series peak among the 4 metro areas based in Maryland.

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 30 other metro areas, among them Manhattan, Hammond, Farmington. Annual permits fell from 1,217 during the mid-2000s boom to 169 in 2011, a drop of 86%. The nearest bust profile in the South Atlantic states was Naples's (86%). Its quietest year came later, in 2017 (145 units). The 2021–2025 pace of 303 units a year is 75% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Relative to population

With 131,872 residents in July 2025, Salisbury authorized 2.3 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Columbus, IN (2.3) and Los Angeles (2.3).

Houses or apartments

In Salisbury, 75% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 20% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Palm Bay (20% in five-plus buildings). Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2013 (594), single-family houses in 2005 (1,027).

2021–202574.8%75%5.7%19.6%20%2004–200675.3%75%0.4%24.2%24%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202574.8%75%5.7%19.6%20%2004–200675.3%75%0.4%24.2%24%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 9 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Delmar town, with 424 units or 28% of the total, followed by Salisbury with 377. Among the three largest, Delmar town put 45% of its units in five-plus buildings, Wicomico County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Delmar town28% (424 units)
  • Salisbury25% (377 units)
  • Wicomico County (unincorporated)22% (338 units)
  • Somerset County (unincorporated)10% (155 units)
  • Fruitland7.1% (108 units)
  • Princess Anne town4% (61 units)
  • Willards town1.6% (24 units)
  • Crisfield1.2% (18 units)

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

Where in the metro

Wicomico County accounted for 84% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Somerset County for 16%.

  • Wicomico County84% (170 in 2025)
  • Somerset County16% (35 in 2025)

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Battle Creek, MI1200.80%
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA3734.454%
Napa, CA3645.165%
Albany, OR1892.826%
Salisbury, MD2052.320%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Salisbury beside Albany, OR

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