HousingPermits

Metro area in Missouri, Illinois · part of the St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL combined area

St. Louis, MO-IL

The St. Louis metro area authorized an average of 7,529 new housing units a year in 2021–2025, the third-largest total of the 34 metro areas based in the West North Central states. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2004, with 15,713 units; 2025 came to 39% of that. Per 1,000 residents it authorized 2.7 units a year in 2021–2025, 58% of the national rate of 4.7.

05,00010k15k20k2004: 15,713 units (13,465 single-family, 635 in 2–4 unit, 1,613 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 15,502 units (13,362 single-family, 679 in 2–4 unit, 1,461 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 11,807 units (10,138 single-family, 445 in 2–4 unit, 1,224 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 10,311 units (8,119 single-family, 568 in 2–4 unit, 1,624 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 5,734 units (4,655 single-family, 342 in 2–4 unit, 737 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 5,160 units (4,048 single-family, 252 in 2–4 unit, 860 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 5,654 units (4,251 single-family, 360 in 2–4 unit, 1,043 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,403 units (3,287 single-family, 388 in 2–4 unit, 728 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 5,489 units (4,014 single-family, 176 in 2–4 unit, 1,299 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 5,548 units (4,646 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 729 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 6,992 units (4,538 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 2,276 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 7,698 units (5,054 single-family, 149 in 2–4 unit, 2,495 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 7,711 units (5,378 single-family, 128 in 2–4 unit, 2,205 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 7,295 units (5,608 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 1,572 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 7,338 units (5,242 single-family, 142 in 2–4 unit, 1,954 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 7,054 units (5,179 single-family, 245 in 2–4 unit, 1,630 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 7,863 units (5,719 single-family, 167 in 2–4 unit, 1,977 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 8,326 units (5,716 single-family, 175 in 2–4 unit, 2,435 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 9,130 units (4,742 single-family, 186 in 2–4 unit, 4,202 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 7,107 units (4,599 single-family, 226 in 2–4 unit, 2,282 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 7,017 units (4,653 single-family, 347 in 2–4 unit, 2,017 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 6,066 units (4,142 single-family, 401 in 2–4 unit, 1,523 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 15,7132011 low · 4,40306,00012k18k2004: 15,713 units (13,465 single-family, 635 in 2–4 unit, 1,613 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 15,502 units (13,362 single-family, 679 in 2–4 unit, 1,461 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 11,807 units (10,138 single-family, 445 in 2–4 unit, 1,224 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 10,311 units (8,119 single-family, 568 in 2–4 unit, 1,624 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 5,734 units (4,655 single-family, 342 in 2–4 unit, 737 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 5,160 units (4,048 single-family, 252 in 2–4 unit, 860 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 5,654 units (4,251 single-family, 360 in 2–4 unit, 1,043 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,403 units (3,287 single-family, 388 in 2–4 unit, 728 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 5,489 units (4,014 single-family, 176 in 2–4 unit, 1,299 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 5,548 units (4,646 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 729 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 6,992 units (4,538 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 2,276 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 7,698 units (5,054 single-family, 149 in 2–4 unit, 2,495 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 7,711 units (5,378 single-family, 128 in 2–4 unit, 2,205 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 7,295 units (5,608 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 1,572 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 7,338 units (5,242 single-family, 142 in 2–4 unit, 1,954 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 7,054 units (5,179 single-family, 245 in 2–4 unit, 1,630 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 7,863 units (5,719 single-family, 167 in 2–4 unit, 1,977 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 8,326 units (5,716 single-family, 175 in 2–4 unit, 2,435 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 9,130 units (4,742 single-family, 186 in 2–4 unit, 4,202 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 7,107 units (4,599 single-family, 226 in 2–4 unit, 2,282 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 7,017 units (4,653 single-family, 347 in 2–4 unit, 2,017 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 6,066 units (4,142 single-family, 401 in 2–4 unit, 1,523 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 15,713

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Where in the metro

St. Charles County accounted for 32% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, St. Louis County for 16%. The part in Illinois supplied 18%.

  • St. Charles County, MO32% (1,661 in 2025)
  • St. Louis County, MO16% (957 in 2025)
  • Jefferson County, MO9.9% (617 in 2025)
  • Franklin County, MO8.6% (794 in 2025)
  • St. Clair County, IL8.3% (463 in 2025)
  • St. Louis city, MO7.9% (272 in 2025)
  • Madison County, IL5.2% (435 in 2025)
  • Warren County, MO4.9% (360 in 2025)
  • Lincoln County, MO2.3% (252 in 2025)
  • Jersey County, IL1.3% (39 in 2025)
  • Monroe County, IL1% (65 in 2025)
  • Clinton County, IL0.9% (51 in 2025)

3 smaller counties not shown.

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Sacramento, Pittsburgh, San Diego. Annual permits fell from 15,713 during the mid-2000s boom to 4,403 in 2011, a drop of 72%. The nearest bust profile in the West North Central states was Joplin's (72%). The 2021–2025 pace of 7,529 units a year is 48% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2016. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 14%.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 155 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was St. Louis, with 2,975 units or 7.9% of the total, followed by Jefferson County (unincorporated) with 2,442. Among the three largest, St. Louis put 84% of its units in five-plus buildings, Jefferson County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • St. Louis7.9% (2,975 units)
  • Jefferson County (unincorporated)6.5% (2,442 units)
  • St. Louis County (unincorporated)6.3% (2,360 units)
  • OFallon5.7% (2,151 units)
  • St. Peters5.6% (2,104 units)
  • Wentzville5.1% (1,915 units)
  • St. Charles4.5% (1,688 units)
  • Lake St. Louis3.1% (1,174 units)

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

Houses or apartments

In St. Louis, 63% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 33% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Cheyenne (33% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 10%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (4,202), single-family houses in 2004 (13,465).

2021–202563.4%63%3.5%33.1%33%2004–200685.9%86%4.1%10.0%10%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202563.4%63%3.5%33.1%33%2004–200685.9%86%4.1%10.0%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL27,8459.640%
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC22,2339.630%
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD5,7992.444%
St. Louis, MO-IL6,0662.733%
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX10,5466.539%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put St. Louis beside San Antonio

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