HousingPermits

Metro area in Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

The Tuscaloosa metro area authorized 616 new housing units in 2025. Its 2025 total was only 24% of the 2006 high of 2,625 units, the second-furthest below a series peak among the 31 metro areas based in the East South Central states. Single-family houses made up 69% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the lowest share among the 12 metro areas based in Alabama.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 1,276 units (1,177 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 85 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,735 units (1,316 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 417 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,625 units (1,190 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 1,435 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,997 units (973 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 1,020 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,258 units (531 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 721 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 694 units (365 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 319 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 627 units (356 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 247 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 747 units (330 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 397 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 921 units (516 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 389 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,029 units (588 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 426 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,390 units (444 single-family, 103 in 2–4 unit, 843 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 751 units (457 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 196 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,470 units (542 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 858 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,175 units (578 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 507 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,053 units (584 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 417 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,474 units (630 single-family, 155 in 2–4 unit, 689 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,269 units (656 single-family, 154 in 2–4 unit, 459 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,496 units (771 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 604 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,043 units (714 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 271 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 695 units (575 single-family, 59 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 649 units (528 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 69 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 616 units (501 single-family, 51 in 2–4 unit, 64 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252006 high · 2,6252025 low · 61601,0002,0003,0002004: 1,276 units (1,177 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 85 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,735 units (1,316 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 417 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,625 units (1,190 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 1,435 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,997 units (973 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 1,020 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,258 units (531 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 721 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 694 units (365 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 319 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 627 units (356 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 247 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 747 units (330 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 397 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 921 units (516 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 389 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,029 units (588 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 426 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,390 units (444 single-family, 103 in 2–4 unit, 843 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 751 units (457 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 196 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,470 units (542 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 858 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,175 units (578 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 507 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,053 units (584 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 417 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,474 units (630 single-family, 155 in 2–4 unit, 689 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,269 units (656 single-family, 154 in 2–4 unit, 459 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,496 units (771 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 604 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,043 units (714 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 271 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 695 units (575 single-family, 59 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 649 units (528 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 69 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 616 units (501 single-family, 51 in 2–4 unit, 64 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252006 high · 2,625

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 9 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Tuscaloosa, with 3,071 units or 68% of the total, followed by Northport with 735. Among the three largest, Tuscaloosa put 35% of its units in five-plus buildings, Northport 0%.

  • Tuscaloosa68% (3,071 units)
  • Northport16% (735 units)
  • Moundville6.1% (276 units)
  • Lake View5% (225 units)
  • Vance3.2% (143 units)
  • Eutaw0.5% (24 units)
  • Gordo town0.4% (19 units)
  • Reform town0.1% (5 units)

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

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 30 other metro areas, among them Laredo, Utica, Olympia. Annual permits fell from 2,625 during the mid-2000s boom to 627 in 2010, a drop of 76%. The nearest bust profile in the East South Central states was Decatur, AL's (77%). Its quietest year came later, in 2025 (616 units). The 2021–2025 pace of 900 units a year is 52% below the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 5.1%.

Relative to population

With 281,850 residents in July 2025, Tuscaloosa authorized 3.2 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Lewiston, ME (3.2) and Kiryas Joel (3.2).

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Tucson (24% in five-plus buildings). Apartment building has lost ground since 2004–2006, when the five-plus share was 34%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 7.6% of units, against 3.5% nationally.

2021–202568.7%69%7.6%23.8%24%2004–200665.3%65%0.3%34.4%34%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202568.7%69%7.6%23.8%24%2004–200665.3%65%0.3%34.4%34%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Where in the metro

Tuscaloosa County accounted for 93% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Hale County for 6.1%.

  • Tuscaloosa County93% (603 in 2025)
  • Hale County6.1% (8 in 2025)
  • Pickens County0.6% (4 in 2025)
  • Greene County0.5% (1 in 2025)

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA1,7806.747%
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA6633.529%
Tuscaloosa, AL6163.224%
Laredo, TX1,3405.314%
Duluth, MN-WI6472.533%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Tuscaloosa beside San Luis Obispo

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