HousingPermits

Metro area in Texas

Waco, TX

The Waco metro area authorized 1,460 new housing units in 2025. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2023, with 1,776 units; 2025 came to 82% of that. The 2025 count stood 10% above its 2004–2006 average of 1,326 units a year.

05001,0001,5002,0002004: 1,558 units (799 single-family, 286 in 2–4 unit, 473 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,345 units (1,038 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 249 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,074 units (975 single-family, 99 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,083 units (833 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 200 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 865 units (558 single-family, 43 in 2–4 unit, 264 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 682 units (432 single-family, 72 in 2–4 unit, 178 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 613 units (449 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 120 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 528 units (446 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 52 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 684 units (495 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 139 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 687 units (622 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 29 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,474 units (610 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 814 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,512 units (593 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 741 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,766 units (641 single-family, 114 in 2–4 unit, 1,011 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,015 units (776 single-family, 72 in 2–4 unit, 167 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 855 units (769 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,229 units (883 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 276 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,220 units (977 single-family, 125 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,116 units (992 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,403 units (962 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 379 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,776 units (759 single-family, 170 in 2–4 unit, 847 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,065 units (761 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 200 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,460 units (786 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 568 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252023 high · 1,7762011 low · 52808001,6002,4002004: 1,558 units (799 single-family, 286 in 2–4 unit, 473 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,345 units (1,038 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 249 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,074 units (975 single-family, 99 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,083 units (833 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 200 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 865 units (558 single-family, 43 in 2–4 unit, 264 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 682 units (432 single-family, 72 in 2–4 unit, 178 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 613 units (449 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 120 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 528 units (446 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 52 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 684 units (495 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 139 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 687 units (622 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 29 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,474 units (610 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 814 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,512 units (593 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 741 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,766 units (641 single-family, 114 in 2–4 unit, 1,011 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,015 units (776 single-family, 72 in 2–4 unit, 167 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 855 units (769 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,229 units (883 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 276 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,220 units (977 single-family, 125 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,116 units (992 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,403 units (962 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 379 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,776 units (759 single-family, 170 in 2–4 unit, 847 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,065 units (761 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 200 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,460 units (786 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 568 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252023 high · 1,776

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 24 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Waco, with 4,933 units or 72% of the total, followed by McGregor with 498. Among the three largest, McGregor put 57% of its units in five-plus buildings, Hewitt 0%.

  • Waco72% (4,933 units)
  • McGregor7.3% (498 units)
  • Hewitt5.2% (353 units)
  • Robinson4.7% (318 units)
  • Woodway2.9% (195 units)
  • Bellmead1.4% (93 units)
  • Lacy-Lakeview0.9% (64 units)
  • West0.9% (64 units)

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

Houses or apartments

In Waco, 62% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 30% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Kennewick (30% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 18%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 7.6% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2016 (1,011), single-family houses in 2005 (1,038).

2021–202562.5%62%7.6%30.0%30%2004–200670.7%71%11.1%11%18.2%18%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202562.5%62%7.6%30.0%30%2004–200670.7%71%11.1%18.2%18%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 8 other metro areas, among them Burlington, NC, Eau Claire, Santa Fe. Annual permits fell from 1,558 during the mid-2000s boom to 528 in 2011, a drop of 66%. The nearest bust profile in the West South Central states was Austin's (66%). Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2016. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 37%.

Relative to population

With 308,807 residents in July 2025, Waco authorized 4.5 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, close to the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Las Cruces (4.5) and Baton Rouge (4.5).

Where in the metro

McLennan County accounted for 99% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Bosque County for 0.9%.

  • McLennan County99% (1,442 in 2025)
  • Bosque County0.9% (12 in 2025)
  • Falls County0.5% (6 in 2025)

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL3,45613.932%
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA1,1562.810%
Sioux Falls, SD-MN2,32712.056%
Waco, TX1,4604.530%
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA1,6695.353%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Waco beside Olympia

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