HousingPermits

Metro area in Washington

Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA

The Wenatchee-East Wenatchee metro area authorized 1,086 new housing units in 2025. Its 2025 total reached 98% of the 2007 high, the closest to a series peak among the 48 metro areas based in the Pacific states. Relative to population, the rate was 7.2 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the second-highest rate of the 48 metro areas based in the Pacific states.

03006009001,2002004: 693 units (626 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 902 units (838 single-family, 59 in 2–4 unit, 5 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,041 units (863 single-family, 100 in 2–4 unit, 78 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,107 units (767 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 489 units (440 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 19 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 355 units (331 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 320 units (313 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 246 units (246 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 299 units (297 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 706 units (386 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 312 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 460 units (433 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 21 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 593 units (490 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 89 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 574 units (543 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 21 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 629 units (599 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 14 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 807 units (626 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 171 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 955 units (632 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 289 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 991 units (706 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 262 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,000 units (803 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 159 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 861 units (570 single-family, 46 in 2–4 unit, 245 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 586 units (505 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 66 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 992 units (558 single-family, 57 in 2–4 unit, 377 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,086 units (530 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 521 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252007 high · 1,10704008001,2002004: 693 units (626 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 902 units (838 single-family, 59 in 2–4 unit, 5 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,041 units (863 single-family, 100 in 2–4 unit, 78 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,107 units (767 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 489 units (440 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 19 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 355 units (331 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 320 units (313 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 246 units (246 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 299 units (297 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 706 units (386 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 312 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 460 units (433 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 21 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 593 units (490 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 89 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 574 units (543 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 21 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 629 units (599 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 14 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 807 units (626 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 171 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 955 units (632 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 289 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 991 units (706 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 262 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,000 units (803 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 159 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 861 units (570 single-family, 46 in 2–4 unit, 245 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 586 units (505 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 66 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 992 units (558 single-family, 57 in 2–4 unit, 377 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,086 units (530 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 521 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252007 high · 1,107

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 3% above the 2004–2006 average, the third-largest recovery by this measure among the 48 metro areas based in the Pacific states.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 12 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Chelan County (unincorporated), with 1,233 units or 27% of the total, followed by Douglas County (unincorporated) with 1,084. Among the three largest, Wenatchee put 75% of its units in five-plus buildings, Chelan County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Chelan County (unincorporated)27% (1,233 units)
  • Douglas County (unincorporated)24% (1,084 units)
  • Wenatchee24% (1,077 units)
  • Leavenworth9.9% (448 units)
  • Chelan5% (224 units)
  • Rock Island3.2% (145 units)
  • East Wenatchee2.4% (108 units)
  • Cashmere2.3% (103 units)

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

Where in the metro

Chelan County accounted for 70% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Douglas County for 30%.

  • Chelan County70% (783 in 2025)
  • Douglas County30% (303 in 2025)

Houses or apartments

In Wenatchee, 66% 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 3.6%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2025 (521), single-family houses in 2006 (863).

2021–202565.5%66%4.2%30.2%30%2004–200688.3%88%8.2%3.6%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202565.5%66%4.2%30.2%30%2004–200688.3%88%8.2%3.6%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 19 other metro areas, among them Lawton, Springfield, OH, Harrisonburg. Annual permits fell from 1,041 during the mid-2000s boom to 246 in 2011, a drop of 76%. The nearest bust profile in the Pacific states was Eugene's (77%). Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2021. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 9.5%.

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Missoula, MT8898.259%
Elizabethtown, KY4917.345%
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA1,0867.230%
Pittsfield, MA1491.120%
Ames, IA3922.622%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Wenatchee beside Pittsfield

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