HousingPermits

New England division · Northeast

Maine

Maine authorized an average of 6,564 new housing units a year in 2021–2025, the second-largest total of the 6 New England states. Permits rose 16% between 2024 and 2025, the second-largest increase among the 50 states and DC. Relative to population, the rate was 4.7 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the highest rate of the 6 New England states.

02,5005,0007,50010k2004: 8,771 units (8,053 single-family, 297 in 2–4 unit, 421 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 8,969 units (7,810 single-family, 489 in 2–4 unit, 670 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 7,293 units (6,483 single-family, 361 in 2–4 unit, 449 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 5,873 units (5,053 single-family, 224 in 2–4 unit, 596 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 3,615 units (3,099 single-family, 148 in 2–4 unit, 368 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 3,121 units (2,816 single-family, 128 in 2–4 unit, 177 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 3,034 units (2,812 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 132 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,744 units (2,279 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 395 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 3,001 units (2,496 single-family, 149 in 2–4 unit, 356 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 3,427 units (2,812 single-family, 122 in 2–4 unit, 493 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 3,242 units (2,713 single-family, 159 in 2–4 unit, 370 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 3,699 units (2,853 single-family, 150 in 2–4 unit, 696 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,010 units (3,265 single-family, 231 in 2–4 unit, 514 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,358 units (3,583 single-family, 148 in 2–4 unit, 627 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,697 units (3,660 single-family, 174 in 2–4 unit, 863 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,760 units (3,474 single-family, 225 in 2–4 unit, 1,061 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 5,304 units (4,180 single-family, 271 in 2–4 unit, 853 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 6,530 units (5,238 single-family, 312 in 2–4 unit, 980 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 7,094 units (4,907 single-family, 321 in 2–4 unit, 1,866 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 6,183 units (4,540 single-family, 336 in 2–4 unit, 1,307 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 6,034 units (4,650 single-family, 392 in 2–4 unit, 992 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 6,979 units (4,764 single-family, 341 in 2–4 unit, 1,874 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 8,9692011 low · 2,74404,0008,00012k2004: 8,771 units (8,053 single-family, 297 in 2–4 unit, 421 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 8,969 units (7,810 single-family, 489 in 2–4 unit, 670 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 7,293 units (6,483 single-family, 361 in 2–4 unit, 449 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 5,873 units (5,053 single-family, 224 in 2–4 unit, 596 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 3,615 units (3,099 single-family, 148 in 2–4 unit, 368 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 3,121 units (2,816 single-family, 128 in 2–4 unit, 177 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 3,034 units (2,812 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 132 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,744 units (2,279 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 395 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 3,001 units (2,496 single-family, 149 in 2–4 unit, 356 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 3,427 units (2,812 single-family, 122 in 2–4 unit, 493 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 3,242 units (2,713 single-family, 159 in 2–4 unit, 370 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 3,699 units (2,853 single-family, 150 in 2–4 unit, 696 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,010 units (3,265 single-family, 231 in 2–4 unit, 514 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,358 units (3,583 single-family, 148 in 2–4 unit, 627 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,697 units (3,660 single-family, 174 in 2–4 unit, 863 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,760 units (3,474 single-family, 225 in 2–4 unit, 1,061 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 5,304 units (4,180 single-family, 271 in 2–4 unit, 853 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 6,530 units (5,238 single-family, 312 in 2–4 unit, 980 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 7,094 units (4,907 single-family, 321 in 2–4 unit, 1,866 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 6,183 units (4,540 single-family, 336 in 2–4 unit, 1,307 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 6,034 units (4,650 single-family, 392 in 2–4 unit, 992 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 6,979 units (4,764 single-family, 341 in 2–4 unit, 1,874 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 8,969

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Buildings with five or more units accounted for 21% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the lowest share among the 6 New England states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Idaho (21% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 6.2%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 5.2% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2025 (1,874), single-family houses in 2004 (8,053).

2021–202573.4%73%5.2%21.4%21%2004–200689.3%89%4.6%6.2%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202573.4%73%5.2%21.4%21%2004–200689.3%89%4.6%6.2%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Maine authorized the most units in 2005 (8,969); 2025 reached 78% of that. Its peak year is shared by 19 other states, among them Hawaii, Rhode Island, West Virginia. Annual permits fell from 8,969 during the mid-2000s boom to 2,744 in 2011, a drop of 69%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Pennsylvania's (70%). The 2021–2025 pace of 6,564 units a year is 21% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 8 years in a row up to 2022.

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 64% of the units authorized in Maine fell in counties belonging to one of its 3 metro areas; the other 36% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Portland, ME leads with 3,402 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Maine, 355 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Portland, with 1,704 units or 5.2% of the total, followed by Scarborough town with 1,145. Among the three largest, Portland put 89% of its units in five-plus buildings, Scarborough town 67%.

  • Portland5.2% (1,704 units)
  • Scarborough town3.5% (1,145 units)
  • Kittery town2.8% (935 units)
  • Windham town2.3% (757 units)
  • Westbrook2.1% (690 units)
  • Wells town2.1% (680 units)
  • Maine Unorganized Territory1.7% (567 units)
  • York town1.6% (538 units)

Share of the units authorized in Maine, 2021–2025.

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Maine reported 69% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 31% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Alaska, 28%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Hawaii3,7082.734%
New Hampshire5,0303.528%
Maine6,9794.721%
Montana5,2585.140%
Rhode Island1,7381.423%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Maine beside New Hampshire

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