HousingPermits

New England division · Northeast

Massachusetts

Massachusetts authorized 12,477 new housing units in 2025, the largest total of the 6 New England states. Single-family houses made up 38% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the third-lowest share among the 50 states and DC. Its 2025 total was only 51% of the 2005 high of 24,549 units, the furthest below a series peak among the 6 New England states.

08,00016k24k32k2004: 22,477 units (14,842 single-family, 1,440 in 2–4 unit, 6,195 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 24,549 units (14,585 single-family, 1,607 in 2–4 unit, 8,357 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 19,580 units (10,916 single-family, 1,592 in 2–4 unit, 7,072 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 15,358 units (8,928 single-family, 949 in 2–4 unit, 5,481 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 9,883 units (5,368 single-family, 543 in 2–4 unit, 3,972 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 7,941 units (5,074 single-family, 436 in 2–4 unit, 2,431 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,075 units (5,839 single-family, 549 in 2–4 unit, 2,687 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 7,725 units (4,899 single-family, 343 in 2–4 unit, 2,483 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 11,111 units (5,920 single-family, 592 in 2–4 unit, 4,599 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 14,569 units (7,100 single-family, 714 in 2–4 unit, 6,755 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 14,486 units (7,330 single-family, 679 in 2–4 unit, 6,477 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 17,424 units (6,922 single-family, 778 in 2–4 unit, 9,724 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 16,288 units (7,641 single-family, 841 in 2–4 unit, 7,806 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 17,728 units (7,278 single-family, 820 in 2–4 unit, 9,630 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 17,044 units (7,169 single-family, 1,034 in 2–4 unit, 8,841 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,365 units (6,292 single-family, 987 in 2–4 unit, 10,086 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 17,025 units (6,754 single-family, 932 in 2–4 unit, 9,339 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 19,853 units (7,231 single-family, 1,032 in 2–4 unit, 11,590 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 16,830 units (6,232 single-family, 1,013 in 2–4 unit, 9,585 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 13,214 units (5,075 single-family, 840 in 2–4 unit, 7,299 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 14,338 units (5,626 single-family, 814 in 2–4 unit, 7,898 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 12,477 units (5,018 single-family, 635 in 2–4 unit, 6,824 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 24,5492011 low · 7,725010k20k30k2004: 22,477 units (14,842 single-family, 1,440 in 2–4 unit, 6,195 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 24,549 units (14,585 single-family, 1,607 in 2–4 unit, 8,357 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 19,580 units (10,916 single-family, 1,592 in 2–4 unit, 7,072 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 15,358 units (8,928 single-family, 949 in 2–4 unit, 5,481 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 9,883 units (5,368 single-family, 543 in 2–4 unit, 3,972 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 7,941 units (5,074 single-family, 436 in 2–4 unit, 2,431 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,075 units (5,839 single-family, 549 in 2–4 unit, 2,687 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 7,725 units (4,899 single-family, 343 in 2–4 unit, 2,483 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 11,111 units (5,920 single-family, 592 in 2–4 unit, 4,599 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 14,569 units (7,100 single-family, 714 in 2–4 unit, 6,755 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 14,486 units (7,330 single-family, 679 in 2–4 unit, 6,477 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 17,424 units (6,922 single-family, 778 in 2–4 unit, 9,724 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 16,288 units (7,641 single-family, 841 in 2–4 unit, 7,806 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 17,728 units (7,278 single-family, 820 in 2–4 unit, 9,630 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 17,044 units (7,169 single-family, 1,034 in 2–4 unit, 8,841 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,365 units (6,292 single-family, 987 in 2–4 unit, 10,086 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 17,025 units (6,754 single-family, 932 in 2–4 unit, 9,339 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 19,853 units (7,231 single-family, 1,032 in 2–4 unit, 11,590 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 16,830 units (6,232 single-family, 1,013 in 2–4 unit, 9,585 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 13,214 units (5,075 single-family, 840 in 2–4 unit, 7,299 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 14,338 units (5,626 single-family, 814 in 2–4 unit, 7,898 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 12,477 units (5,018 single-family, 635 in 2–4 unit, 6,824 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 24,549

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Permits fell 13% between 2024 and 2025, the second-steepest decline among the 6 New England states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Connecticut (56% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 32%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 5.6% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2021 (11,590), single-family houses in 2004 (14,842).

2021–202538.0%38%5.6%56.3%56%2004–200660.6%61%7.0%32.5%32%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202538.0%38%5.6%56.3%56%2004–200660.6%61%7.0%32.5%32%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 19 other states, among them Arizona, Missouri, Maryland. Annual permits fell from 24,549 during the mid-2000s boom to 7,725 in 2011, a drop of 68%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Mississippi's (68%). The 2021–2025 pace of 15,342 units a year is 31% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Relative to population

With 7,154,084 residents in July 2025, Massachusetts authorized 2.2 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are New York (2.3) and West Virginia (2.2).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 97% of the units authorized in Massachusetts fell in counties belonging to one of its 7 metro areas; the other 3% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Boston leads with 12,465 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Massachusetts, 346 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Boston, with 13,394 units or 18% of the total, followed by Plymouth town with 2,894. Among the three largest, Boston put 91% of its units in five-plus buildings, Plymouth town 45%.

  • Boston18% (13,394 units)
  • Plymouth town3.8% (2,894 units)
  • Worcester3.5% (2,672 units)
  • Cambridge2.4% (1,873 units)
  • Medford2.3% (1,733 units)
  • Everett1.7% (1,293 units)
  • Nantucket town1.6% (1,258 units)
  • Quincy1.6% (1,224 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Massachusetts reported 80% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 20% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Louisiana, 21%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Washington34,9135.548%
Arizona51,5328.031%
Tennessee43,3746.930%
Massachusetts12,4772.256%
Indiana29,0764.128%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Massachusetts beside Tennessee

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