HousingPermits

Mountain division · West

New Mexico

New Mexico authorized 7,747 new housing units in 2025. Single-family houses made up 80% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 8 Mountain states. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 40% below the 2004–2006 average, the second-weakest recovery by this measure among the 8 Mountain states.

04,0008,00012k16k2004: 12,555 units (11,674 single-family, 203 in 2–4 unit, 678 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 14,180 units (13,417 single-family, 193 in 2–4 unit, 570 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 13,573 units (12,294 single-family, 220 in 2–4 unit, 1,059 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 9,206 units (8,234 single-family, 326 in 2–4 unit, 646 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 6,070 units (5,224 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 673 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 4,642 units (4,140 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 442 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 4,533 units (4,006 single-family, 48 in 2–4 unit, 479 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,067 units (3,399 single-family, 320 in 2–4 unit, 348 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 4,672 units (3,220 single-family, 293 in 2–4 unit, 1,159 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 5,161 units (3,568 single-family, 161 in 2–4 unit, 1,432 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,799 units (4,055 single-family, 120 in 2–4 unit, 624 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,599 units (3,925 single-family, 101 in 2–4 unit, 573 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,863 units (3,816 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 1,009 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,741 units (4,114 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 597 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,813 units (4,394 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 383 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 5,020 units (4,285 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 702 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 5,219 units (4,418 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 760 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 7,753 units (5,465 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 2,203 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 8,633 units (7,155 single-family, 51 in 2–4 unit, 1,427 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 8,511 units (6,835 single-family, 147 in 2–4 unit, 1,529 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 7,572 units (6,488 single-family, 314 in 2–4 unit, 770 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 7,747 units (6,296 single-family, 187 in 2–4 unit, 1,264 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 14,1802011 low · 4,06705,00010k15k2004: 12,555 units (11,674 single-family, 203 in 2–4 unit, 678 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 14,180 units (13,417 single-family, 193 in 2–4 unit, 570 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 13,573 units (12,294 single-family, 220 in 2–4 unit, 1,059 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 9,206 units (8,234 single-family, 326 in 2–4 unit, 646 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 6,070 units (5,224 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 673 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 4,642 units (4,140 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 442 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 4,533 units (4,006 single-family, 48 in 2–4 unit, 479 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,067 units (3,399 single-family, 320 in 2–4 unit, 348 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 4,672 units (3,220 single-family, 293 in 2–4 unit, 1,159 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 5,161 units (3,568 single-family, 161 in 2–4 unit, 1,432 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,799 units (4,055 single-family, 120 in 2–4 unit, 624 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,599 units (3,925 single-family, 101 in 2–4 unit, 573 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,863 units (3,816 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 1,009 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,741 units (4,114 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 597 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,813 units (4,394 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 383 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 5,020 units (4,285 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 702 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 5,219 units (4,418 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 760 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 7,753 units (5,465 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 2,203 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 8,633 units (7,155 single-family, 51 in 2–4 unit, 1,427 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 8,511 units (6,835 single-family, 147 in 2–4 unit, 1,529 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 7,572 units (6,488 single-family, 314 in 2–4 unit, 770 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 7,747 units (6,296 single-family, 187 in 2–4 unit, 1,264 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 14,180

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total was only 55% of the 2005 high of 14,180 units, the third-furthest below a series peak among the 8 Mountain states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Alabama (17% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 5.7%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2021 (2,203), single-family houses in 2005 (13,417).

2021–202580.2%80%1.9%17.9%18%2004–200692.7%93%1.5%5.7%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202580.2%80%1.9%17.9%18%2004–200692.7%93%1.5%5.7%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 West Virginia, Hawaii, Maine. Annual permits fell from 14,180 during the mid-2000s boom to 4,067 in 2011, a drop of 71%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Alaska's (72%). Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2022.

Relative to population

With 2,125,498 residents in July 2025, New Mexico authorized 3.8 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Wisconsin (4.0) and Vermont (3.8).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 60% of the units authorized in New Mexico fell in counties belonging to one of its 4 metro areas; the other 40% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Albuquerque leads with 3,083 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across New Mexico, 30 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Balance of State, with 11,753 units or 29% of the total, followed by Albuquerque with 6,891. Among the three largest, Albuquerque put 53% of its units in five-plus buildings, Balance of State 0%.

  • Balance of State29% (11,753 units)
  • Albuquerque17% (6,891 units)
  • Rio Rancho14% (5,799 units)
  • Las Cruces8.8% (3,533 units)
  • Santa Fe7.7% (3,095 units)
  • Los Lunas village3.3% (1,327 units)
  • Dona Ana County (unincorporated)2.9% (1,168 units)
  • Bernalillo County (unincorporated)2.5% (1,023 units)

Share of the units authorized in New Mexico, 2021–2025.

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in New Mexico reported 90% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 10% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Connecticut, 9.9%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
New Mexico7,7473.818%
Idaho17,9449.521%
Nebraska10,5965.243%
West Virginia3,9622.212%
Hawaii3,7082.734%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put New Mexico beside Idaho

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