HousingPermits

New England division · Northeast

Vermont

Vermont authorized 2,294 new housing units in 2025. Permits fell 14% between 2024 and 2025, the steepest decline among the 6 New England states. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 20% below the 2004–2006 average, the largest recovery by this measure among the 6 New England states.

01,0002,0003,0004,0002004: 3,588 units (2,686 single-family, 333 in 2–4 unit, 569 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,917 units (2,360 single-family, 268 in 2–4 unit, 289 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,626 units (2,071 single-family, 246 in 2–4 unit, 309 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,056 units (1,583 single-family, 182 in 2–4 unit, 291 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,444 units (1,057 single-family, 151 in 2–4 unit, 236 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,367 units (897 single-family, 131 in 2–4 unit, 339 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,319 units (980 single-family, 81 in 2–4 unit, 258 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,299 units (805 single-family, 117 in 2–4 unit, 377 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,301 units (889 single-family, 76 in 2–4 unit, 336 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,499 units (955 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 428 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,546 units (978 single-family, 97 in 2–4 unit, 471 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,998 units (936 single-family, 184 in 2–4 unit, 878 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,771 units (969 single-family, 174 in 2–4 unit, 628 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,749 units (983 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 654 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,080 units (1,131 single-family, 141 in 2–4 unit, 808 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,801 units (987 single-family, 136 in 2–4 unit, 678 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,077 units (1,154 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 807 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 2,319 units (1,361 single-family, 152 in 2–4 unit, 806 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,403 units (1,326 single-family, 158 in 2–4 unit, 919 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 2,456 units (1,303 single-family, 191 in 2–4 unit, 962 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 2,654 units (1,404 single-family, 185 in 2–4 unit, 1,065 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 2,294 units (1,287 single-family, 131 in 2–4 unit, 876 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 3,5882011 low · 1,29901,5003,0004,5002004: 3,588 units (2,686 single-family, 333 in 2–4 unit, 569 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,917 units (2,360 single-family, 268 in 2–4 unit, 289 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,626 units (2,071 single-family, 246 in 2–4 unit, 309 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,056 units (1,583 single-family, 182 in 2–4 unit, 291 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,444 units (1,057 single-family, 151 in 2–4 unit, 236 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,367 units (897 single-family, 131 in 2–4 unit, 339 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,319 units (980 single-family, 81 in 2–4 unit, 258 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,299 units (805 single-family, 117 in 2–4 unit, 377 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,301 units (889 single-family, 76 in 2–4 unit, 336 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,499 units (955 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 428 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,546 units (978 single-family, 97 in 2–4 unit, 471 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,998 units (936 single-family, 184 in 2–4 unit, 878 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,771 units (969 single-family, 174 in 2–4 unit, 628 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,749 units (983 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 654 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,080 units (1,131 single-family, 141 in 2–4 unit, 808 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,801 units (987 single-family, 136 in 2–4 unit, 678 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,077 units (1,154 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 807 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 2,319 units (1,361 single-family, 152 in 2–4 unit, 806 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,403 units (1,326 single-family, 158 in 2–4 unit, 919 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 2,456 units (1,303 single-family, 191 in 2–4 unit, 962 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 2,654 units (1,404 single-family, 185 in 2–4 unit, 1,065 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 2,294 units (1,287 single-family, 131 in 2–4 unit, 876 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 3,588

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

The housing bust cut annual permits by 64%, from 3,588 at the 2004–2006 high to 1,299 in 2011, the mildest drop among the 6 New England states.

Houses or apartments

In Vermont, 55% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 38% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Oregon (38% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 13%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 6.7% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2024 (1,065), single-family houses in 2004 (2,686).

2021–202555.1%55%6.7%38.2%38%2004–200677.9%78%9.3%9%12.8%13%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202555.1%55%6.7%38.2%38%2004–200677.9%78%9.3%12.8%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Vermont authorized the most units in 2004 (3,588); 2025 reached 64% of that. Its peak year is shared by 11 other states, among them Alaska, New Hampshire, Kentucky. Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2024.

Relative to population

With 644,663 residents in July 2025, Vermont 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 New Mexico (3.8) and North Dakota (3.7).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 47% of the units authorized in Vermont fell in counties belonging to one of its 1 metro area; the other 53% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Burlington, VT leads with 1,146 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Vermont, 188 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was South Burlington, with 1,233 units or 10% of the total, followed by Burlington with 1,074. Among the three largest, Burlington put 86% of its units in five-plus buildings, Morristown town 51%.

  • South Burlington10% (1,233 units)
  • Burlington8.9% (1,074 units)
  • Morristown town4.4% (535 units)
  • Newport town4.4% (535 units)
  • Colchester town3.3% (406 units)
  • Stowe town2.9% (354 units)
  • Shelburne town2.6% (321 units)
  • Essex Junction2.6% (319 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Vermont reported 76% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 24% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Montana, 22%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
North Dakota2,4403.731%
Alaska8481.422%
District of Columbia1,5915.592%
Vermont2,2943.838%
Wyoming2,2384.016%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Vermont beside District of Columbia

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