HousingPermits

East North Central division · Midwest

Wisconsin

Wisconsin authorized 25,569 new housing units in 2025, the third-largest total of the 5 East North Central states. Relative to population, the rate was 4.3 units per 1,000 residents in 2025, the highest rate of the 5 East North Central states. Single-family houses made up 53% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the lowest share among the 5 East North Central states.

015k30k45k60k2004: 39,992 units (29,716 single-family, 3,427 in 2–4 unit, 6,849 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 35,334 units (25,966 single-family, 2,741 in 2–4 unit, 6,627 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 27,329 units (19,607 single-family, 2,136 in 2–4 unit, 5,586 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 21,837 units (16,261 single-family, 1,476 in 2–4 unit, 4,100 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 15,509 units (10,124 single-family, 843 in 2–4 unit, 4,542 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 10,780 units (7,933 single-family, 559 in 2–4 unit, 2,288 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 10,864 units (7,687 single-family, 465 in 2–4 unit, 2,712 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 9,939 units (6,502 single-family, 444 in 2–4 unit, 2,993 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 12,041 units (7,698 single-family, 553 in 2–4 unit, 3,790 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 13,869 units (8,881 single-family, 610 in 2–4 unit, 4,378 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 14,622 units (8,582 single-family, 587 in 2–4 unit, 5,453 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 16,793 units (9,791 single-family, 713 in 2–4 unit, 6,289 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 19,274 units (10,998 single-family, 814 in 2–4 unit, 7,462 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 19,545 units (11,769 single-family, 831 in 2–4 unit, 6,945 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 19,113 units (12,039 single-family, 1,031 in 2–4 unit, 6,043 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,480 units (11,298 single-family, 1,115 in 2–4 unit, 5,067 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 21,226 units (12,169 single-family, 1,419 in 2–4 unit, 7,638 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 25,444 units (13,199 single-family, 1,553 in 2–4 unit, 10,692 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 21,072 units (11,652 single-family, 1,813 in 2–4 unit, 7,607 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 21,494 units (11,465 single-family, 1,804 in 2–4 unit, 8,225 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 23,826 units (12,879 single-family, 1,621 in 2–4 unit, 9,326 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 25,569 units (13,405 single-family, 1,628 in 2–4 unit, 10,536 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 39,9922011 low · 9,939015k30k45k2004: 39,992 units (29,716 single-family, 3,427 in 2–4 unit, 6,849 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 35,334 units (25,966 single-family, 2,741 in 2–4 unit, 6,627 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 27,329 units (19,607 single-family, 2,136 in 2–4 unit, 5,586 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 21,837 units (16,261 single-family, 1,476 in 2–4 unit, 4,100 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 15,509 units (10,124 single-family, 843 in 2–4 unit, 4,542 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 10,780 units (7,933 single-family, 559 in 2–4 unit, 2,288 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 10,864 units (7,687 single-family, 465 in 2–4 unit, 2,712 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 9,939 units (6,502 single-family, 444 in 2–4 unit, 2,993 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 12,041 units (7,698 single-family, 553 in 2–4 unit, 3,790 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 13,869 units (8,881 single-family, 610 in 2–4 unit, 4,378 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 14,622 units (8,582 single-family, 587 in 2–4 unit, 5,453 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 16,793 units (9,791 single-family, 713 in 2–4 unit, 6,289 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 19,274 units (10,998 single-family, 814 in 2–4 unit, 7,462 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 19,545 units (11,769 single-family, 831 in 2–4 unit, 6,945 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 19,113 units (12,039 single-family, 1,031 in 2–4 unit, 6,043 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,480 units (11,298 single-family, 1,115 in 2–4 unit, 5,067 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 21,226 units (12,169 single-family, 1,419 in 2–4 unit, 7,638 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 25,444 units (13,199 single-family, 1,553 in 2–4 unit, 10,692 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 21,072 units (11,652 single-family, 1,813 in 2–4 unit, 7,607 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 21,494 units (11,465 single-family, 1,804 in 2–4 unit, 8,225 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 23,826 units (12,879 single-family, 1,621 in 2–4 unit, 9,326 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 25,569 units (13,405 single-family, 1,628 in 2–4 unit, 10,536 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 39,992

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 7.2% of its units in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 5 East North Central states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Illinois (40% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 19%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2021 (10,692), single-family houses in 2004 (29,716).

2021–202553.3%53%7.2%39.5%40%2004–200673.3%73%8.1%18.6%19%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202553.3%53%7.2%39.5%40%2004–200673.3%73%8.1%18.6%19%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Wisconsin authorized the most units in 2004 (39,992); 2025 reached 64% of that. Its peak year is shared by 11 other states, among them Minnesota, Indiana, Kentucky. Annual permits fell from 39,992 during the mid-2000s boom to 9,939 in 2011, a drop of 75%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Rhode Island's (75%). The 2021–2025 pace of 23,481 units a year is 31% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 6 years in a row up to 2017. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 7.3%.

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 74% of the units authorized in Wisconsin fell in counties belonging to one of its 15 metro areas; the other 26% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Minneapolis leads with 19,395 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Wisconsin, 1087 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Madison, with 14,801 units or 13% of the total, followed by Eau Claire with 2,882. Among the three largest, Madison put 89% of its units in five-plus buildings, Sun Prairie 67%.

  • Madison13% (14,801 units)
  • Eau Claire2.5% (2,882 units)
  • Sun Prairie1.7% (2,037 units)
  • Fitchburg1.6% (1,905 units)
  • Verona1.4% (1,587 units)
  • DeForest village1.3% (1,514 units)
  • Middleton1.3% (1,492 units)
  • Menomonee Falls village1.2% (1,395 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Wisconsin reported 96% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 4.5% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Kansas, 4.6%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Missouri17,4743.131%
Maryland13,3582.940%
Colorado33,7547.144%
Wisconsin25,5694.040%
Minnesota20,9474.645%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Wisconsin beside Colorado

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