Two areas, one permit history
Pick any two of the 387 metro areas, the 50 states, DC or the whole country and see their yearly counts of new housing units authorized since 2004 on one chart, with the numbers that set them apart.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
From 2021 to 2025, the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area authorized 1.5 times as many housing units a year as the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metro area (38,332 against 24,735). Per 1,000 residents the gap is 15.4 against 11.7. Austin put 50% of its units in buildings with five or more units, Nashville 39%.
| Measure | Austin | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Units authorized, 2025 | 27,322 | 19,203 |
| Yearly average, 2021–2025 | 38,332 | 24,735 |
| Per 1,000 residents a year, 2021–2025 | 15.4 | 11.7 |
| Share in 5+ unit buildings, 2021–2025 | 50% | 39% |
| Busiest year since 2004 | 2021 (50,907) | 2021 (32,322) |
| Drop from 2004–06 high to 2007–12 low | 66% | 71% |
| 2025 as % of 2004 | 152% | 107% |
How to use it
Choose two areas and a view, then press Compare; the address bar keeps your choice, so the link can be shared. Units plots the raw yearly counts. Index sets each area's 2004 count to 100, which puts a small metro and a big state on the same footing and shows only the shape of each history. Share in 5+ buildings plots the part of each year's units that were in apartment-scale buildings.
What the numbers mean
Every figure counts housing units authorized by building permits in permit-issuing places, as estimated by the Census Bureau, including its estimates for offices that did not report. Rates per 1,000 residents use the Census population estimates for July of each year from 2021 to 2025. Metro areas follow the 2023 definitions for every year. A permit is not a finished home: the counting rules explain what is and is not included. The comparison describes the record; it does not rate either place.