Which cities have seen the biggest increase in multi-family construction?

Typical low-density places make an appearance

Which cities have seen the biggest increase in multi-family construction?

With the supply of inventory at an all-time low in 2020, the recent uptick in multi-family construction is a promising sign for the future of the housing market, but which cities should residents be flocking to?

In 2021, the total number of multi-family units authorized jumped from 491,700 to 621,700, which brought the share of multi-family units authorized from 33.4% to 35.8%. More residents returned to the office, which sparked a market for closer homes with proximity to social attractions such as restaurants, venues and other amenities.

However, not every state was convinced with their appeal. Multi-family permits slipped in 10 states, led by Connecticut with a 42% decline in authorizations from 2020 to 2021.

Read next: Is a multifamily bubble on the horizon?

It’s no surprise that multi-family housing is most common in the Northeast, with Pennsylvania seeing a whopping 195% growth, but data from the US Census Bureau revealed other low-density places like New Mexico and Kentucky surprised by also featuring high on the list.

Below are the top cities with the largest percentage change in multi-family units authorized:

  1. Louisville, KY - 1,506.9%
  2. Philadelphia, PA - 406.3%
  3. Dallas, TX - 250.6%
  4. Aurora, CO - 214.2%
  5. Anaheim, CA - 129.8%
  6. Milwaukee, WI - 125.6%
  7. Raleigh, NC - 121.5%
  8. Denver, CO - 117.1%
  9. Seattle, WA - 113.8%
  10. Portland, OR - 113.7%
  11. Wichita, KS - 111.5%
  12. Fort Worth, TX - 90.1%
  13. Miami, FL - 75.7%
  14. Arlington, TX - 73.1%
  15. Oakland, CA - 69.0%