Where U.S. states rank on new housing supply pipeline
In order to know where you're going, you must know where you've been, says an old adage. And a new UNLV housing supply rankings report is putting that proverb into practice by providing policymakers and the public with the nation's first comprehensive look at how state-level new home permitting activity stacks up—and offering clues on local, state or regional measures that could help drive down…
The UNLV housing supply rankings report offers a comprehensive analysis of U.S. state-level new home permitting activity, providing policymakers and the public with insight into how states are performing in terms of building more affordable housing. The report, released by the Lied Center for Real Estate, compares U.S. Census Bureau building permit data from January to August 2026 with previous years and ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia in four key areas: overall performance, total units, multifamily units, and the so-called "missing middle" housing types like condos and duplexes.
Nevada saw a significant drop in permits, ranking last among the 51 jurisdictions evaluated, while Kansas experienced a notable rise in permits, now leading the nation in "missing middle" housing. South Dakota leads in multifamily permits per resident, while Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia saw declines in household numbers despite permitting efforts.
Florida, Texas, and Arizona collectively permitted fewer units than the previous year, ranking in the top 10 for permits per resident but lagging behind in terms of momentum. The report highlights the critical role cities and states play in determining housing prices and affordability, suggesting that political action and policy changes could help put downward pressure on housing costs.
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