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Which counties in Michigan are building the most new homes?

Iron County (13.7 per 1,000 residents), Benzie County (7.3 per 1,000 residents) and Leelanau County (6.9 per 1,000 residents) permitted the most new homes for their size in Michigan in 2025.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 83 ranked Michigan counties

Michigan counties ranked by new homes permitted per 1,000 residents
RankCountyPer 1,000 residents, 2025Homes permitted 2025Residents
1Iron County13.716111,757
2Benzie County7.313618,568
3Leelanau County6.915922,982
4Wexford County5.519134,445
5Manistee County5.113225,656
6Oceana County5.013627,177
7Grand Traverse County4.947596,729
8Ottawa County4.61,411308,459
9Alcona County4.54810,556
10Houghton County4.517037,842
11Charlevoix County4.311126,036
12Antrim County4.310524,698
13Mackinac County4.04511,236
14Emmet County4.013533,775
15St. Joseph County3.924060,968
16Presque Isle County3.85013,128
17Alger County3.7328,641
18Gladwin County3.69326,077
19Kent County3.62,398675,232
20Allegan County3.2399123,188
21Roscommon County3.17523,914
22Washtenaw County2.91,088370,214
23Ogemaw County2.96221,121
24Montcalm County2.920169,406
25Cheboygan County2.97425,793
26Arenac County2.94315,068
27Van Buren County2.821076,071
28Oscoda County2.8248,723
29Keweenaw County2.762,186
30Cass County2.714051,677
31Livingston County2.7531197,315
32Muskegon County2.5451177,901
33Alpena County2.57228,853
34Barry County2.515763,991
35Clinton County2.419780,432
36Berrien County2.4372152,444
37Chippewa County2.48636,081
38Mecosta County2.39942,320
39Missaukee County2.33515,274
40Lake County2.33013,182
41Mason County2.36629,040
42Huron County2.36930,530
43Wayne County2.23,9221,769,038
44Macomb County2.21,931886,221
45Hillsdale County2.29945,738
46Newaygo County2.211151,622
47Kalkaska County2.03818,693
48Lapeer County2.017989,516
49Crawford County2.02713,722
50Ingham County1.9558289,709
51Jackson County1.9303159,552
52Lenawee County1.918497,779
53Iosco County1.94725,266
54Sanilac County1.87440,083
55Kalamazoo County1.8487263,795
56Dickinson County1.84625,827
57Ontonagon County1.7105,823
58Gogebic County1.62314,285
59Delta County1.65836,582
60Oakland County1.62,0231,288,337
61Marquette County1.610668,064
62Midland County1.512883,754
63Ionia County1.510066,557
64Baraga County1.5128,169
65Schoolcraft County1.5128,187
66Isabella County1.49064,691
67St. Clair County1.4219160,486
68Monroe County1.2191156,004
69Menominee County1.22822,941
70Gratiot County1.24841,190
71Tuscola County1.26152,680
72Saginaw County1.1210187,688
73Genesee County1.1444401,093
74Shiawassee County1.07167,681
75Eaton County1.0106109,581
76Otsego County1.02526,080
77Branch County1.04445,993
78Calhoun County0.9120133,408
79Clare County0.72331,543
80Bay County0.767102,123
81Osceola County0.0023,516
82Montmorency County0.009,842
83Luce County0.006,339

How this is ranked

Housing units authorized by building permits in 2025 (Census Bureau Building Permits Survey), per 1,000 residents. Permits count homes authorized, not finished. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are not ranked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in Michigan is building the most new homes?

Iron County: 13.7 per 1,000 residents, ahead of Benzie County (7.3 per 1,000 residents) and Leelanau County (6.9 per 1,000 residents), of 83 Michigan counties ranked.

How is this ranking calculated?

Housing units authorized by building permits in 2025 (Census Bureau Building Permits Survey), per 1,000 residents. Permits count homes authorized, not finished. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are not ranked.

More county rankings for Michigan

New homes permitted per 1,000 residents in other states

Across the U.S.