A new report by the construction scheduling platform Planera shows which U.S. states are adding the most new housing 2025. The study looked at key factors such as construction spending, housing approvals, year-over-year changes, and how densely new homes are being built.
- New Jersey tops the list, with 34,932 new homes approved in 2025.
- With a 44.9 percent increase, Massachusetts reports the largest annual increase in housing approvals.
- Florida dominates in total spending, with $27.55 billion invested in new housing.
The research examined which U.S. states built the most new housing by combining construction spending, year-over-year change, housing approvals, and land area data. Spending and permit figures were taken from the U.S. Census Bureau, and housing density was calculated per 100 square miles to compare states of different sizes. Together, these measures reveal where development is most prominent and which skylines are growing the fastest.
Here’s a quick look at the top 10 states adding the most housing:
1. New Jersey
- Housing units approved: 34,932
- Construction spending: $9.36 billion
- Year-over-year increase in spending: 13 percent
- Housing units per 100 square miles: 47
New Jersey permitted 34,932 new homes approved during the past year, nearly doubling 2024’s 18,084. The state spent $9.36 billion into building projects, reshaping cities and suburbs alike. Housing approvals went up by 48.2 percent year over year.
2. Delaware
Delaware comes in second, launching new waves of construction with over 7,000 new units, and investing $1.32 billion in housing projects. Its compact area of under 2,000 square miles (5179.98 sq km) makes each new development stand out.
3. Florida
Florida ranks third, having approved 173,326 new homes, the nation’s largest total construction count. The state spent $27.55 billion on new projects, a 13 percent increase from 2024.
4. North Carolina
North Carolina takes fourth place, with 95,163 new homes. The state has invested $12.73 billion in building projects, increasing its construction budget by 16 percent, more than any of the other top-ranking states. Development continues to grow steadily compared to last year’s 98,853 approvals.
5. Massachusetts
Massachusetts rounds out the top five with the fourth-most new homes 14,338, and $11.08 billion in development. Housing approvals saw an increase by 44.9 percent, and with 184 homes per 100 square miles (0.7104 homes per sq km), the increase in urban development is clearly reshaping the vertical profile of the state.
