These Five States Are Building the Most Apartments (2024)

While apartment construction activity is up almost everywhere nationwide, five states are building nearly half the nation’s total volume of supply.

The five states with the largest number of apartments under construction as of 3rd quarter 2022 include Texas, Florida, California, North Carolina and New York. Combined, these markets are building 45% of the nation’s apartments.

These Five States Are Building the Most Apartments (1)

Texas

It’s no surprise that Texas tops the nation for apartment construction activity. Two of this state’s largest five apartment markets – Dallas and Austin – regularly top building and permitting activity rankings. That was the case in 3rd quarter, as nearly 160,000 units are under way in the Lone Star State. This will increase the existing stock in Texas by 6.3%. Dallas construction numbers accounted for nearly 50,000 units, while builders are developing nearly 40,000 units in Austin. Those are two of the nation’s biggest metro-level volumes of new supply, with the perpetually busy New York rounding out the top three. Austin is also a top-ranking market for percentage growth, with new stock increasing the inventory base there by 14.1%. Houston also made the national top 10 ranking, with over 28,000 units under way.

Fueling demand for nation-leading apartment development, Texas has added a record number of new residents recently. According to the most recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas gained more new residents than any other state in the nation in the year-ending July 2021. Total population change from July 2020 to July 2021 was roughly 310,300 residents. The big bulk of that was in domestic migration with 170,000 new residents coming into the state. This was one of the biggest domestic migrations in the nation, after only Florida. International migration was also big in Texas (second nationwide, with only Florida seeing more) at over 27,000 new residents. Texas also saw the biggest natural increase in population in 2021, with roughly 450,000 births and 308,000 deaths.

Florida

A little more than 128,200 apartments are under way in Florida, which will swell the existing unit count by 7.4%. With nearly 24,000 units under way as of 3rd quarter, Miami is the Florida market with the most construction activity. Also logging big development are Orlando (21,000 units), Jacksonville (14,000 units), Tampa (13,500 units) and Fort Lauderdale (12,700 units).

Florida emerged as an epicenter for demand in the COVID-19 pandemic, when the work-from-anywhere wave pushed residents out of big, expensive cities and into smaller beach towns with lifestyle appeal. Second only to Texas, Florida saw big population growth of over 200,000 residents in 2021. Florida claimed the nation’s largest domestic migration total in 2021, with nearly 221,000 new residents coming into the state from within the country. This state also saw the biggest international migration volume, with nearly 39,000 residents coming in from other countries. Interestingly, the natural change in the existing Florida population was negative, as 320,000 deaths outpaced 260,000 births in the state.

All this population growth has led to strong apartment market fundamentals in recent years, with Florida markets commonly ranking among the best occupancy and rent growth showings nationwide. It’s no wonder that builders are constructing more units to take advantage of the way the market here has transformed.

California

Roughly 83,500 units are currently under construction in California, with that volume set to increase the existing base here by 2.7%. That’s in line with what California typically sees for construction volumes. Not surprisingly, Los Angeles is the state’s busiest market, with 30,200 units under way. Markets accounting for fewer of the state’s apartments under construction include San Diego (9,400 units), San Jose (7,500 units), Oakland (7,400 units) and Anaheim (6,500 units). In San Francisco, about 5,700 units are under way, which is a bit behind the normal pace for this market.

California is historically an undersupplied market, even after accounting for the big volumes of apartment construction that characterize the state. Interestingly, California lost residents in 2021, with the population here declining by 260,000 people. This was due to domestic migration, as roughly 370,000 residents left the state for other parts of the country. California followed Texas as the state with the second biggest natural increase in population in 2021, with nearly 530,000 births offset by about 415,000 deaths. It will be interesting to see if the population decline here continues, and if the construction volumes fall off as a result.

North Carolina

North Carolina is an outlier on this list. As of 3rd quarter, there were over 67,000 units under way in this coastal state. That stock is set to increase the existing base by 10.1%, one of the fastest growth paces nationwide. Other states scheduled to see existing stock increase by double digits in the near term include Delaware (21.9%), Utah (13%) and Montana (10.2%).

Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham account for big blocks of the stock under way in North Carolina, with roughly 25,000 to 30,000 apartments rising in each. That stock will increase the Charlotte market by 14.5%, one of the most significant metro-level growth paces scheduled in the U.S. Elsewhere, Greensboro/Winston-Salem has about 3,300 apartments under construction, while smaller blocks of product are going up in Asheville, Myrtle Beach and Wilmington.

North Carolina is another state that benefited from the work-from-home phenomenon during the pandemic, with residents flocking to the small, affordable beach towns along the coast. Fueling the need for more housing supply, North Carolina saw its population increase by nearly 94,000 residents in 2021, following only Texas, Florida and Arizona. Domestic migration was a big factor in that, as North Carolina received roughly 89,000 new residents from other parts of the country.

The North Carolina apartment markets have outperformed in recent years, with occupancy and rent growth holding out when some other markets saw steep declines during the COVID-19 pandemic. One factor keeping North Carolina resilient in recent years has been high-wage job sectors that have held onto jobs during hard times.

New York

Roughly 50,300 apartments are under construction in New York. That volume is scheduled to increase the existing apartment base by 2.2%. Most of that construction activity is, of course, rising in the city of New York, where 44,900 units are under construction. That’s the second highest volume nationwide, after only Dallas. Much smaller volumes are under way in Nassau County-Suffolk County, Albany and Buffalo.

New York lost residents in 2021, as the Census Bureau reports 319,000 people left the state. A big chunk of that was domestic migration, as residents left the expensive New York City for smaller, more affordable locations. As a result, apartment market fundamentals wavered during the pandemic. But those fundamentals have recovered more recently. It wouldn’t be newsworthy for this market – which typically weathers even the worst of storms – to absorb all the new apartment supply under way.

Conversely, the states with the smallest number of apartments under construction are Mississippi, Hawaii, West Virginia, Arkansas and Vermont.

These Five States Are Building the Most Apartments (2024)

FAQs

What US state has the most apartments? ›

These Five States Are Building the Most Apartments
  • Texas. It's no surprise that Texas tops the nation for apartment construction activity. ...
  • Florida. A little more than 128,200 apartments are under way in Florida, which will swell the existing unit count by 7.4%. ...
  • California. ...
  • North Carolina. ...
  • New York.
Dec 12, 2022

What city has the most apartment buildings? ›

1. New York, NY
  • Share of housing that is high-density: 62.0%
  • Share of owner housing that is high-density: 33.4%
  • Share of renter housing that is high-density: 75.4%
  • Total high-density housing units: 1,992,401.
  • Total housing units: 3,211,033.
Feb 1, 2022

Where is the largest apartment building? ›

The tallest residential building in the world is Central Park Tower in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

What is the biggest apartment complex in the United States? ›

The complex covers about 80 acres (320,000 m2) of land in total, including parkland. Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village contains 11,250 apartments in 55 buildings, which have 110 separate street addresses. The buildings south of 20th Street are known as Stuyvesant Town, or "Stuy Town".

What state do most people rent? ›

Newark, New Jersey, has the most, with more than 79% of residents renting. Three other New Jersey cities were also home to the most renters.

What states have the most renters? ›

California had the most renting households with 5.73 million, or 13.6 percent of the nation's 42 million rental homes. Tenants in California make up 44 percent of households in the state, the third-largest share of renters behind. D.C., at 58 percent, and New York at 45 percent.

Who is the largest owner of apartments in the US? ›

Starwood Capital Group claimed the top spot on the 2022 NMHC Top 50 owners list, after gaining more than 25,000 units last year. MAA, the Memphis-based REIT, came in No. 2 for the first time since 2017, followed by Morgan Properties, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

What state has the most condominiums? ›

The New York metropolitan area has the highest concentration with 480,416 condos and coops, representing 9 percent of all of this type of housing in the United States. The Los Angeles-Long Beach area has the second highest concentration with 251,282 condos and co-ops or 4.7 percent of the U.S. total.

What city has the highest rent? ›

The most expensive rental market in the US remains to be New York. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom is roughly $3,260. This is about a $500 decrease from 2021, however as demand continues to increase prices are likely to follow.

What city has the most expensive apartments? ›

Most Expensive Cities Around the World to Rent an Apartment
  • Seattle, Washington, US. ...
  • Washington, D.C., US. ...
  • Miami, Florida, US. ...
  • Los Angeles, California, US. ...
  • San Jose, California, US. ...
  • Oakland, California, US. ...
  • Boston, Massachusetts, US. Cost of Rent Index Score: 75.2. ...
  • George Town, Cayman Islands. Cost of Rent Index Score: 76.4.
Apr 30, 2023

Where is the most expensive apartment in the US? ›

The penthouse nestled atop Central Park Tower is not only the highest in New York City but also the most expensive, with an asking price of $250 million.

Which US city has the highest buildings? ›

New York City, specifically the borough of Manhattan, notably has the tallest skyline in the country. Eleven American buildings have held the title of tallest building in the world. New York City and Chicago have always been the centers of American skyscraper building.

What is the smallest apartment in the US? ›

Well, Seattle apartments are officially the smallest apartments in the country. New apartments were only 659 square feet in 2022.

What is the largest housing project in America? ›

Owned by the New York City Housing Authority, the development contains 29 buildings and 3,142 units accommodating approximately 7,000 people in two separate complexes (North and South). The complex opened in 1939 and is the largest housing project in North America.

What is New York's highest apartment? ›

on West 57th Street in New York City. This apartment, the penthouse, are the top three floors 129, 130, and 131, and it tops off at about 1,416 feet high.

What state is easiest to rent in? ›

North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa are the best states for renters. California, Massachusetts and Nevada are the worst states for renters. Overall median rent ranges from $1,774 to $770 per month in Hawaii and West Virginia, respectively.

What state in the US has the cheapest rent? ›

1. Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. It also has the lowest average housing costs in the nation at 33.7% below the national average.

Do most Americans own or rent? ›

Homeowner vs.

In the under-35 age group, 65% of American households are rented. Meanwhile, in the 65+ age group (senior citizens), 79.3% own a home. The median age of homebuyers is 47 years old, while the median age of renters is 38 years old. A whopping 64% of millennials who own homes regret their purchase of a home.

What state has the most expensive rent right now? ›

Analysis by Redfin showed prices increased by 14.1% over the year in 2021 and 7.45% in 2022. With real wages falling by 1.3% in the last year there is an intense squeeze on purse-strings. California is no exception and has the highest average rent prices in the country.

What state has the least evictions? ›

The states with the lowest eviction rates were New Mexico, Virginia and Hawaii, according to the study. For its analysis of laws benefiting renters, ConsumerAffairs used 2018 research from Rentcafe that looked at 10 common aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship by state and the laws that defined it.

Where is rent increasing the most? ›

Half of America's most expensive cities for apartments are in California: study
RankMetropolitan Statistical AreaChange Since February 2022
1New York, NY+ 12.8%
2San Francisco, CA+ 4.2%
3Boston, MA+ 2.0%
4San Jose, CA+ 7.4%
6 more rows
Mar 14, 2023

How many landlords are millionaires? ›

Only 30% of landlords own properties worth $400,000 or more, with 7% at the top owning properties worth $1 million or more.

What is the richest apartment in the world? ›

Now, for the most expensive penthouse in the entire world, we have The Odeon Tower Penthouse with a total cost of $440 million. It has a health center, a pool with an infinite view on the balcony, and an on-site catheter are all included in this magnificent apartment which makes it the dream penthouse to ever exist.

Who is the highest landlord in the world? ›

The Biggest Landowners in the World
RankNameLocations
1King Charles III and the British Royal FamilyUnited Kingdom, Canada
2Catholic ChurchWorldwide
3Inuit People of NunavutCanada
4Gina RinehartAustralia, United States
21 more rows

What states have the most real estate? ›

California remains the nation's most valuable housing market, despite a housing slowdown that shaved nearly $1 trillion off the value of the state's residential real estate. Roughly one-fifth of the nation's total housing value is in California.

Why living in a condo is better? ›

Condo pros

Less maintenance – If you own a house, all of the upkeep of the property falls on you. If you don't want to worry about maintenance as much, a condo might be a better fit. More perks – Unlike a house, many condo communities come with amenities like a pool or playground, and features like security systems.

Why live in a luxury condo? ›

It helps to know that a luxury condo offers more space as compared to a regular home. This is because the additional area utilized for extra rooms and space adds to its exuberance. In addition to this, amenities such as pantries, laundry rooms, powder rooms, and dressing rooms enhance the overall appeal of these units.

Where can I live for $500 a month in the US? ›

Without further ado – and in no particular order – here's what $500 per month can get you in ten affordable U.S. cities:
  • Greenville, OH. Listing: Wayne Crossing. ...
  • Wichita, KS. Listing: Eagle Creek. ...
  • Lawton, OK. Listing: Sheridan Square Apartments. ...
  • Amarillo, TX. ...
  • Indianapolis, IN. ...
  • Searcy, AR. ...
  • Shreveport, LA. ...
  • Jackson, MS.
Oct 9, 2020

What city has the cheapest rent in the world? ›

Data drawn from an analysis of over 500,000 property listings reveals that Madagascar has the world's cheapest apartment rental. For house-hunters or 'staycationers', the lowest rental price in the country is 1500 Malagasy ariary – or about 60 US cents per month.

What is average rent in USA? ›

The average rent for an apartment in the U.S. is $1,702. The cost of rent varies depending on several factors, including location, size, and quality.

Where is the most expensive place to live? ›

Tied with New York, Singapore often tops the list.

Where in Florida has the highest rent? ›

Florida home to 9 of 21 most overpriced US rental markets, FAU study says
RankCityAverage Rent
1Cape Coral, Fla.$2,219.75
2Miami, Fla.$2,787.71
3North Port, Fla.$2,378.82
7Tampa, Fla.$2,108.29
6 more rows
Jan 16, 2023

What are the most expensive cities to rent 1 bedroom? ›

Most Expensive US Cities For Renters
  • Tampa, Florida. Average Rent for a 1 Bedroom Apartment: $1,670. ...
  • Providence, Rhode Island. Average Rent for a 1 Bedroom Apartment: $1,700. ...
  • Denver, Colorado. ...
  • Nashville, Tennessee. ...
  • Atlanta, Georgia. ...
  • Long Beach, California. ...
  • Chicago, Illinois. ...
  • Scottsdale, Arizona.
Apr 30, 2023

What city in America has the most apartments? ›

1. Long Island City, Queens, NY
  • New apartments: 12,533.
  • New apartment buildings: 41.
  • Neighborhood type: Gentrified.
  • Percentage of new apts from total apts in the nhood: 36%
May 26, 2017

What is the most expensive neighborhood to live in US? ›

The average price of the most expensive neighborhoods in every U.S. state is $5,249,542, but America's most expensive neighborhood—Manalapan, Fla.,—far surpasses that at a whopping average house price of $39,761,000.

Where are the most luxurious homes in USA? ›

1. The One, Los Angeles, California | Most Expensive Houses. The One, which took eight years to create, has surpassed all other pricey mansions in the US to claim the top rank.

What city has the biggest downtown? ›

Midtown Manhattan in New York City is the largest residential and central business district in the United States.

What US city is considered the birthplace of the skyscraper? ›

Modern Skyscrapers

Chicago's history is forever intertwined with the invention of skyscrapers. Not only was the first one designed by a local architect, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 further reinforced the need for fireproofing for the city.

What building has the most floors in America? ›

With 108 floors, the Willis Tower in Chicago is currently the skyscraper in the United States with the most floors.

What is the oldest apartment? ›

The Osborne
Osborne Apartments
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New York City Landmark No. 1770
Location205 West 57th Street, Manhattan, New York
30 more rows

Why are NYC apartments so small? ›

A half a century ago, city planners warned that New York had the potential to swell into a “monster city” of 55 million people. To avoid this fate, the city passed a major overhaul of zoning rules in 1961, limiting the size of buildings and how many people could live in them.

What is a tiny apartment called? ›

A microapartment, also known as a microflat, is a one-room, self-contained living space, usually purpose built, designed to accommodate a sitting space, sleeping space, bathroom and kitchenette with 14–32 square metres (150–350 sq ft).

Where is the best housing in America? ›

Green Bay, Wisconsin. Among northern U.S. metro areas that offer a low cost of living, Green Bay might be the best option for you, as it's the No. 1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024. Green Bay residents spend just 19.92% of the area's median household income on housing costs.

Where is biggest housing shortage in US? ›

The 10 Markets With the Greatest Need for New Housing
RankMarketNew Units Needed/Year
1New York City10,000
2Dallas – Fort Worth19,000
3Houston15,000
4Los Angeles6,000
6 more rows
Feb 24, 2023

What city has the most public housing? ›

With more than 180,000 public housing units, the New York City Housing Authority is by far the nation's largest public housing authority (PHA).

Where do billionaire live in New York? ›

Billionaires' Row is the name given to a group of ultra-luxury residential skyscrapers and the area surrounding them around the southern end of Central Park in Manhattan, New York City.

Who owns most expensive apartment in NYC? ›

The listing, which is currently the most expensive in New York City, is held by Million Dollar Listing New York star Ryan Serhant.

Who is the largest tenant in NYC? ›

Columbia University is the largest owner in New York City by the number of locations and manages over 5000 apartments across 150 residential buildings. Renters of the buildings, mostly students, are pleased with the management's affordability and attention.

Where in the US has the highest rent? ›

The most expensive rental market in the US remains to be New York. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom is roughly $3,260. This is about a $500 decrease from 2021, however as demand continues to increase prices are likely to follow.

Which state has the most condominiums? ›

The New York metropolitan area has the highest concentration with 480,416 condos and coops, representing 9 percent of all of this type of housing in the United States. The Los Angeles-Long Beach area has the second highest concentration with 251,282 condos and co-ops or 4.7 percent of the U.S. total.

Where is the cheapest rent in United states? ›

The best cities for affordable rent, summed up
RankCityCost of living (U.S. average=100)
1Little Rock, AR87.70
2Tulsa, OK88.60
3Omaha, NE91.70
4Des Moines, IA92.30
21 more rows
Dec 30, 2022

Where is the most expensive city to live in the US? ›

1. Manhattan, New York
  • Overall cost of living: 127.7% above U.S. average.
  • Median household income: $70,663.
  • Average home price: $2,434,977.
  • Average monthly rent: $4,569.
  • Unemployment rate: 4.3%
  • Poverty rate: 17%
  • Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $3.04.
Feb 3, 2023

Where can I live on $1,500 a month in the US? ›

Here's the list of the 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Florida, To see how you can live for $1,500 month, find the full list below.
  • Best Cities to Live on $1,500 or Less a Month (via Mind Your Dollars):
  • Davenport, Iowa. ...
  • Lawton, Oklahoma. ...
  • Tallahassee, Florida. ...
  • El Paso, Texas. ...
  • Lansing, Michigan. ...
  • Fort Wayne, Indiana. ...
  • Odessa, Texas.
Feb 21, 2022

Is $1000 a month enough to live on? ›

Bottom Line. Living on $1,000 per month is a challenge. From the high costs of housing, transportation and food, plus trying to keep your bills to a minimum, it would be difficult for anyone living alone to make this work. But with some creativity, roommates and strategy, you might be able to pull it off.

Where can I live for $1000 a month in the US? ›

  • New Bern, N.C. Median rent price: $1,000. ...
  • Rock Hill, S.C. Median rent price: $1,000. ...
  • Tallahassee, Fla. Median rent price: $990. ...
  • Beaumont, Texas. Median rent price: $997.50. ...
  • Winston-Salem, N.C. Median rent price: $945. ...
  • Shreveport, La. Median rent price: $950. ...
  • Las Cruces, N.M. Median rent price: $945. ...
  • Champaign, Ill.
Jul 22, 2016

What state has the best quality of houses? ›

Key Findings
  1. Wyoming. Wyoming ranks as the best state for homeowners in 2020, placing in the top 20 for eight of the 10 metrics we considered. ...
  2. Idaho. ...
  3. Indiana. ...
  4. Utah. ...
  5. New Hampshire. ...
  6. Massachusetts. ...
  7. Maine. ...
  8. Arizona.
Sep 10, 2020

Why do people prefer condos over houses? ›

Condo pros

Less maintenance – If you own a house, all of the upkeep of the property falls on you. If you don't want to worry about maintenance as much, a condo might be a better fit. More perks – Unlike a house, many condo communities come with amenities like a pool or playground, and features like security systems.

What state has the most unaffordable housing? ›

According to worldpopulationreview.com, Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in, with its housing costing three times the national average. New York and California rank as the second and third most expensive states in which to live, respectively.

Which major US city has the cheapest rent? ›

1. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Of all U.S. metro areas with populations of more than 1 million, none has cheaper apartment rents than Tulsa.

What state has the best low income apartments? ›

The Top Ten Best States for Low-Income Housing in 2017:
  • Nebraska.
  • North Dakota. ...
  • Vermont. ...
  • Iowa. ...
  • New Hampshire. Affordable housing complexes per capita: 2. ...
  • Missouri. Affordable housing complexes per capita: 3. ...
  • Minnesota. Affordable housing complexes per capita: 2. ...
  • Kansas. Affordable housing complexes per capita: 6. ...

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