Where Builders are Betting Big: Top 6-Month Surges in U.S. Permits

Dennis Lee
18 hours ago
2 min read

Before cranes rise, the paperwork tells the story. Market Stadium tracked a six-month rolling-sum of building permits, averaging month-over-month changes to pinpoint markets where development momentum is building fastest.

Over the past six months, Lafayette, IN (+12.3%) tops the nation in total building permit momentum, with Edwards, CO (+11.6%) and Bridgeport, CT (+8.6%) close behind. On the multifamily side, Huntington, WV (+75.8%) is surging, while Easton, MD (+7.8%) leads single-family growth.

📊 Key Highlights

Broad-based growth pockets: Lafayette (IN), Green Bay (WI), and Elkhart (IN) appear in multiple leaderboards, signaling durable pipelines across unit types.
Mountain & resort markets pop: Edwards (CO) shows top-tier momentum in Total and 5+ units, consistent with second-home/in-migration dynamics.
Small metros, big pipelines: Easton (MD) and Brenham (TX) are punching above their weight in Single-family.
Multifamily rebound flags: Huntington (WV), Fayetteville (NC), and Corpus Christi (TX) show sharp 5+ units inflections—watch for new deliveries into 2025.

🏆 Top 5 Markets: Total Permits (6M Rolling Sum, avg. MoM%)

Lafayette, IN — +12.3%
Edwards, CO — +11.6%
Bridgeport, CT — +8.6%
Easton, MD — +7.8%
Brenham, TX — +6.9%

🥇 Top 10 Total Permits (All)

Lafayette (IN) • Edwards (CO) • Bridgeport (CT) • Easton (MD) • Brenham (TX) • Green Bay (WI) • Elkhart (IN) • Racine (WI) • Ann Arbor (MI) • Boulder (CO)

🥇 Top 10 Multifamily (5+ Units)

Huntington (WV) • Fayetteville (NC) • Elkhart (IN) • Kingsport (TN) • Hilton Head Island (SC) • Corpus Christi (TX) • Edwards (CO) • Lafayette (IN) • Green Bay (WI) • Mobile (AL)

🥇 Top 10 Single-Family

Easton (MD) • Brenham (TX) • Trenton (NJ) • Steamboat Springs (CO) • Edwards (CO) • Racine (WI) • Goldsboro (NC) • Terre Haute (IN) • Midland (TX) • Kalamazoo (MI)

💰 What this means

Pipeline positioning: Multifamily leaders suggest stronger near-term supply additions—developers and lenders should stress-test lease-up timing.
For-sale tailwinds: Single-family leaders may see stronger lot absorption and builder starts as rates stabilize.
Selectivity matters: Secondary markets (e.g., Lafayette, Green Bay, Elkhart) show outsized momentum—attractive for value-add and small-cap sponsors.