A picture of a construction development for new homes, with a crane and a dump truck in view on dirt lots.
© Monty Rakusen - Image Source / Getty Images

Montana’s new-home construction is booming. The state had the highest growth rate nationwide annually in February, with residential housing permits surging 121%, the National Association of Home Builders reports.

Overall, single-family permits nationwide—a gauge of future construction—has increased by 3.5% year over year in February. Between February 2021 and February 2022, 28 states and the District of Columbia posted growth in single-family permits.

A map of the U.S. on a gradient color scale showing the average year-over-year growth in single-family permits.

Meanwhile, 22 states posted a decline in single-family permits annually in February. Pennsylvania saw the steepest decline at 26.7%.

By metro level, the following seven metro areas saw the highest overall number of single-family permits in February annually:

  1. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
  2. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
  3. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.
  4. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga.
  5. Austin-Round Rock, Texas
  6. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C.
  7. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla.