New single-family construction starts grew at the fastest pace in nearly a decade in 2021 with a total of 1,133,145 units started, 14% higher than in 2020, NAHB Eye on Housing reports. The South Atlantic, West South Central, and Mountain Divisions were home to the most new single-family units started in 2021, accounting for over two-thirds of the total count.
Five of the nine Census divisions including Middle Atlantic, East South Central, West South Central, South Atlantic, and West North Central, accelerated in 2021, while the growth rates of the remaining divisions were close to or below the national level.
In addition, single-family units started in the Pacific Division increased to 106,240 in 2021, exceeding 100,000 for the second straight year since the 2008 recession. There were 93,693 new single-family units started in the East North Central Division in 2021. While the Pacific Division accounted for 9% of the total new single-family housing starts, the East North Central Division accounted for 8%. The other four divisions, including East South Central, West North Central, Middle Atlantic and New England, accounted for the remaining 16% of the total new single-family housing starts.