If it feels like new neighborhoods are popping up all over Texas, you’re not imagining it.
A recent study ranked the Lone Star State as the leader in new residential construction, with more than one in five homes built in just the last 15 years.
According to a report by The Steamboat Real Estate Group, 22.5% of currently occupied Texas homes were constructed after 2010 — the highest share of any state in the nation.
Steam Boat Real Estate Group Top 10 Chart
Top 10 states with highest share of new-build homes, per Steamboat Real Estate Group
That figure translates to roughly 2.5 million homes and may signal continued population growth and ongoing demand for housing in Texas’ urban and suburban corridors.
The report, based on U.S. Census Bureau data, highlights what many Texans have witnessed firsthand: breakneck residential expansion driven by job creation, rising migration, and a still-accessible housing market compared to coastal states.
From sprawling master-planned communities around Austin, Dallas, and Houston to compact townhouse developments cropping up in overlooked corners of the state, Texas continues to attract newcomers seeking fresh starts, modern homes, and economic opportunity.
Even without mentioning Austin, there’s a reason the internet has adopted the phrase: “Don’t California my Texas.”
North Dakota came in second on the list, with roughly 21% of its housing stock built since 2010 — a reflection of the state’s brief oil boom and infrastructure push. Utah followed close behind, with 20.65% of its homes built after 2010.
Other high-growth states such as Idaho, South Carolina, and North Carolina also landed in the top five, each surpassing 18% of homes constructed in the past decade.
At the other end of the spectrum, older states in the Northeast recorded the smallest share of new housing. In Rhode Island and Connecticut, for example, fewer than 6% of occupied homes were built after 2010. New York and other high-density states also saw relatively low construction rates over that time.
What the Experts Are Saying:
“Interestingly, states located predominantly in the South or the West ranked highest in the study, with nine of the top states located in either region. What this tells us is that infrastructure is being heavily prioritized in these areas, with homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers being more exposed to affordability when it comes to buying a home as new build schemes often offer lower rates.
“It’s important however, to ensure that thorough checks are made on newly built properties, not just for safety but to be financially responsible if you’re investing into a property,” a spokesperson from The Steamboat Real Estate Group explained.