PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Despite years of legislative efforts aimed at boosting residential development, Rhode Island remains near the bottom of the pack when it comes to new housing construction, according to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The 2024 Census report, published Thursday, shows Rhode Island experienced the slowest housing growth rate in the continental U.S., with a meager year-over-year increase of 0.2%. Only Alaska (0.2%) and Hawaii (0.1%) reported similarly sluggish growth, placing Rhode Island in the bottom three nationwide. Neighboring Massachusetts performed only slightly better, ranking 43rd with a 0.4% increase in housing stock.

By contrast, states such as Idaho, Utah, and North Carolina reported the fastest growth in new housing. Idaho led the nation with a 2.2% increase in housing supply, followed by Utah at 2% and North Carolina at 1.9%.

The Census estimates Rhode Island added fewer than 1,000 new housing units last year, bringing the state’s total number of residential units — including houses, condos, and apartments — to approximately 488,030. Since 2020, the state’s housing stock has increased by about 4,500 units, a number many housing advocates say falls far short of what’s needed to address growing demand.

For comparison, the Rhode Island Housing Department’s most recent annual report estimated the total number of housing units statewide at 485,533 as of 2024 — slightly lower than the Census Bureau’s figure, but still consistent with the overall trend of stagnant growth.

Regardless of which count is more accurate, both datasets underscore the state’s ongoing housing shortage, which experts say is driving up costs and pricing out many residents. As of March, the median sale price of a single-family home in Rhode Island reached $465,000, more than doubling from $206,000 a decade ago. Meanwhile, rents in the Providence metro area are rising faster than in most other major cities across the country.

The affordability crisis is also being fueled by increased competition. Recent data shows that nearly one in four homes sold in Rhode Island are now being purchased by out-of-state buyers.

House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, D-Warwick, has led a multi-year legislative push at the State House to increase housing supply. Over the past four years, nearly 50 housing-related bills have been signed into law, with another dozen proposals under consideration this session.

“The new Census data is sobering, but not surprising,” Shekarchi told 12 News in a statement Thursday. “Rhode Island was dead last in the country for new housing starts for multiple years consecutively, and this data is reflective of that.”

Despite the grim numbers, Shekarchi emphasized that there are indications of progress. The Housing Department’s annual report found that 2,655 housing units were permitted in 2024 — an 86% increase compared to 2022.

“While a building permit is not the same as a new unit – construction takes time – this is an improvement,” he said.

Still, the path forward remains challenging. The state continues to face obstacles such as local zoning restrictions, limited buildable land, labor shortages in the construction industry, and high material costs — all of which contribute to slow development timelines and limited output.

Meanwhile, Rhode Island’s population is continuing to grow. The Census Bureau estimates the state’s population surpassed 1.1 million in 2023, marking an increase of about 15,000 residents since the start of the decade. The rising demand for housing coupled with stagnant supply has only heightened pressure on policymakers to act quickly.

As of Thursday, the Housing Department had not responded to a request for comment on the new Census figures.

Originally reported by Ted Nesi in Yahoo News.