Everyone agrees America has a housing crisis. But when it comes to policy action, states vary enormously. We evaluated all 50 states across four dimensions—zoning reform, funding commitment, tenant protections, and housing production—to create a comprehensive housing policy scorecard.
Methodology
Each state was scored 0-25 in four categories (total possible: 100):
- Zoning Reform (0-25): Has the state preempted local exclusionary zoning? Legalized ADUs? Eliminated single-family-only zones? Required density near transit?
- Funding Commitment (0-25): State housing trust fund size, per-capita affordable housing spending, LIHTC allocation efficiency, bonding capacity used
- Tenant Protections (0-25): Rent stabilization laws, just-cause eviction requirements, source-of-income discrimination bans, right to counsel in evictions, habitability standards enforcement
- Production Results (0-25): Permits per capita, affordable unit production, deficit reduction trend, LIHTC completion rates
Top 10 States
| Rank | State | Zoning | Funding | Tenants | Production | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | 24 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 83 |
| 2 | California | 22 | 23 | 21 | 14 | 80 |
| 3 | Washington | 21 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 78 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 19 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 74 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 20 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 71 |
| 6 | Montana | 22 | 12 | 14 | 21 | 69 |
| 7 | Colorado | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 68 |
| 8 | Minnesota | 17 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 67 |
| 9 | New Jersey | 14 | 18 | 21 | 12 | 65 |
| 10 | Vermont | 18 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 63 |
Bottom 10 States
| Rank | State | Zoning | Funding | Tenants | Production | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Alabama | 3 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 21 |
| 42 | Mississippi | 2 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 19 |
| 43 | Arkansas | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 18 |
| 44 | Louisiana | 3 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 18 |
| 45 | Wyoming | 4 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 17 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 16 |
| 47 | South Dakota | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| 48 | West Virginia | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 14 |
| 49 | Kentucky | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 13 |
| 50 | Missouri | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 12 |
Key Findings
Oregon Leads in Reform
Oregon's top ranking reflects a decade of aggressive action. HB 2001 (2019) banned single-family-only zoning statewide. SB 458 (2021) allowed lot splitting. The state's tenant protections include statewide rent stabilization (7% + CPI cap) and mandatory relocation assistance. Oregon proves that a mid-sized state can lead on housing policy.
California: High Policy, Low Production
California has passed more housing legislation than any state—over 100 bills since 2017. But the laws are often weakened by local implementation. Despite strong funding and tenant protections, California ranks only 14th in production per capita because local barriers remain formidable.
The Red State Surprise: Montana
Montana's ranking at #6 defies partisan expectations. The state's 2023 legislature passed sweeping reforms with bipartisan support, driven by a housing crisis that hit rural communities as hard as urban ones. Montana's approach—reducing regulatory barriers rather than adding new programs—shows housing reform can transcend political ideology.
Missouri: Last Place
Missouri has preempted local rent stabilization, banned inclusionary zoning requirements, provided minimal state housing funding, and produced among the fewest affordable units per capita. The state actively blocks local jurisdictions from enacting housing protections.
What Effective State Policy Looks Like
- Preempt local exclusion: Override municipal zoning that blocks housing production
- Fund affordable production: Dedicated revenue for state housing trust funds
- Protect tenants: Just-cause eviction, source-of-income protections, anti-retaliation
- Measure results: Set production targets and track progress annually
- Streamline permitting: Set maximum timelines and create by-right approval paths
Data Sources
National Conference of State Legislatures Housing Database, National Low Income Housing Coalition State Policy Tracker, Census Bureau Building Permits, NLIHC Gap Report, state housing finance agencies