The state Department of Labor's July issue of The Connecticut Economic Digest detailed the 2012 Housing Market Review. 

According to the recent release from the U.S. Census, Connecticut cities and towns authorized 4,669 new housing units, including single and multi-unit dwellings for all towns in 2012.  Stamford came in first followed by Danbury, Shelton, Norwalk and Bridgeport. 

The combined permits in the five cities made up more than a third of total housing production last year. 

The 2012 production of 4,669 housing units statewide was a 47-percent increase from the previous year, which was a six-decade low of 3,173 units.  In 2012, Fairfield County had the most permit activity with 2,138 new housing units authorized, which accounted for nearly half of the statewide total. Windham County had the fewest with 94.

Last year marked the best year since 2008.

The report says Connecticut's housing permit activity mirrored the nation as 48 states experienced permit growth over the past year.  Only Wyoming and New Hampshire had negative growth in housing permits.  Connecticut ranked 10th in the nation according to the Bureau of the Census for permit growth.

131 cities and towns responded to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's annual demolition survey.  It found that 955 units were demolished.