More than $15.6 billion in construction was approved by New Jersey communities in 2018.

That's based on nearly 462,000 building permits issued last year for new construction, renovations and building additions, according to an analysis by USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey of New Jersey building permit data for 2018.

Where is all of that construction happening? Newark and Jersey City — New Jersey's largest cities — come out near the top of the list.

But so, too, does Long Branch, which is roughly a tenth of the size of the state's biggest cities.

How does growth impact a community? Check out the video at the top of the page about development in Lakewood, New Jersey's fastest growing community. Please consider supporting more local journalism like this by buying a digital subscription today.

Here's a look at the top 25 towns for construction ranked by the value of proposed building for which permits were issued in 2018. Search for your town in an interactive database at the bottom of the page.

25. Montclair, Essex County

Total construction costs: $114,518,207

Total permits: 3,025

Additions: 78 permits worth $21,623,783

Alterations: 2,906 permits worth $46,166,501

New construction: 41 permits worth $46,727,923

24. Summit, Union County

Total construction costs: $122,336,843

Total permits: 2,251

Additions: 62 permits worth $40,404,851

Alterations: 2,157 permits worth $63,021,122

New construction: 32 permits worth $18,910,870

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23. Paramus, Bergen County

Total construction costs: $123,978,741

Total permits: 2,039

Additions: 99 permits worth $22,832,546

Alterations: 1,844 permits worth $77,607,995

New construction: 96 permits worth $23,538,200

22. West Deptford, Gloucester County

Total construction costs: $128,766,908

Total permits: 1,237

Additions: 13 permits worth $4,743,720

Alterations: 1,196 permits worth $29,496,322

New construction: 28 permits worth $94,526,866

21. Franklin, Somerset County

Total construction costs: $129,329,395

Total permits: 4,382

Additions: 29 permits worth $18,277,944

Alterations: 4,287 permits worth $68,694,173

New construction: 66 permits worth $42,357,278

20. Harrison, Gloucester County

Total construction costs: $133,822,788

Total permits: 819

Additions: 117 permits worth $33,515,815

Alterations: 645 permits worth $10,017,921

New construction: 57 permits worth $90,289,052

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19. Hackensack, Bergen County

Total construction costs: $143,686,615

Total permits: 1,698

Additions: 14 permits worth $6,076,456

Alterations: 1,663 permits worth $108,059,109

New construction: 21 permits worth $29,551,050

18. Camden, Camden County

Total construction costs: $144,069,080

Total permits: 1,530

Additions: 12 permits worth $27,410,508

Alterations: 1,476 permits worth $55,797,448

New construction: 42 permits worth $60,861,124

17. Lakewood, Ocean County

Total construction costs: $146,940,002

Total permits: 3,334

Additions: 246 permits worth $17,515,399

Alterations: 2,203 permits worth $26,237,926

New construction: 885 permits worth $103,186,677

More:Lakewood 2030: This is the future of the fastest growing NJ township

16. Edison, Middlesex County

Total construction costs: $148,507,582

Total permits: 4,798

Additions: 153 permits worth $10,875,264

Alterations: 4,517 permits worth $80,930,307

New construction: 128 permits worth $56,702,011

15. Atlantic City, Atlantic County

Total construction costs: $149,017,829

Total permits: 1,331

Additions: 15 permits worth $436,865

Alterations: 1,285 permits worth $136,983,124

New construction: 31 permits worth $11,597,840

14. Piscataway, Middlesex County

Total construction costs: $159,839,319

Total permits: 2,259

Additions: 42 permits worth $3,756,016

Alterations: 2,160 permits worth $69,749,399

New construction: 57 permits worth $86,333,904

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13. North Brunswick, Middlesex County

Total construction costs: $161,474,947

Total permits: 2,222

Additions: 13 permits worth $30,083,401

Alterations: 2,177 permits worth $76,257,525

New construction: 32 permits worth $55,134,021

12. Bayonne, Hudson County

Total construction costs: $170,195,030

Total permits: 2,117

Additions: Nine permits worth $1,578,800

Alterations: 2,049 permits worth $42,332,911

New construction: 59 permits worth $126,283,319

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11. Lawrence, Mercer County

Total construction costs: $179,220,056

Total permits: 2,119

Additions: 33 permits worth $3,275,890

Alterations: 2,037 permits worth $106,516,172

New construction: 49 permits worth $69,427,994

10. Toms River, Ocean County

Total construction costs: $179,340,854

Total permits: 6,451

Additions: 65 permits worth $5,445,463

Alterations: 6,009 permits worth $73,544,928

New construction: 377 permits worth $100,350,463

More:Rapid development is reshaping northern Toms River

9. Hoboken, Hudson County

Total construction costs: $182,814,686

Total permits: 2,192

Additions: 11 permits worth $5,669,985

Alterations: 2,157 permits worth $75,275,876

New construction: 24 permits worth $101,868,825

8. Bridgewater, Somerset County

Total construction costs: $184,429,669

Total permits: 3,066

Additions: 60 permits worth $5,282,760

Alterations: 2,954 permits worth $59,447,964

New construction: 52 permits worth $119,698,945

7. South Brunswick, Middlesex County

Total construction costs: $188,802,375

Total permits: 2,743

Additions: 73 permits worth $23,414,811

Alterations: 2,508 permits worth $102,477,823

New construction: 162 permits worth $62,909,741

6. Woodbridge, Middlesex County

Total construction costs: $200,816,650

Total permits: 4,196

Additions: 132 permits worth $24,942,052

Alterations: 3,932 permits worth $74,822,929

New construction: 132 permits worth $101,051,669

5. New Brunswick, Middlesex County

Total construction costs: $213,736,362

Total permits: 1,121

Additions: Three permits worth $585,000

Alterations: 1,106 permits worth $68,542,523

New construction: 12 permits worth $144,608,839

4. Long Branch, Monmouth County

Total construction costs: $246,157,346

Total permits: 1,848

Additions: 128 permits worth $4,801,928

Alterations: 1,400 permits worth $20,240,807

New construction: 320 permits worth $221,114,611

3. Weehawken, Hudson County

Total construction costs: $263,954,735

Total permits: 522

Additions: Five permits worth $222,600

Alterations: 504 permits worth $41,815,225

New construction: 13 permits worth $221,916,910

2. Newark, Essex County

Total construction costs: $360,974,941

Total permits: 4,077

Additions: 43 permits worth $7,353,709

Alterations: 3,722 permits worth $250,674,660

New construction: 312 permits worth $102,946,572

1. Jersey City, Hudson County

Total construction costs: $843,031,238

Total permits: 6,571

Additions: 30 permits worth $4,717,534

Alterations: 6,312 permits worth $303,466,966

New construction: 229 permits worth $534,846,738

Susanne Cervenka covers Monmouth County government and property tax issues, winning several state and regional awards for her work. She's covered local government for 15 years, with stops in Ohio and Florida before arriving in New Jersey in 2013. Contact her at @scervenka; 732-643-4229; scervenka@gannettnj.com.