Sensing　the　nighttime　economy–housing　imbalance　is　of　great　importance　for　urban　planning　and　commerce.　As　an　efficient　tool　of　social　sensing　and　human　observation,　mobile　phone　data　provides　an　effective　way　to　address　this　issue.　In　this　paper,　an　indicator,　mobile　phone　data-based　nighttime　economy–housing　imbalance　intensity,　is　proposed　to　measure　the　degree　of　the　nighttime　economy–housing　imbalance.　This　indicator　can　distinguish　vitality　variations　between　sleep　periods　and　nighttime　activity　periods,　which　are　highly　related　to　the　nighttime　economy–housing　imbalance.　The　spatial　pattern　of　the　nighttime　economy–housing　imbalance　was　explored,　and　its　association　with　the　built　environment　was　investigated　through　city-scale　geographical　regression　analysis　in　Shanghai,　China.　The　results　showed　that　the　sub-districts　of　Shanghai　with　high-positive-imbalance　intensities　displayed　structures　with　superimposed　rings　and　striped　shapes,　and　the　sub-districts　with　negative　imbalance　intensities　were　distributed　around　high　positive-intensity　areas.　There　were　significant　linear　correlations　between　imbalance　intensity　and　the　built　environment.　The　multiple　influences　of　built　environment　factors　and　related　mechanisms　were　explored　from　a　geographical　perspective.　Our　study　utilized　the　social　sensing　data　to　provide　a　more　comprehensive　understanding　of　the　nighttime　economy–housing　imbalance.　These　findings　will　be　useful　for　fostering　the　nighttime　economy　and　supporting　urban　renewal.　©　2022　by　the　authors.　Licensee　MDPI,　Basel,　Switzerland.