HearthDry Research · Census data analysis
How Old Is America's Plumbing? Homes by Year Built, by State and Metro
25.6% of U.S. homes, about 36.9 million, were built before 1960, when galvanized steel supply pipe and cast iron drains were standard, and 25.3% were built in 1980–1999, the years polybutylene pipe was installed. The median U.S. home was built in 1980. District of Columbia has the oldest housing (52.2% before 1960) and Nevada the newest (4.7%).
Published 2026-11-04 · Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 · Open data (CC BY 4.0)
- Built before 1960
- 25.6%
- 36.9 million homes
- Built 1939 or earlier
- 11.7%
- 16.9 million homes
- Built 1980–1999
- 25.3%
- the polybutylene window
- Median year built
- 1980
- all U.S. housing units
Why a home’s age matters for its pipes
- Before about 1960: water supply pipe was commonly galvanized steel, which rusts from the inside, and drains were cast iron, which scales and cracks.
- About 1978 to 1995: polybutylene plastic supply pipe was installed in many homes and can fail without warning.
- Copper of any age can develop pinhole leaks where the water chemistry is aggressive.
The year a house was built says what its plumbing probably started with, not what it has now: many older homes have been repiped. The way to know is to look at the pipe at the water heater and the main shutoff. If it needs replacing, see what a repipe costs and repiping.
Homes by year built, 50 states and DC
Share of all housing units, with 90% margin of error. Sorted by share built before 1960.
| State | Before 1960 | Before 1940 | 1960–1979 | 1980–1999 | 2000 or later | Median year built | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 25.6%±0 | 11.7%±0 | 24%±0 | 25.3%±0 | 25.1%±0 | 1980 | 143.8 million |
| District of Columbia | 52.2%±1 | 31.5%±0.7 | 16.8%±0.7 | 7.1%±0.4 | 23.9%±0.8 | 1958 | 361,014 |
| New York | 52%±0.2 | 30.3%±0.1 | 21.9%±0.1 | 13.6%±0.1 | 12.5%±0.1 | 1959 | 8,585,241 |
| Rhode Island | 48.2%±0.7 | 30.1%±0.6 | 22.7%±0.5 | 18.6%±0.5 | 10.5%±0.4 | 1962 | 485,932 |
| Massachusetts | 46.5%±0.3 | 30.5%±0.2 | 20.9%±0.2 | 18.2%±0.2 | 14.4%±0.2 | 1964 | 3,030,406 |
| Pennsylvania | 44.9%±0.2 | 25%±0.1 | 22.3%±0.1 | 18.5%±0.1 | 14.3%±0.1 | 1965 | 5,806,452 |
| Connecticut | 40.6%±0.4 | 20.2%±0.3 | 26.6%±0.3 | 20.4%±0.3 | 12.3%±0.2 | 1967 | 1,541,822 |
| Iowa | 37.9%±0.3 | 23.5%±0.2 | 23.7%±0.3 | 16.7%±0.2 | 21.7%±0.2 | 1972 | 1,437,699 |
| Illinois | 37.8%±0.2 | 20.2%±0.1 | 25.7%±0.2 | 19.7%±0.1 | 16.9%±0.1 | 1971 | 5,457,452 |
| New Jersey | 37.7%±0.3 | 17.4%±0.2 | 25.2%±0.2 | 20.7%±0.2 | 16.5%±0.2 | 1970 | 3,791,354 |
| Ohio | 37.7%±0.2 | 19%±0.1 | 25.7%±0.2 | 20.2%±0.1 | 16.4%±0.2 | 1970 | 5,292,391 |
| Michigan | 35.7%±0.2 | 14.6%±0.1 | 26.4%±0.2 | 21.7%±0.1 | 16.2%±0.1 | 1972 | 4,622,236 |
| Maine | 34%±0.5 | 22.9%±0.4 | 20.4%±0.4 | 24.7%±0.4 | 20.9%±0.4 | 1977 | 751,876 |
| Wisconsin | 33.3%±0.2 | 17.8%±0.1 | 23.6%±0.2 | 22%±0.2 | 21.1%±0.2 | 1975 | 2,778,572 |
| Vermont | 32.9%±0.6 | 24.4%±0.4 | 23.2%±0.6 | 26.1%±0.6 | 17.8%±0.5 | 1976 | 339,042 |
| Kansas | 32.3%±0.3 | 15.4%±0.2 | 23.6%±0.3 | 23.3%±0.3 | 20.8%±0.3 | 1976 | 1,293,635 |
| Nebraska | 32%±0.4 | 18.7%±0.3 | 25.2%±0.3 | 19.9%±0.3 | 22.9%±0.3 | 1975 | 863,444 |
| West Virginia | 31.8%±0.4 | 14.9%±0.3 | 24.2%±0.4 | 24.6%±0.5 | 19.5%±0.4 | 1976 | 861,325 |
| Indiana | 31.4%±0.2 | 16%±0.2 | 23.6%±0.2 | 23.1%±0.2 | 22%±0.2 | 1976 | 2,976,568 |
| Minnesota | 28.8%±0.2 | 15.6%±0.1 | 23.3%±0.2 | 24.2%±0.2 | 23.7%±0.2 | 1979 | 2,545,030 |
| New Hampshire | 28.5%±0.5 | 18.6%±0.3 | 23%±0.4 | 28.9%±0.5 | 19.6%±0.4 | 1979 | 648,472 |
| South Dakota | 27.6%±0.5 | 15.8%±0.4 | 22.1%±0.5 | 20.7%±0.5 | 29.7%±0.6 | 1980 | 408,584 |
| Missouri | 27.4%±0.2 | 13.3%±0.1 | 25.3%±0.2 | 24.6%±0.2 | 22.6%±0.2 | 1978 | 2,825,287 |
| California | 26.7%±0.1 | 8.9%±0.1 | 29.3%±0.1 | 25%±0.1 | 19.1%±0.1 | 1976 | 14,644,735 |
| Maryland | 26.2%±0.2 | 10.7%±0.1 | 25%±0.2 | 27.9%±0.3 | 20.9%±0.2 | 1979 | 2,560,784 |
| Montana | 25.5%±0.4 | 12.8%±0.3 | 23.4%±0.5 | 23%±0.5 | 28.1%±0.5 | 1981 | 528,419 |
| North Dakota | 23.2%±0.5 | 11.5%±0.3 | 24.6%±0.6 | 20%±0.5 | 32.2%±0.6 | 1982 | 377,281 |
| Oregon | 23.1%±0.3 | 10.7%±0.2 | 26%±0.3 | 25.1%±0.3 | 25.8%±0.3 | 1981 | 1,857,992 |
| Wyoming | 23%±0.7 | 10.8%±0.5 | 26.2%±0.7 | 24.9%±0.7 | 26%±0.7 | 1981 | 277,141 |
| Kentucky | 21.6%±0.2 | 9%±0.1 | 25.5%±0.3 | 27.6%±0.3 | 25.4%±0.2 | 1982 | 2,023,116 |
| Oklahoma | 21%±0.2 | 6.9%±0.1 | 28.4%±0.3 | 24.1%±0.3 | 26.5%±0.2 | 1980 | 1,775,127 |
| Delaware | 20.7%±0.5 | 8%±0.4 | 21.2%±0.6 | 25.4%±0.6 | 32.7%±0.6 | 1987 | 464,203 |
| Washington | 20.5%±0.2 | 9.6%±0.1 | 22.9%±0.2 | 27.2%±0.2 | 29.4%±0.2 | 1985 | 3,306,620 |
| Virginia | 19.2%±0.2 | 7%±0.1 | 24.3%±0.2 | 30%±0.2 | 26.5%±0.2 | 1984 | 3,684,756 |
| Louisiana | 18.2%±0.2 | 6.1%±0.1 | 28.1%±0.3 | 25.7%±0.3 | 28%±0.3 | 1983 | 2,108,902 |
| Tennessee | 17.5%±0.2 | 5.6%±0.1 | 23.3%±0.2 | 28.5%±0.3 | 30.8%±0.3 | 1987 | 3,143,670 |
| Idaho | 17.2%±0.3 | 7.9%±0.2 | 21.8%±0.4 | 24.6%±0.4 | 36.4%±0.5 | 1991 | 795,014 |
| New Mexico | 16.8%±0.3 | 4.4%±0.2 | 25.9%±0.4 | 32.1%±0.4 | 25.3%±0.4 | 1985 | 956,964 |
| Alabama | 16%±0.2 | 4.9%±0.1 | 26%±0.2 | 29.3%±0.3 | 28.6%±0.3 | 1986 | 2,337,265 |
| Colorado | 16%±0.2 | 7%±0.1 | 23.7%±0.2 | 27.9%±0.2 | 32.4%±0.3 | 1988 | 2,589,053 |
| Utah | 15%±0.2 | 6.1%±0.1 | 20.4%±0.3 | 25.9%±0.3 | 38.6%±0.4 | 1992 | 1,223,468 |
| Hawaii | 14.3%±0.4 | 3.2%±0.2 | 36.2%±0.5 | 28%±0.5 | 21.6%±0.4 | 1980 | 567,896 |
| Mississippi | 14.2%±0.3 | 4%±0.1 | 27.3%±0.3 | 29.1%±0.4 | 29.4%±0.4 | 1986 | 1,341,114 |
| North Carolina | 14.1%±0.1 | 4.9%±0.1 | 19.8%±0.2 | 30.9%±0.2 | 35.1%±0.2 | 1991 | 4,895,668 |
| Arkansas | 13.2%±0.2 | 4.1%±0.1 | 26.4%±0.3 | 30.2%±0.4 | 30.2%±0.4 | 1987 | 1,394,673 |
| Texas | 12.4%±0.1 | 3.1%±0 | 20.9%±0.1 | 27.5%±0.1 | 39.3%±0.1 | 1992 | 12,128,515 |
| South Carolina | 12.2%±0.2 | 3.6%±0.1 | 20.6%±0.3 | 30.5%±0.3 | 36.7%±0.3 | 1992 | 2,443,039 |
| Georgia | 11.7%±0.1 | 3.9%±0.1 | 19.8%±0.2 | 33.4%±0.2 | 35.1%±0.2 | 1992 | 4,541,835 |
| Florida | 10.2%±0.1 | 1.9%±0 | 23.9%±0.1 | 33.7%±0.2 | 32.3%±0.1 | 1988 | 10,256,470 |
| Arizona | 7.8%±0.1 | 1.4%±0.1 | 21.5%±0.2 | 33.9%±0.3 | 36.8%±0.3 | 1992 | 3,192,839 |
| Alaska | 7.6%±0.3 | 1.7%±0.1 | 29.2%±0.6 | 37.3%±0.7 | 25.9%±0.6 | 1986 | 328,491 |
| Nevada | 4.7%±0.1 | 1.1%±0.1 | 17.2%±0.2 | 36.5%±0.4 | 41.5%±0.4 | 1996 | 1,326,471 |
The 40 metros with the oldest housing
Of 209 metro areas with at least 100,000 housing units. All 209 are in the CSV.
| Metro area | Before 1960 | Before 1940 | 1960–1979 | 1980–1999 | 2000 or later | Median year built | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 25.6%±0 | 11.7%±0 | 24%±0 | 25.3%±0 | 25.1%±0 | 1980 | 143.8 million |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 54.8%±0.7 | 29.1%±0.5 | 21.8%±0.4 | 13.6%±0.4 | 9.8%±0.3 | 1957 | 541,660 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 54.1%±1.4 | 33.9%±1.1 | 20.1%±0.9 | 15.7%±0.8 | 10.1%±0.6 | 1957 | 137,902 |
| Springfield, MA | 52.4%±1.3 | 27.9%±0.9 | 23.9%±0.9 | 15.9%±0.7 | 7.8%±0.5 | 1959 | 197,591 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 50.9%±1 | 32.3%±0.7 | 23.3%±0.6 | 15.5%±0.6 | 10.3%±0.4 | 1959 | 264,360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 50.3%±0.2 | 27.1%±0.1 | 22.7%±0.1 | 13.6%±0.1 | 13.4%±0.1 | 1960 | 8,038,666 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 50.2%±0.4 | 25.9%±0.3 | 23%±0.3 | 14.7%±0.3 | 12.1%±0.2 | 1960 | 1,174,149 |
| Binghamton, NY | 50%±1.5 | 28%±1.1 | 26.2%±1.1 | 15.8%±0.9 | 8.1%±0.6 | 1960 | 115,268 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 47.6%±0.6 | 30.7%±0.4 | 22.3%±0.4 | 19.1%±0.4 | 10.9%±0.3 | 1962 | 730,957 |
| Cleveland, OH | 46.3%±0.5 | 22.2%±0.3 | 25.7%±0.4 | 15.6%±0.3 | 12.4%±0.3 | 1963 | 1,018,605 |
| Erie, PA | 46.2%±1.3 | 24.3%±0.7 | 24.5%±1.1 | 17.3%±0.9 | 12.1%±0.8 | 1964 | 120,111 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 46.1%±0.3 | 31.2%±0.2 | 20.1%±0.2 | 17.4%±0.2 | 16.4%±0.2 | 1964 | 2,059,059 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 45.5%±0.9 | 26.8%±0.7 | 22.4%±0.7 | 15.6%±0.6 | 16.5%±0.6 | 1965 | 143,313 |
| New Haven, CT | 45.3%±1.1 | 23.1%±0.7 | 25%±0.8 | 20%±0.7 | 9.7%±0.5 | 1964 | 248,267 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 45.2%±1 | 19.4%±0.6 | 30.8%±0.8 | 15.6%±0.6 | 8.5%±0.5 | 1964 | 202,454 |
| Syracuse, NY | 44%±0.7 | 24.3%±0.5 | 23.8%±0.6 | 20.1%±0.5 | 12.1%±0.5 | 1965 | 297,576 |
| Worcester, MA | 44%±0.7 | 27.5%±0.5 | 19.7%±0.6 | 21.8%±0.6 | 14.6%±0.5 | 1967 | 355,185 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 42.9%±0.3 | 21.4%±0.2 | 23.7%±0.3 | 18.5%±0.2 | 14.9%±0.2 | 1966 | 2,624,257 |
| Rochester, NY | 42.8%±0.6 | 26.4%±0.4 | 24.5%±0.5 | 19.6%±0.5 | 13.2%±0.4 | 1966 | 481,033 |
| Reading, PA | 42.5%±1.1 | 27.5%±0.9 | 21.1%±0.7 | 21.7%±0.7 | 14.7%±0.6 | 1969 | 171,580 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 42.3%±0.5 | 20.3%±0.3 | 24.6%±0.5 | 17.8%±0.4 | 15.3%±0.3 | 1967 | 701,558 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 42.2%±1.1 | 21%±0.7 | 28.2%±0.9 | 17.6%±0.8 | 12%±0.6 | 1966 | 181,339 |
| Toledo, OH | 42%±0.8 | 22.3%±0.6 | 25.9%±0.7 | 18.1%±0.6 | 13.9%±0.5 | 1967 | 276,386 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 41.8%±0.6 | 25.6%±0.4 | 20.6%±0.6 | 19.7%±0.5 | 17.8%±0.5 | 1969 | 422,120 |
| Charleston, WV | 40.9%±1.4 | 13.1%±0.8 | 26.8%±1.4 | 19.7%±1.2 | 12.7%±0.9 | 1968 | 104,519 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 40.8%±1.1 | 18.9%±0.7 | 23%±1 | 19.8%±0.9 | 16.4%±0.8 | 1969 | 144,259 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 40.7%±0.7 | 25.3%±0.5 | 21.3%±0.6 | 20.8%±0.6 | 17.3%±0.5 | 1970 | 361,874 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 40.4%±0.9 | 21.6%±0.6 | 30.1%±0.9 | 14.7%±0.8 | 14.8%±0.7 | 1967 | 174,791 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 40.3%±0.8 | 18.8%±0.5 | 27.1%±0.7 | 18%±0.5 | 14.6%±0.5 | 1967 | 377,569 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 40.2%±0.3 | 19.7%±0.2 | 26.4%±0.3 | 18.4%±0.2 | 15%±0.2 | 1968 | 1,880,374 |
| Peoria, IL | 40.1%±1.1 | 18.5%±0.8 | 30.5%±1 | 14.2%±0.7 | 15.2%±0.7 | 1968 | 167,807 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 39.9%±0.3 | 13%±0.2 | 26.4%±0.2 | 19.8%±0.2 | 13.9%±0.2 | 1968 | 1,926,157 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 39.9%±0.7 | 18.4%±0.4 | 27.6%±0.5 | 21%±0.5 | 11.6%±0.4 | 1967 | 499,522 |
| Akron, OH | 38.9%±0.8 | 18.3%±0.6 | 26.4%±0.7 | 19.7%±0.6 | 15.1%±0.5 | 1969 | 319,249 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 38.8%±1.1 | 19.3%±0.8 | 27.3%±1 | 22.9%±0.8 | 11%±0.6 | 1969 | 192,551 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 38.5%±1.1 | 23.6%±0.7 | 26.5%±1.2 | 20.4%±1 | 14.6%±0.8 | 1969 | 126,425 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 38.5%±1.3 | 17.9%±0.8 | 25.7%±1.2 | 21.1%±1.1 | 14.7%±0.9 | 1969 | 151,138 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 37.5%±0.2 | 19.9%±0.2 | 25.3%±0.2 | 19.8%±0.2 | 17.5%±0.2 | 1971 | 3,900,420 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 36.9%±0.8 | 15%±0.4 | 32.1%±0.7 | 17.5%±0.5 | 13.4%±0.5 | 1968 | 372,460 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 36.4%±0.2 | 11.5%±0.1 | 30.7%±0.2 | 19.9%±0.2 | 13.1%±0.1 | 1969 | 4,796,635 |
| Flint, MI | 36.2%±1 | 11.6%±0.6 | 32.2%±1 | 18%±0.8 | 13.7%±0.7 | 1969 | 183,903 |
Housing age questions, answered from the data
How many U.S. homes were built before 1960?
25.6% of U.S. housing units, about 36.9 million, were built before 1960, per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020-2024 estimates. 11.7% were built in 1939 or earlier. The median U.S. home was built in 1980.
Which state has the oldest homes?
District of Columbia has the largest share of homes built before 1960 (52.2%), followed by New York (52%) and Rhode Island (48.2%). Nevada has the smallest (4.7%).
Which states have the most homes from the polybutylene era?
Polybutylene supply pipe was installed from about 1978 to 1995. The closest window in the Census table is 1980-1999, and Alaska has the largest share of homes built then (37.3%), followed by Nevada (36.5%) and Arizona (33.9%). Not every home of that age has polybutylene; it is a reason to check.
What kind of pipes does a house built before 1960 have?
Commonly galvanized steel water supply pipe and cast iron drain and sewer pipe, unless they have been replaced. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside and lowers pressure; cast iron scales and cracks. Many older homes have been partly or fully repiped, so the only way to know is to look.
Which metro has the oldest housing?
Of 209 metro areas with at least 100,000 housing units, Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY has the largest share built before 1960 (54.8%) and Naples-Marco Island, FL the smallest (1.4%).
Can I use this data?
YesUnder CC BY 4.0.
Chart it, quote it or republish it with a link to this page. Every share is in the CSV and JSON with its 90% margin of error. The underlying table is public from the Census Bureau.
Who do I call right now for water damage?
Call (888) 840-6512. The line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects you with an IICRC-certified water damage restoration company that serves your area. A recorded menu picks up first: choose water damage or mold, key in your 5-digit ZIP code, and hold through the short silence while the call is passed to the company.
Describe what you can see — where the water is coming from, how long it has been there, and whether it smells — the more specific you are, the faster the right company is on the line. If the source is a pipe or an appliance, shut the main water valve first. Have four things ready and the call goes quickly: the address, when the water started, what is wet now, and whether you have filed an insurance claim.
Still not sure which of these is your situation? (888) 840-6512 · toll-free · answered 24/7
Methodology
- Source: American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034 (Year Structure Built) and B25035 (Median Year Structure Built), U.S. Census Bureau, read through the Census Reporter API. HearthDry is not affiliated with the Census Bureau.
- Universe: all housing units, occupied and vacant (143.8 million nationally). Year built is reported by respondents and is an estimate.
- Shares are computed from the published counts. Margins of error are at 90% confidence, using the Census Bureau’s formula for a derived proportion; summed bins use the root of the sum of squared MOEs.
- The table’s bins are decades, so the polybutylene years (about 1978–1995) are approximated by 1980–1999. Plumbing eras describe what homes of that age commonly had, not what any one home has.
- Metro areas are OMB metropolitan statistical areas. Puerto Rico is excluded. Metros under 100,000 housing units are left out of the table and CSV for reliability.
- Rebuild:
python3 -I scripts/research/home-plumbing-age.py.
Cite this research
50 states, DC and 209 metros, with margins of error. CSV and JSON at https://hearthdry.com/research/data/home-plumbing-age-by-state.csv.
HearthDry (2026). How Old Is America's Plumbing? Homes by Year Built, by State and Metro. https://hearthdry.com/research/home-plumbing-age-by-state
Free to quote and republish with attribution. Journalists and researchers can reach the analysis author through our contact page.