How old are the homes in Sells, AZ?

Name: Age of homes in Sells, AZ, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

39.0% (±15.0 points) of the homes in Sells, AZ were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

4.0% were built before 1940.

4.5% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 39.0% (±15.0 points)
Built before 1940: 4.0%
Built 2010 or later: 4.5%

When the homes in Sells were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Sells	Pima County	Arizona	United States
2020 or later	0.0% (±7.0 points)	1.9%	2.8%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	4.5% (±4.9 points)	8.1%	11.6%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	7.4% (±6.7 points)	18.1%	22.4%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	2.6% (±3.7 points)	16.0%	17.4%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	46.5% (±13.5 points)	16.5%	16.5%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	21.6% (±9.3 points)	18.7%	15.2%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	8.8% (±6.3 points)	8.0%	6.3%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	4.6% (±5.3 points)	7.8%	4.9%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	0.0% (±7.0 points)	2.9%	1.5%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	4.0% (±4.7 points)	2.0%	1.4%	11.7%

In Sells, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Pima County (39.4%).

It is not measurably different from Arizona (29.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (49.7%).

In Pima County, Sells ranks 7 of 24 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 61 of 213.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (17.4%) and the share built before 1980 (39.0%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Sells

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Sells
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Sells	—	39.0% (±15.0 points)	—
Three Points	36 mi	29.4% (±10.8 points)	Not measurably different
Picture Rocks	45 mi	16.8% (±6.7 points)	Lower
Avra Valley	46 mi	19.0% (±8.3 points)	Lower
Valencia West	47 mi	10.5% (±3.8 points)	Lower
Tucson Estates	47 mi	32.1% (±5.5 points)	Not measurably different
Drexel Heights	51 mi	33.8% (±3.9 points)	Not measurably different
Green Valley	51 mi	40.8% (±3.3 points)	Not measurably different
Tubac	52 mi	10.9% (±9.3 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Picture Rocks, AZ (16.8%), Avra Valley, AZ (19.0%), Valencia West, AZ (10.5%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Pima County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	Ajo	82.8% (±14.5 points)
2	South Tucson	66.8% (±12.6 points)
3	Tucson	52.4% (±1.2 points)
4	Flowing Wells	51.2% (±7.6 points)
5	Tanque Verde	44.2% (±5.4 points)
6	Green Valley	40.8% (±3.3 points)
7	Sells	39.0% (±15.0 points)
8	Casas Adobes	35.3% (±2.0 points)
9	Catalina Foothills	35.1% (±2.3 points)
10	Drexel Heights	33.8% (±3.9 points)
11	Tucson Estates	32.1% (±5.5 points)
12	Summit	30.9% (±12.2 points)
13	Three Points	29.4% (±10.8 points)

Showing 13 of 24 places in Pima County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Sells is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Sells

How old are most homes in Sells?

39.0% of homes in Sells, AZ were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Sells need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 17.4% and 39.0% of homes in Sells were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Sells?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Sells CDP, Arizona

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Sells CDP, Arizona (place:65490, in state:04).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.