How old are the homes in Atherton, CA?

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

61.0% (±8.6 points) of the homes in Atherton, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

17.2% were built before 1940.

14.6% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 61.0% (±8.6 points)
Built before 1940: 17.2%
Built 2010 or later: 14.6%

When the homes in Atherton were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Atherton	San Mateo County	California	United States
2020 or later	2.3% (±1.5 points)	1.0%	1.3%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	12.3% (±4.1 points)	5.4%	6.5%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	12.6% (±5.0 points)	5.7%	11.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	4.2% (±2.2 points)	5.7%	10.1%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	7.5% (±3.8 points)	9.7%	14.9%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	1.9% (±1.2 points)	16.0%	16.8%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	9.0% (±3.6 points)	16.0%	12.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	20.1% (±4.2 points)	21.6%	12.4%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	12.8% (±4.0 points)	10.3%	5.4%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	17.2% (±5.1 points)	8.6%	8.9%	11.7%

In Atherton, the share of homes built before 1980 is lower than in San Mateo County (72.5%).

It is not measurably different from California (56.0%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In San Mateo County, Atherton ranks 26 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 453 of 1,076.

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 (59.1%) and the share built before 1980 (61.0%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Atherton

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Atherton
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Atherton	—	61.0% (±8.6 points)	—
North Fair Oaks	1.3 mi	75.0% (±8.3 points)	Higher
West Menlo Park	1.6 mi	64.1% (±14.9 points)	Not measurably different
Stanford	2.8 mi	46.8% (±7.6 points)	Lower
Menlo Park	3.3 mi	70.3% (±5.0 points)	Not measurably different
Emerald Lake Hills	3.6 mi	42.0% (±9.3 points)	Lower
East Palo Alto	3.8 mi	70.2% (±7.0 points)	Not measurably different
Ladera	4.0 mi	95.4% (±32.6 points)	Higher
Woodside	4.0 mi	68.2% (±9.9 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Stanford, CA (46.8%), Emerald Lake Hills, CA (42.0%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: North Fair Oaks, CA (75.0%), Ladera, CA (95.4%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across San Mateo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
20	South San Francisco	69.8% (±3.9 points)
21 (tie)	Woodside	68.2% (±9.9 points)
21 (tie)	Montara	68.2% (±21.4 points)
23	Foster City	65.5% (±3.8 points)
24	Redwood City	64.2% (±3.1 points)
25	West Menlo Park	64.1% (±14.9 points)
26	Atherton	61.0% (±8.6 points)
27	Brisbane	60.4% (±17.1 points)
28	Half Moon Bay	51.7% (±7.2 points)
29	El Granada	46.1% (±14.2 points)
30	Emerald Lake Hills	42.0% (±9.3 points)
31	Colma	41.7% (±11.1 points)

Showing 12 of 31 places in San Mateo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

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 Atherton

How old are most homes in Atherton?

61.0% of homes in Atherton, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Atherton 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 59.1% and 61.0% of homes in Atherton were built before then.

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

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 — Atherton town, California

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 Atherton town, California (place:03092, in state:06).

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.