How old are the homes in Del Mar, CA?

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

75.3% (±15.7 points) of the homes in Del Mar, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

9.5% were built before 1940.

6.8% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 75.3% (±15.7 points)
Built before 1940: 9.5%
Built 2010 or later: 6.8%

When the homes in Del Mar were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Del Mar	San Diego County	California	United States
2020 or later	2.1% (±2.9 points)	1.4%	1.3%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	4.7% (±3.8 points)	6.9%	6.5%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	2.9% (±3.1 points)	12.2%	11.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	3.5% (±1.6 points)	11.3%	10.1%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	11.4% (±4.9 points)	18.6%	14.9%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	28.3% (±8.2 points)	21.4%	16.8%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	17.7% (±6.6 points)	11.2%	12.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	14.5% (±4.2 points)	9.8%	12.4%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	5.3% (±5.2 points)	3.0%	5.4%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	9.5% (±9.6 points)	4.0%	8.9%	11.7%

In Del Mar, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in San Diego County (49.4%).

It is also higher than in California (56.0%).

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

In San Diego County, Del Mar ranks 3 of 50 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 207 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 (47.0%) and the share built before 1980 (75.3%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Del Mar

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Del Mar
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Del Mar	—	75.3% (±15.7 points)	—
Solana Beach	1.9 mi	68.9% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different
Fairbanks Ranch	4.7 mi	6.0% (±9.4 points)	Lower
Rancho Santa Fe	5.6 mi	55.1% (±16.0 points)	Not measurably different
Encinitas	6.0 mi	50.0% (±3.0 points)	Lower
Lake San Marcos	11 mi	54.0% (±9.8 points)	Lower
Carlsbad	12 mi	29.8% (±2.0 points)	Lower
Harmony Grove	12 mi	16.8% (±14.3 points)	Lower
San Diego	13 mi	52.5% (±0.7 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Fairbanks Ranch, CA (6.0%), Encinitas, CA (50.0%), Lake San Marcos, CA (54.0%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	Casa de Oro-Mount Helix	79.8% (±7.0 points)
2	Granite Hills	79.6% (±16.7 points)
3	Del Mar	75.3% (±15.7 points)
4	La Mesa	72.9% (±3.8 points)
5	Lemon Grove	71.9% (±6.1 points)
6	Eucalyptus Hills	71.0% (±16.8 points)
7	National City	70.1% (±4.9 points)
8	Solana Beach	68.9% (±5.6 points)
9	Bonita	68.6% (±8.0 points)

Showing 9 of 50 places in San Diego 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 Del Mar

How old are most homes in Del Mar?

75.3% of homes in Del Mar, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Del Mar 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 47.0% and 75.3% of homes in Del Mar were built before then.

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

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 — Del Mar city, 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 Del Mar city, California (place:18506, 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.