How old are the homes in San Mateo, CA?

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

70.4% (±2.9 points) of the homes in San Mateo, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

9.5% were built before 1940.

7.4% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 70.4% (±2.9 points)
Built before 1940: 9.5%
Built 2010 or later: 7.4%

When the homes in San Mateo were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	San Mateo	San Mateo County	California	United States
2020 or later	1.0% (±0.3 points)	1.0%	1.3%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	6.4% (±0.9 points)	5.4%	6.5%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	5.2% (±0.9 points)	5.7%	11.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	5.6% (±1.0 points)	5.7%	10.1%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	11.4% (±1.3 points)	9.7%	14.9%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	13.5% (±1.4 points)	16.0%	16.8%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	13.4% (±1.5 points)	16.0%	12.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	21.3% (±1.4 points)	21.6%	12.4%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	12.7% (±1.2 points)	10.3%	5.4%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	9.5% (±0.9 points)	8.6%	8.9%	11.7%

In San Mateo, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from San Mateo County (72.5%).

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

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

In San Mateo County, San Mateo ranks 17 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 287 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 (56.9%) and the share built before 1980 (70.4%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near San Mateo

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with San Mateo
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
San Mateo	—	70.4% (±2.9 points)	—
Hillsborough	2.6 mi	73.7% (±8.3 points)	Not measurably different
Baywood Park	2.7 mi	93.7% (±19.5 points)	Higher
Foster City	3.3 mi	65.5% (±3.8 points)	Lower
Belmont	3.3 mi	82.9% (±6.5 points)	Higher
Highlands	3.4 mi	97.5% (±13.8 points)	Higher
Burlingame	3.5 mi	79.4% (±5.5 points)	Higher
San Carlos	4.8 mi	76.2% (±4.3 points)	Higher
Millbrae	5.7 mi	76.7% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Foster City, CA (65.5%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Baywood Park, CA (93.7%), Belmont, CA (82.9%), Highlands, CA (97.5%).

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
11	Moss Beach	78.9% (±24.7 points)
12	Daly City	78.4% (±3.4 points)
13	Millbrae	76.7% (±5.6 points)
14	San Carlos	76.2% (±4.3 points)
15	North Fair Oaks	75.0% (±8.3 points)
16	Hillsborough	73.7% (±8.3 points)
17	San Mateo	70.4% (±2.9 points)
18	Menlo Park	70.3% (±5.0 points)
19	East Palo Alto	70.2% (±7.0 points)
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)

Showing 13 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 San Mateo

How old are most homes in San Mateo?

70.4% of homes in San Mateo, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in San Mateo 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 56.9% and 70.4% of homes in San Mateo were built before then.

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

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 — San Mateo 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 San Mateo city, California (place:68252, 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.