How old are the homes in West Menlo Park, CA?

64.1% (±14.9 points) of the homes in West Menlo Park, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

6.8% were built before 1940.

12.5% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on .

Built before 1980
64.1% (±14.9 points)
Built before 1940
6.8%
Built 2010 or later
12.5%

When the homes in West Menlo Park were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year builtWest Menlo ParkSan Mateo CountyCaliforniaUnited States
2020 or later1.4% (±1.5 points)1.0%1.3%2.0%
2010 to 201911.1% (±5.5 points)5.4%6.5%9.4%
2000 to 200913.5% (±6.2 points)5.7%11.2%13.6%
1990 to 19995.5% (±3.2 points)5.7%10.1%12.4%
1980 to 19894.4% (±2.7 points)9.7%14.9%12.9%
1970 to 19796.5% (±3.9 points)16.0%16.8%14.2%
1960 to 196910.8% (±6.1 points)16.0%12.5%9.9%
1950 to 195930.3% (±11.8 points)21.6%12.4%9.5%
1940 to 19499.7% (±4.1 points)10.3%5.4%4.4%
1939 or earlier6.8% (±3.5 points)8.6%8.9%11.7%

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

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

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

In San Mateo County, West Menlo Park ranks 25 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 408 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 (57.6%) and the share built before 1980 (64.1%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near West Menlo Park

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with West Menlo Park
PlaceDistanceHomes built before 1980Compared with this place
West Menlo Park—64.1% (±14.9 points)—
Atherton1.6 mi61.0% (±8.6 points)Not measurably different
Stanford2.0 mi46.8% (±7.6 points)Lower
Ladera2.4 mi95.4% (±32.6 points)Not measurably different
North Fair Oaks2.9 mi75.0% (±8.3 points)Not measurably different
Woodside3.1 mi68.2% (±9.9 points)Not measurably different
Emerald Lake Hills4.0 mi42.0% (±9.3 points)Lower
Palo Alto4.2 mi69.9% (±3.2 points)Not measurably different
Menlo Park4.4 mi70.3% (±5.0 points)Not measurably different

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

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

RankPlaceHomes built before 1980
19East Palo Alto70.2% (±7.0 points)
20South San Francisco69.8% (±3.9 points)
21 (tie)Woodside68.2% (±9.9 points)
21 (tie)Montara68.2% (±21.4 points)
23Foster City65.5% (±3.8 points)
24Redwood City64.2% (±3.1 points)
25West Menlo Park64.1% (±14.9 points)
26Atherton61.0% (±8.6 points)
27Brisbane60.4% (±17.1 points)
28Half Moon Bay51.7% (±7.2 points)
29El Granada46.1% (±14.2 points)
30Emerald Lake Hills42.0% (±9.3 points)
31Colma41.7% (±11.1 points)

Showing 13 of 31 places in San Mateo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

West Menlo Park 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 West Menlo Park

How old are most homes in West Menlo Park?

64.1% of homes in West Menlo Park, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in West Menlo Park 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 57.6% and 64.1% of homes in West Menlo Park were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in West Menlo Park?

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

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 West Menlo Park CDP, California (place:84536, 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.

Figures last updated on .

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