How old are the homes in New Canaan, CT?

66.1% (±6.1 points) of the homes in New Canaan, CT were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

18.6% were built before 1940.

8.3% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on .

Built before 1980
66.1% (±6.1 points)
Built before 1940
18.6%
Built 2010 or later
8.3%

When the homes in New Canaan were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year builtNew CanaanWestern Connecticut Planning RegionConnecticutUnited States
2020 or later2.0% (±1.3 points)1.0%0.7%2.0%
2010 to 20196.3% (±2.3 points)8.2%4.5%9.4%
2000 to 200911.9% (±3.1 points)8.9%7.1%13.6%
1990 to 19995.9% (±1.9 points)7.1%7.5%12.4%
1980 to 19897.7% (±2.2 points)12.3%12.9%12.9%
1970 to 197911.0% (±2.2 points)14.1%13.7%14.2%
1960 to 196919.1% (±3.9 points)13.7%13.0%9.9%
1950 to 195913.2% (±2.4 points)13.4%14.1%9.5%
1940 to 19494.2% (±2.2 points)5.1%6.3%4.4%
1939 or earlier18.6% (±2.6 points)16.3%20.2%11.7%

In New Canaan, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Western Connecticut Planning Region (62.6%).

It is not measurably different from Connecticut (67.3%).

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

In Western Connecticut Planning Region, New Canaan ranks 8 of 18 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 64 of 169.

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 (55.1%) and the share built before 1980 (66.1%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near New Canaan

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with New Canaan
PlaceDistanceHomes built before 1980Compared with this place
New Canaan—66.1% (±6.1 points)—
Wilton Center4.4 mi31.5% (±10.4 points)Lower
South Wilton4.4 mi40.9% (±13.3 points)Lower
Wilton4.7 mi65.1% (±5.7 points)Not measurably different
Town of Pound Ridge5.6 mi69.4% (±10.5 points)Not measurably different
Noroton Heights6.0 mi75.6% (±15.6 points)Not measurably different
Darien Downtown6.0 mi47.5% (±15.6 points)Lower
Stamford6.1 mi58.3% (±2.7 points)Lower
Norwalk6.3 mi68.6% (±3.3 points)Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Wilton Center, CT (31.5%), South Wilton, CT (40.9%), Darien Downtown, CT (47.5%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Western Connecticut Planning Region, place by place

RankPlaceHomes built before 1980
2New Fairfield71.6% (±7.7 points)
3Darien69.8% (±5.7 points)
4Greenwich69.1% (±3.7 points)
5Norwalk68.6% (±3.3 points)
6Redding66.3% (±8.7 points)
7Bethel66.2% (±6.0 points)
8New Canaan66.1% (±6.1 points)
9Sherman65.8% (±14.4 points)
10Wilton65.1% (±5.7 points)
11Westport62.1% (±5.8 points)
12Ridgefield62.0% (±5.3 points)
13New Milford58.6% (±6.3 points)
14Stamford58.3% (±2.7 points)

Showing 13 of 18 places in Western Connecticut Planning Region, ranked from highest to lowest.

The figures for New Canaan include the places inside it that have pages of their own: New Canaan (community).

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 New Canaan

How old are most homes in New Canaan?

66.1% of homes in New Canaan, CT were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in New Canaan 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 55.1% and 66.1% of homes in New Canaan were built before then.

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

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 New Canaan town, Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut (county subdivision:50580, in state:09 county:190).

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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