How old are the homes in Cary, IL?

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

38.8% (±5.9 points) of the homes in Cary, IL were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

6.2% were built before 1940.

3.6% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 38.8% (±5.9 points)
Built before 1940: 6.2%
Built 2010 or later: 3.6%

When the homes in Cary were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Cary	McHenry County	Illinois	United States
2020 or later	0.0% (±0.6 points)	1.1%	0.7%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	3.6% (±2.2 points)	4.4%	5.0%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	15.5% (±2.8 points)	20.1%	11.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	20.3% (±3.8 points)	22.6%	10.5%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	21.8% (±4.5 points)	13.4%	9.2%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	18.9% (±3.9 points)	13.6%	14.2%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	6.4% (±2.0 points)	6.5%	11.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	5.2% (±1.6 points)	7.3%	11.9%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	2.1% (±1.6 points)	3.0%	5.6%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	6.2% (±3.3 points)	8.0%	20.2%	11.7%

In Cary, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from McHenry County (38.4%).

It is also lower than in Illinois (63.4%).

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

In McHenry County, Cary ranks 30 of 46 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 2440 of 2,751.

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 (19.9%) and the share built before 1980 (38.8%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Cary

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Cary
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Cary	—	38.8% (±5.9 points)	—
Trout Valley	1.1 mi	87.7% (±20.2 points)	Higher
Algonquin Township	1.7 mi	42.0% (±2.5 points)	Not measurably different
Fox River Grove	2.1 mi	49.5% (±14.0 points)	Not measurably different
Oakwood Hills	2.5 mi	46.8% (±10.5 points)	Not measurably different
Port Barrington	3.6 mi	20.3% (±6.2 points)	Lower
Lake in the Hills	4.1 mi	16.4% (±2.6 points)	Lower
Lake Barrington	4.1 mi	37.0% (±6.3 points)	Not measurably different
Prairie Grove	4.4 mi	18.8% (±5.9 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Port Barrington, IL (20.3%), Lake in the Hills, IL (16.4%), Prairie Grove, IL (18.8%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Trout Valley, IL (87.7%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across McHenry County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
24	Algonquin Township	42.0% (±2.5 points)
25	Ringwood	41.8% (±10.5 points)
26	Crystal Lake	41.5% (±3.5 points)
27	Greenwood Township (McHenry County)	40.9% (±6.7 points)
28	Seneca Township	40.8% (±16.9 points)
29	Woodstock	38.9% (±4.7 points)
30	Cary	38.8% (±5.9 points)
31	McHenry	38.6% (±4.0 points)
32	Riley Township	37.3% (±16.0 points)
33	Nunda Township	34.1% (±3.1 points)
34	Island Lake	29.8% (±6.4 points)
35	Richmond	29.5% (±7.1 points)
36	Richmond Township	28.7% (±6.1 points)

Showing 13 of 46 places in McHenry 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 Cary

How old are most homes in Cary?

38.8% of homes in Cary, IL were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Cary 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 19.9% and 38.8% of homes in Cary were built before then.

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

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 — Cary village, Illinois

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 Cary village, Illinois (place:11592, in state:17).

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.