How old are the homes in Chicago, IL?

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

75.2% (±0.6 points) of the homes in Chicago, IL were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

38.8% were built before 1940.

6.3% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 75.2% (±0.6 points)
Built before 1940: 38.8%
Built 2010 or later: 6.3%

When the homes in Chicago were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Chicago	Cook County	Illinois	United States
2020 or later	0.8% (±0.1 points)	0.7%	0.7%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	5.5% (±0.2 points)	4.4%	5.0%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	8.6% (±0.3 points)	7.9%	11.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	4.7% (±0.2 points)	6.2%	10.5%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	5.2% (±0.2 points)	7.6%	9.2%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	7.7% (±0.2 points)	12.1%	14.2%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	9.5% (±0.2 points)	12.5%	11.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	11.5% (±0.3 points)	14.3%	11.9%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	7.7% (±0.2 points)	6.6%	5.6%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	38.8% (±0.4 points)	27.8%	20.2%	11.7%

In Chicago, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Cook County (73.3%).

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

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

In Cook County, Chicago ranks 80 of 148 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 1074 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 (67.5%) and the share built before 1980 (75.2%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Chicago

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chicago
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Chicago	—	75.2% (±0.6 points)	—
Cicero	3.9 mi	92.4% (±4.1 points)	Higher
Cicero Township	3.9 mi	92.4% (±4.1 points)	Higher
Stickney	4.8 mi	89.6% (±17.0 points)	Not measurably different
Forest View	4.9 mi	95.3% (±14.5 points)	Higher
Berwyn	5.5 mi	93.5% (±4.9 points)	Higher
Berwyn Township	5.5 mi	93.5% (±4.9 points)	Higher
Stickney Township	6.4 mi	80.2% (±5.2 points)	Not measurably different
Oak Park	6.4 mi	86.1% (±3.4 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Cicero, IL (92.4%), Cicero Township, IL (92.4%), Forest View, IL (95.3%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Cook County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
74 (tie)	Lyons	76.4% (±11.1 points)
74 (tie)	Worth Township (Cook County)	76.4% (±2.5 points)
76 (tie)	Evanston	76.0% (±3.4 points)
76 (tie)	Robbins	76.0% (±14.2 points)
78	Mount Prospect	75.5% (±4.3 points)
79	Maine Township (Cook County)	75.3% (±2.5 points)
80	Chicago	75.2% (±0.6 points)
81	Western Springs	75.0% (±8.5 points)
82	Harwood Heights	74.7% (±11.4 points)
83	Lincolnwood	74.6% (±8.3 points)
84	Blue Island	74.3% (±7.7 points)
85	Elk Grove Township	74.1% (±3.2 points)
86	Calumet Township	74.0% (±8.3 points)

Showing 13 of 148 places in Cook 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 Chicago

How old are most homes in Chicago?

75.2% of homes in Chicago, IL were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Chicago 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 67.5% and 75.2% of homes in Chicago were built before then.

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

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 — Chicago city, 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 Chicago city, Illinois (place:14000, 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.