How old are the homes in Des Plaines, IL?

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

70.9% (±3.5 points) of the homes in Des Plaines, IL were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

8.9% were built before 1940.

6.4% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 70.9% (±3.5 points)
Built before 1940: 8.9%
Built 2010 or later: 6.4%

When the homes in Des Plaines were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Des Plaines	Cook County	Illinois	United States
2020 or later	0.7% (±0.5 points)	0.7%	0.7%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	5.7% (±1.0 points)	4.4%	5.0%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	7.2% (±1.3 points)	7.9%	11.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	7.4% (±1.4 points)	6.2%	10.5%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	7.9% (±1.2 points)	7.6%	9.2%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	12.3% (±1.4 points)	12.1%	14.2%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	22.5% (±1.7 points)	12.5%	11.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	20.9% (±2.0 points)	14.3%	11.9%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	6.3% (±1.0 points)	6.6%	5.6%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	8.9% (±1.6 points)	27.8%	20.2%	11.7%

In Des Plaines, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from 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, Des Plaines ranks 91 of 148 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 1321 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 (58.6%) and the share built before 1980 (70.9%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Des Plaines

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Des Plaines
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Des Plaines	—	70.9% (±3.5 points)	—
Maine Township (Cook County)	1.9 mi	75.3% (±2.5 points)	Higher
Mount Prospect	2.8 mi	75.5% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
Park Ridge	3.3 mi	77.5% (±4.7 points)	Higher
Rosemont	3.5 mi	80.9% (±14.1 points)	Not measurably different
Elk Grove Township	3.9 mi	74.1% (±3.2 points)	Not measurably different
Niles	4.7 mi	77.3% (±6.1 points)	Not measurably different
Prospect Heights	5.0 mi	60.6% (±7.9 points)	Lower
Elk Grove Village	5.1 mi	68.1% (±5.0 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Prospect Heights, IL (60.6%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Maine Township (Cook County), IL (75.3%), Park Ridge, IL (77.5%).

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
85	Elk Grove Township	74.1% (±3.2 points)
86	Calumet Township	74.0% (±8.3 points)
87	Sauk Village	73.1% (±10.0 points)
88	Merrionette Park	72.7% (±16.3 points)
89	Hickory Hills	72.3% (±9.2 points)
90	Stone Park	71.6% (±15.8 points)
91	Des Plaines	70.9% (±3.5 points)
92	Phoenix	70.5% (±14.9 points)
93	Golf	69.7% (±16.3 points)
94	South Chicago Heights	69.4% (±16.7 points)
95	Glencoe	69.0% (±9.7 points)
96	Lyons Township	68.5% (±2.6 points)
97	Elk Grove Village	68.1% (±5.0 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 Des Plaines

How old are most homes in Des Plaines?

70.9% of homes in Des Plaines, IL were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Des Plaines 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 58.6% and 70.9% of homes in Des Plaines were built before then.

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

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 — Des Plaines 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 Des Plaines city, Illinois (place:19642, 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.