How old are the homes in Van Meter, IA?

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

45.4% (±14.8 points) of the homes in Van Meter, IA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

13.7% were built before 1940.

23.7% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 45.4% (±14.8 points)
Built before 1940: 13.7%
Built 2010 or later: 23.7%

When the homes in Van Meter were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Van Meter	Dallas County	Iowa	United States
2020 or later	0.6% (±1.1 points)	7.9%	1.7%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	23.1% (±7.0 points)	32.4%	9.2%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	15.7% (±9.9 points)	24.6%	10.8%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	10.4% (±4.4 points)	9.8%	9.6%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	4.8% (±4.1 points)	2.9%	7.1%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	14.9% (±5.1 points)	6.0%	14.0%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	12.4% (±11.3 points)	3.1%	9.7%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	4.4% (±2.4 points)	3.1%	9.7%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	0.0% (±4.9 points)	1.2%	4.6%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	13.7% (±6.0 points)	9.1%	23.5%	11.7%

In Van Meter, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Dallas County (22.5%).

It is also lower than in Iowa (61.5%).

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

In Dallas County, Van Meter ranks 11 of 14 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 884 of 943.

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 (30.5%) and the share built before 1980 (45.4%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Van Meter

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Van Meter
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Van Meter	—	45.4% (±14.8 points)	—
De Soto	3.5 mi	68.6% (±13.5 points)	Higher
Waukee	5.5 mi	10.0% (±2.1 points)	Lower
Adel	6.8 mi	43.0% (±11.1 points)	Not measurably different
West Des Moines	8.6 mi	27.6% (±2.3 points)	Lower
Earlham	9.4 mi	55.7% (±10.0 points)	Not measurably different
Clive	9.7 mi	28.1% (±4.7 points)	Lower
Cumming	9.8 mi	32.7% (±14.1 points)	Not measurably different
Dallas Center	11 mi	61.3% (±9.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Waukee, IA (10.0%), West Des Moines, IA (27.6%), Clive, IA (28.1%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: De Soto, IA (68.6%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Dallas County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
5	Redfield	80.7% (±15.2 points)
6	Woodward	77.2% (±14.7 points)
7	Dexter	76.8% (±13.8 points)
8	Perry	72.4% (±10.0 points)
9	De Soto	68.6% (±13.5 points)
10	Dallas Center	61.3% (±9.4 points)
11	Van Meter	45.4% (±14.8 points)
12	Adel	43.0% (±11.1 points)
13	Granger	28.3% (±7.7 points)
14	Waukee	10.0% (±2.1 points)

Showing 10 of 14 places in Dallas 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 Van Meter

How old are most homes in Van Meter?

45.4% of homes in Van Meter, IA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Van Meter 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 30.5% and 45.4% of homes in Van Meter were built before then.

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

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 — Van Meter city, Iowa

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 Van Meter city, Iowa (place:80445, in state:19).

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.