How old are the homes in Nelson Township, MI?

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

46.4% (±13.3 points) of the homes in Nelson Township, MI were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

7.7% were built before 1940.

3.2% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 46.4% (±13.3 points)
Built before 1940: 7.7%
Built 2010 or later: 3.2%

When the homes in Nelson Township were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Nelson Township	Kent County	Michigan	United States
2020 or later	1.3% (±1.4 points)	1.4%	1.0%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	1.9% (±2.0 points)	8.1%	4.9%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	23.6% (±6.6 points)	12.0%	10.3%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	19.7% (±7.1 points)	13.7%	12.1%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	7.1% (±4.5 points)	10.8%	9.7%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	11.8% (±5.7 points)	11.9%	14.9%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	11.6% (±6.7 points)	9.5%	11.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	10.0% (±7.0 points)	10.5%	14.2%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	5.3% (±5.5 points)	5.5%	6.9%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	7.7% (±4.4 points)	16.6%	14.6%	11.7%

In Nelson Township, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Kent County (54.0%).

It is also lower than in Michigan (62.1%).

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

In Kent County, Nelson Township ranks 10 of 30 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 1148 of 1,520.

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 (34.6%) and the share built before 1980 (46.4%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Nelson Township

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Nelson Township
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Nelson Township	—	46.4% (±13.3 points)	—
Cedar Springs	4.2 mi	53.2% (±15.3 points)	Not measurably different
Pierson	4.4 mi	77.8% (±53.3 points)	Not measurably different
Spencer Township	5.9 mi	41.9% (±10.1 points)	Not measurably different
Courtland Township	6.1 mi	27.9% (±7.4 points)	Lower
Pierson Township	6.7 mi	35.5% (±10.4 points)	Not measurably different
Solon Township (Kent County)	6.8 mi	20.6% (±7.7 points)	Lower
Maple Valley Township (Montcalm County)	7.6 mi	62.8% (±11.1 points)	Not measurably different
Oakfield Township	8.6 mi	26.2% (±8.6 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Courtland Township, MI (27.9%), Solon Township (Kent County), MI (20.6%), Oakfield Township, MI (26.2%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Kent County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
4	Wyoming	64.2% (±3.7 points)
5	Cedar Springs	53.2% (±15.3 points)
6	Sparta Township	53.1% (±6.8 points)
7	Tyrone Township (Kent County)	52.3% (±10.2 points)
8	Grandville	52.2% (±6.6 points)
9	Lowell Charter Township	46.7% (±12.1 points)
10	Nelson Township	46.4% (±13.3 points)
11	Walker	45.1% (±5.1 points)
12	Kentwood	44.9% (±3.4 points)
13	Cascade Charter Township	44.3% (±6.7 points)
14	Bowne Township	44.2% (±11.2 points)
15	Spencer Township	41.9% (±10.1 points)
16	Plainfield Charter Township	41.7% (±3.9 points)

Showing 13 of 30 places in Kent County, ranked from highest to lowest.

The figures for Nelson Township include the places inside it that have pages of their own: Sand Lake.

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 Nelson Township

How old are most homes in Nelson Township?

46.4% of homes in Nelson Township, MI were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Nelson Township 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 34.6% and 46.4% of homes in Nelson Township were built before then.

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

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 — Nelson township, Kent County, Michigan

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 Nelson township, Kent County, Michigan (county subdivision:56920, in state:26 county:081).

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.