How old are the homes in Elk River, MN?

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

25.9% (±4.5 points) of the homes in Elk River, MN were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

2.4% were built before 1940.

18.8% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 25.9% (±4.5 points)
Built before 1940: 2.4%
Built 2010 or later: 18.8%

When the homes in Elk River were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Elk River	Sherburne County	Minnesota	United States
2020 or later	5.7% (±1.9 points)	3.7%	1.9%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	13.1% (±3.5 points)	10.1%	8.5%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	25.5% (±3.8 points)	27.4%	13.3%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	17.5% (±2.9 points)	21.5%	12.2%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	12.2% (±2.4 points)	11.5%	12.0%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	13.3% (±3.4 points)	12.4%	14.2%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	5.9% (±2.2 points)	4.4%	9.1%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	4.2% (±1.8 points)	4.5%	9.1%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	0.1% (±0.1 points)	1.4%	4.1%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	2.4% (±1.0 points)	3.1%	15.6%	11.7%

In Elk River, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Sherburne County (25.8%).

It is also lower than in Minnesota (52.1%).

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

In Sherburne County, Elk River ranks 5 of 15 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 2539 of 2,629.

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 (12.6%) and the share built before 1980 (25.9%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Elk River

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Elk River
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Elk River	—	25.9% (±4.5 points)	—
Otsego	5.4 mi	15.1% (±4.6 points)	Lower
Nowthen	5.7 mi	28.2% (±7.8 points)	Not measurably different
Livonia Township	7.0 mi	16.3% (±6.4 points)	Lower
Big Lake Township	7.3 mi	23.8% (±6.2 points)	Not measurably different
Ramsey	7.5 mi	25.5% (±3.5 points)	Not measurably different
Zimmerman	7.6 mi	18.0% (±6.1 points)	Lower
Albertville	8.1 mi	5.1% (±3.2 points)	Lower
Big Lake	8.6 mi	16.1% (±4.8 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Otsego, MN (15.1%), Livonia Township, MN (16.3%), Zimmerman, MN (18.0%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Sherburne County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	Haven Township	55.7% (±11.8 points)
2	Clear Lake Township	45.1% (±8.5 points)
3	Palmer Township	43.9% (±9.1 points)
4	Clear Lake	38.1% (±19.3 points)
5 (tie)	Elk River	25.9% (±4.5 points)
5 (tie)	Blue Hill Township	25.9% (±9.5 points)
7	Baldwin Township	25.6% (±7.4 points)
8	Orrock Township	24.1% (±8.8 points)
9	Big Lake Township	23.8% (±6.2 points)
10	Santiago Township	23.0% (±7.5 points)
11	Zimmerman	18.0% (±6.1 points)

Showing 11 of 15 places in Sherburne 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 Elk River

How old are most homes in Elk River?

25.9% of homes in Elk River, MN were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Elk River 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 12.6% and 25.9% of homes in Elk River were built before then.

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

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 — Elk River city, Minnesota

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 Elk River city, Minnesota (place:18674, in state:27).

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.