How old are the homes in Fairfield Township (Essex County), NJ?

Name: Age of homes in Fairfield Township (Essex County), NJ, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

59.4% (±12.9 points) of the homes in Fairfield Township (Essex County), NJ were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

3.5% were built before 1940.

6.6% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 59.4% (±12.9 points)
Built before 1940: 3.5%
Built 2010 or later: 6.6%

When the homes in Fairfield Township (Essex County) were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Fairfield Township (Essex County)	Essex County	New Jersey	United States
2020 or later	3.2% (±2.6 points)	0.7%	1.1%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	3.4% (±2.0 points)	5.3%	6.2%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	22.4% (±8.9 points)	7.4%	9.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	2.9% (±3.1 points)	5.9%	8.9%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	8.7% (±4.2 points)	6.4%	11.8%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	16.0% (±6.6 points)	9.1%	12.3%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	28.6% (±8.9 points)	12.5%	12.8%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	9.9% (±5.0 points)	14.4%	13.8%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	1.4% (±2.3 points)	9.1%	6.5%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	3.5% (±3.5 points)	29.1%	17.4%	11.7%

In Fairfield Township (Essex County), the share of homes built before 1980 is lower than in Essex County (74.2%).

It is not measurably different from New Jersey (62.8%).

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

In Essex County, Fairfield Township (Essex County) ranks 21 of 22 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 376 of 564.

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 (43.4%) and the share built before 1980 (59.4%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Fairfield Township (Essex County)

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Fairfield Township (Essex County)
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Fairfield Township (Essex County)	—	59.4% (±12.9 points)	—
Pine Brook	2.2 mi	62.9% (±15.4 points)	Not measurably different
West Caldwell Township	2.5 mi	84.4% (±9.5 points)	Higher
North Caldwell Borough	2.6 mi	68.5% (±15.7 points)	Not measurably different
Lincoln Park Borough	2.8 mi	56.7% (±8.2 points)	Not measurably different
Singac	3.2 mi	79.7% (±17.9 points)	Not measurably different
Caldwell Borough	3.3 mi	72.6% (±9.2 points)	Not measurably different
Montville Township	3.5 mi	50.9% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different
Towaco	3.7 mi	60.7% (±17.9 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: West Caldwell Township, NJ (84.4%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Essex County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
15	Orange	75.3% (±7.5 points)
16	Caldwell Borough	72.6% (±9.2 points)
17	Cedar Grove Township	72.3% (±8.4 points)
18	Livingston Township	71.2% (±5.8 points)
19	North Caldwell Borough	68.5% (±15.7 points)
20	Newark	65.7% (±2.1 points)
21	Fairfield Township (Essex County)	59.4% (±12.9 points)
22	Roseland Borough	53.6% (±11.8 points)

Showing 8 of 22 places in Essex 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.

What you can do on Seayora in Fairfield Township (Essex County)

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Questions about Fairfield Township (Essex County)

How old are most homes in Fairfield Township (Essex County)?

59.4% of homes in Fairfield Township (Essex County), NJ were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Fairfield Township (Essex County) 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 43.4% and 59.4% of homes in Fairfield Township (Essex County) were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Fairfield Township (Essex County)?

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 — Fairfield township, Essex County, New Jersey

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 Fairfield township, Essex County, New Jersey (county subdivision:22385, in state:34 county:013).

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.