How old are the homes in Española, NM?

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

53.7% (±6.1 points) of the homes in Española, NM were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

4.9% were built before 1940.

3.9% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 53.7% (±6.1 points)
Built before 1940: 4.9%
Built 2010 or later: 3.9%

When the homes in Española were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Española	Rio Arriba County	New Mexico	United States
2020 or later	0.8% (±0.4 points)	1.1%	1.4%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	3.1% (±1.2 points)	5.3%	8.4%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	9.2% (±2.2 points)	12.8%	15.5%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	19.0% (±2.5 points)	20.5%	15.8%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	14.2% (±2.9 points)	16.0%	16.2%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	21.3% (±4.4 points)	20.2%	16.9%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	12.5% (±3.1 points)	7.0%	9.0%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	9.7% (±1.7 points)	6.3%	8.9%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	5.3% (±2.1 points)	4.6%	3.5%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	4.9% (±1.1 points)	6.0%	4.4%	11.7%

In Española, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Rio Arriba County (44.1%).

It is also higher than in New Mexico (42.7%).

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

In Rio Arriba County, Española ranks 2 of 10 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 68 of 205.

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 (32.4%) and the share built before 1980 (53.7%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Española

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Española
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Española	—	53.7% (±6.1 points)	—
Cuartelez	2.9 mi	44.3% (±39.6 points)	Not measurably different
Ohkay Owingeh	3.2 mi	45.5% (±16.9 points)	Not measurably different
La Mesilla	4.3 mi	29.7% (±5.9 points)	Lower
El Valle de Arroyo Seco	4.3 mi	35.8% (±31.6 points)	Not measurably different
La Villita	6.8 mi	18.1% (±25.9 points)	Lower
Chimayo	7.0 mi	52.5% (±18.3 points)	Not measurably different
El Rancho	7.7 mi	45.7% (±10.1 points)	Not measurably different
Los Luceros	7.9 mi	35.4% (±33.1 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: La Mesilla, NM (29.7%), La Villita, NM (18.1%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Rio Arriba County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	Dixon	53.9% (±24.0 points)
2	Española	53.7% (±6.1 points)
3	Chimayo	52.5% (±18.3 points)
4	El Rito	48.7% (±33.3 points)
5	Chama	46.8% (±15.9 points)
6	Ohkay Owingeh	45.5% (±16.9 points)
7	Los Luceros	35.4% (±33.1 points)
8	La Mesilla	29.7% (±5.9 points)

Showing 8 of 10 places in Rio Arriba 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 Española

How old are most homes in Española?

53.7% of homes in Española, NM were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Española 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 32.4% and 53.7% of homes in Española were built before then.

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

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 — Española city, New Mexico

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 Española city, New Mexico (place:25170, in state:35).

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.