How old are the homes in Thoreau, NM?

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

39.0% (±12.5 points) of the homes in Thoreau, NM were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

2.9% were built before 1940.

10.1% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 39.0% (±12.5 points)
Built before 1940: 2.9%
Built 2010 or later: 10.1%

When the homes in Thoreau were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Thoreau	McKinley County	New Mexico	United States
2020 or later	0.0% (±5.3 points)	0.9%	1.4%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	10.1% (±4.6 points)	7.4%	8.4%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	14.7% (±6.7 points)	13.5%	15.5%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	23.3% (±9.3 points)	19.7%	15.8%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	12.8% (±7.1 points)	16.4%	16.2%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	18.0% (±6.2 points)	19.9%	16.9%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	5.1% (±3.7 points)	10.4%	9.0%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	13.0% (±8.1 points)	6.8%	8.9%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	0.0% (±5.3 points)	2.3%	3.5%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	2.9% (±3.4 points)	2.7%	4.4%	11.7%

In Thoreau, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from McKinley County (42.1%).

It is not measurably different from New Mexico (42.7%).

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

In McKinley County, Thoreau ranks 6 of 11 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 123 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 (21.0%) and the share built before 1980 (39.0%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Thoreau

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Thoreau
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Thoreau	—	39.0% (±12.5 points)	—
Prewitt	8.0 mi	23.9% (±22.6 points)	Not measurably different
Iyanbito	17 mi	29.2% (±12.4 points)	Not measurably different
Crownpoint	22 mi	43.2% (±12.9 points)	Not measurably different
Church Rock	23 mi	28.1% (±12.9 points)	Not measurably different
Milan	23 mi	79.4% (±25.0 points)	Higher
Grants	28 mi	64.9% (±11.8 points)	Higher
San Rafael	28 mi	48.2% (±30.2 points)	Not measurably different
Gallup	31 mi	56.8% (±6.5 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Milan, NM (79.4%), Grants, NM (64.9%), Gallup, NM (56.8%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across McKinley County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	Gallup	56.8% (±6.5 points)
2	Gamerco	51.8% (±37.9 points)
3	Zuni Pueblo	49.6% (±8.3 points)
4	Navajo	44.3% (±11.7 points)
5	Crownpoint	43.2% (±12.9 points)
6	Thoreau	39.0% (±12.5 points)
7	Iyanbito	29.2% (±12.4 points)
8	Church Rock	28.1% (±12.9 points)
9	Prewitt	23.9% (±22.6 points)
10	Rock Springs	17.1% (±21.4 points)
11	Black Rock	12.9% (±18.6 points)

Thoreau is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

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 Thoreau

How old are most homes in Thoreau?

39.0% of homes in Thoreau, NM were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Thoreau 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 21.0% and 39.0% of homes in Thoreau were built before then.

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

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 — Thoreau CDP, 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 Thoreau CDP, New Mexico (place:77530, 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.