How old are the homes in White Sands, NM?

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

29.7% (±14.6 points) of the homes in White Sands, NM were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

0.6% were built before 1940.

27.2% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 29.7% (±14.6 points)
Built before 1940: 0.6%
Built 2010 or later: 27.2%

When the homes in White Sands were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	White Sands	Doña Ana County	New Mexico	United States
2020 or later	0.0% (±8.5 points)	2.6%	1.4%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	27.2% (±15.0 points)	13.7%	8.4%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	39.9% (±13.8 points)	18.2%	15.5%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	0.0% (±8.5 points)	17.4%	15.8%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	3.1% (±3.6 points)	16.4%	16.2%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	5.4% (±7.1 points)	14.9%	16.9%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	12.3% (±8.8 points)	6.4%	9.0%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	6.0% (±5.2 points)	6.1%	8.9%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	5.4% (±7.6 points)	2.0%	3.5%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	0.6% (±1.3 points)	2.4%	4.4%	11.7%

In White Sands, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Doña Ana County (31.8%).

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

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

In Doña Ana County, White Sands ranks 9 of 16 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 156 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 (24.3%) and the share built before 1980 (29.7%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near White Sands

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with White Sands
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
White Sands	—	29.7% (±14.6 points)	—
Butterfield Park	9.9 mi	53.5% (±46.8 points)	Not measurably different
University Park	17 mi	65.5% (±18.4 points)	Higher
Las Cruces	19 mi	33.5% (±2.3 points)	Not measurably different
San Ysidro (community)	20 mi	25.9% (±14.0 points)	Not measurably different
Vado	20 mi	42.4% (±16.6 points)	Not measurably different
Mesilla	21 mi	61.4% (±18.7 points)	Higher
Berino	23 mi	21.6% (±20.0 points)	Not measurably different
Chaparral	24 mi	16.0% (±4.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: University Park, NM (65.5%), Mesilla, NM (61.4%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Doña Ana County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
3	Butterfield Park	53.5% (±46.8 points)
4	Hatch	49.5% (±17.9 points)
5	Vado	42.4% (±16.6 points)
6	La Union	36.4% (±25.2 points)
7	Las Cruces	33.5% (±2.3 points)
8	Radium Springs	33.4% (±17.5 points)
9	White Sands	29.7% (±14.6 points)
10	Anthony	26.3% (±8.0 points)
11	San Ysidro (community)	25.9% (±14.0 points)
12	Berino	21.6% (±20.0 points)
13	Sunland Park	21.4% (±4.4 points)
14	Santa Teresa	16.8% (±9.1 points)
15	Chaparral	16.0% (±4.4 points)

Showing 13 of 16 places in Doña Ana County, ranked from highest to lowest.

White Sands 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 White Sands

How old are most homes in White Sands?

29.7% of homes in White Sands, NM were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in White Sands 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 24.3% and 29.7% of homes in White Sands were built before then.

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

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 — White Sands 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 White Sands CDP, New Mexico (place:84845, 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.