How old are the homes in Ithaca, NY?
65.3% (±5.5 points) of the homes in Ithaca, NY were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
43.4% were built before 1940.
10.7% were built in 2010 or later.
Figures last updated on .
- Built before 1980
- 65.3% (±5.5 points)
- Built before 1940
- 43.4%
- Built 2010 or later
- 10.7%
When the homes in Ithaca were built
| Year built | Ithaca | Tompkins County | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 1.6% (±1.0 points) | 1.1% | 0.8% | 2.0% |
| 2010 to 2019 | 9.1% (±2.8 points) | 8.3% | 5.3% | 9.4% |
| 2000 to 2009 | 4.9% (±2.1 points) | 7.9% | 6.4% | 13.6% |
| 1990 to 1999 | 9.3% (±3.5 points) | 12.2% | 5.9% | 12.4% |
| 1980 to 1989 | 9.7% (±2.8 points) | 13.1% | 7.7% | 12.9% |
| 1970 to 1979 | 7.1% (±2.4 points) | 13.0% | 9.8% | 14.2% |
| 1960 to 1969 | 5.9% (±2.0 points) | 8.2% | 12.1% | 9.9% |
| 1950 to 1959 | 6.4% (±1.5 points) | 7.4% | 14.1% | 9.5% |
| 1940 to 1949 | 2.5% (±1.2 points) | 2.9% | 7.6% | 4.4% |
| 1939 or earlier | 43.4% (±4.1 points) | 25.9% | 30.3% | 11.7% |
In Ithaca, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Tompkins County (57.4%).
It is also lower than in New York (73.9%).
It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).
In Tompkins County, Ithaca ranks 2 of 10 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.
Statewide, it ranks 408 of 1,006.
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 (58.2%) and the share built before 1980 (65.3%).
- 40 CFR part 745: Lead-based paint poisoning prevention in certain residential structures (eCFR)
- 24 CFR part 35: Lead-based paint poisoning prevention in certain residential structures (eCFR)
Homes built before 1980 in places near Ithaca
| Place | Distance | Homes built before 1980 | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca | — | 65.3% (±5.5 points) | — |
| Village of Cayuga Heights | 1.8 mi | 70.7% (±16.0 points) | Not measurably different |
| Forest Home | 1.8 mi | 54.5% (±18.4 points) | Not measurably different |
| Northwest Ithaca | 1.9 mi | 41.4% (±13.5 points) | Lower |
| South Hill | 2.4 mi | 51.7% (±19.2 points) | Not measurably different |
| East Ithaca | 2.6 mi | 55.4% (±16.2 points) | Not measurably different |
| Northeast Ithaca | 2.6 mi | 76.1% (±14.4 points) | Not measurably different |
| Town of Ithaca | 2.8 mi | 58.8% (±6.3 points) | Not measurably different |
| Village of Lansing | 3.3 mi | 45.7% (±15.7 points) | Lower |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Northwest Ithaca, NY (41.4%), Village of Lansing, NY (45.7%).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Homes built before 1980 across Tompkins County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Homes built before 1980 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Town of Ulysses | 66.1% (±12.1 points) |
| 2 | Ithaca | 65.3% (±5.5 points) |
| 3 | Town of Caroline | 63.2% (±12.0 points) |
| 4 | Town of Groton | 62.1% (±9.1 points) |
| 5 | Town of Ithaca | 58.8% (±6.3 points) |
| 6 | Town of Dryden | 52.9% (±5.8 points) |
| 7 | Town of Lansing | 45.5% (±8.6 points) |
| 8 | Town of Newfield | 41.8% (±10.1 points) |
Showing 8 of 10 places in Tompkins 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 Ithaca
How old are most homes in Ithaca?
65.3% of homes in Ithaca, NY were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Do homes in Ithaca 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 58.2% and 65.3% of homes in Ithaca were built before then.
Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Ithaca?
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
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 Ithaca city, Tompkins County, New York (county subdivision:38077, in state:36 county:109).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free 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.
Figures last updated on .
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