How old are the homes in Rochester, NY?

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

87.4% (±1.9 points) of the homes in Rochester, NY were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

53.7% were built before 1940.

3.3% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 87.4% (±1.9 points)
Built before 1940: 53.7%
Built 2010 or later: 3.3%

When the homes in Rochester were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Rochester	Monroe County	New York	United States
2020 or later	0.4% (±0.2 points)	0.8%	0.8%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	2.9% (±0.5 points)	5.0%	5.3%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	1.7% (±0.2 points)	6.5%	6.4%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	2.9% (±0.4 points)	7.8%	5.9%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	4.8% (±0.5 points)	10.4%	7.7%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	7.9% (±0.8 points)	12.7%	9.8%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	7.4% (±0.6 points)	13.4%	12.1%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	10.2% (±0.8 points)	12.6%	14.1%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	8.2% (±0.7 points)	6.1%	7.6%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	53.7% (±1.2 points)	24.7%	30.3%	11.7%

In Rochester, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Monroe County (69.5%).

It is also higher than in New York (73.9%).

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

In Monroe County, Rochester ranks 2 of 21 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 34 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 (79.5%) and the share built before 1980 (87.4%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Rochester

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rochester
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Rochester	—	87.4% (±1.9 points)	—
Irondequoit (community)	3.6 mi	85.9% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Irondequoit	3.6 mi	85.9% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
Gates (community)	3.9 mi	91.1% (±15.6 points)	Not measurably different
Brighton	4.0 mi	78.4% (±4.7 points)	Lower
Town of Brighton (Monroe County)	4.0 mi	78.4% (±4.7 points)	Lower
North Gates	4.5 mi	67.6% (±8.4 points)	Lower
Town of Gates	5.0 mi	72.2% (±5.3 points)	Lower
Greece (community)	5.1 mi	70.9% (±7.1 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Brighton, NY (78.4%), Town of Brighton (Monroe County), NY (78.4%), North Gates, NY (67.6%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Monroe County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	Town of East Rochester	95.3% (±10.1 points)
2	Rochester	87.4% (±1.9 points)
3	Town of Irondequoit	85.9% (±4.3 points)
4	Town of Brighton (Monroe County)	78.4% (±4.7 points)
5	Town of Rush	73.3% (±13.8 points)
6	Town of Gates	72.2% (±5.3 points)
7	Town of Wheatland	72.0% (±11.8 points)
8	Town of Sweden	65.1% (±7.2 points)

Showing 8 of 21 places in Monroe 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 Rochester

How old are most homes in Rochester?

87.4% of homes in Rochester, NY were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Rochester 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 79.5% and 87.4% of homes in Rochester were built before then.

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

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 — Rochester city, Monroe County, New York

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 Rochester city, Monroe County, New York (county subdivision:63000, in state:36 county:055).

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.