How old are the homes in Elk Township (Chester County), PA?

Name: Age of homes in Elk Township (Chester County), PA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

38.4% (±9.0 points) of the homes in Elk Township (Chester County), PA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

12.7% were built before 1940.

5.7% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 38.4% (±9.0 points)
Built before 1940: 12.7%
Built 2010 or later: 5.7%

When the homes in Elk Township (Chester County) were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Elk Township (Chester County)	Chester County	Pennsylvania	United States
2020 or later	3.2% (±4.0 points)	2.5%	1.0%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	2.5% (±1.7 points)	8.2%	5.1%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	19.0% (±6.4 points)	15.6%	8.1%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	22.7% (±4.9 points)	13.9%	8.9%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	14.2% (±4.1 points)	14.9%	9.6%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	12.4% (±4.2 points)	13.7%	12.4%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	6.5% (±5.0 points)	8.2%	9.9%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	6.5% (±3.2 points)	7.7%	13.0%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	0.3% (±0.7 points)	2.7%	7.0%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	12.7% (±5.3 points)	12.6%	25.0%	11.7%

In Elk Township (Chester County), the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Chester County (44.9%).

It is also lower than in Pennsylvania (67.3%).

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

In Chester County, Elk Township (Chester County) ranks 44 of 73 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 2382 of 2,558.

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 (26.0%) and the share built before 1980 (38.4%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Elk Township (Chester County)

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Elk Township (Chester County)
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Elk Township (Chester County)	—	38.4% (±9.0 points)	—
New London Township	2.6 mi	15.9% (±6.2 points)	Lower
East Nottingham Township	3.7 mi	27.8% (±6.3 points)	Not measurably different
Franklin Township (Chester County)	4.5 mi	27.6% (±8.7 points)	Not measurably different
Oxford	5.2 mi	50.8% (±13.1 points)	Not measurably different
London Britain Township	6.1 mi	36.4% (±7.0 points)	Not measurably different
Penn Township (Chester County)	6.1 mi	18.9% (±7.2 points)	Lower
Lower Oxford Township	6.3 mi	35.1% (±9.5 points)	Not measurably different
Nottingham	6.8 mi	35.9% (±12.3 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: New London Township, PA (15.9%), Penn Township (Chester County), PA (18.9%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Chester County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
38	Pennsbury Township	41.8% (±9.7 points)
39	Londonderry Township (Chester County)	40.1% (±13.1 points)
40	East Pikeland Township	39.7% (±7.8 points)
41	East Fallowfield Township (Chester County)	39.5% (±11.0 points)
42	West Bradford Township	39.1% (±5.9 points)
43	Valley Township (Chester County)	38.7% (±11.9 points)
44	Elk Township (Chester County)	38.4% (±9.0 points)
45	Kennett Township	38.3% (±7.2 points)
46	Sadsbury Township (Chester County)	37.7% (±10.4 points)
47	South Coventry Township	36.9% (±9.0 points)
48	East Whiteland Township	36.7% (±4.7 points)
49	London Britain Township	36.4% (±7.0 points)
50	East Brandywine Township	35.4% (±7.4 points)

Showing 13 of 73 places in Chester 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.

What you can do on Seayora in Elk Township (Chester County)

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Elk Township (Chester County), and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Elk Township (Chester County) beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Elk Township (Chester County), save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about Elk Township (Chester County)

How old are most homes in Elk Township (Chester County)?

38.4% of homes in Elk Township (Chester County), PA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Elk Township (Chester County) 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 26.0% and 38.4% of homes in Elk Township (Chester County) were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Elk Township (Chester County)?

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 — Elk township, Chester County, Pennsylvania

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 Elk township, Chester County, Pennsylvania (county subdivision:23032, in state:42 county:029).

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.