How old are the homes in Lower Merion Township, PA?
81.1% (±3.6 points) of the homes in Lower Merion Township, PA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
30.5% were built before 1940.
6.9% were built in 2010 or later.
Figures last updated on .
- Built before 1980
- 81.1% (±3.6 points)
- Built before 1940
- 30.5%
- Built 2010 or later
- 6.9%
When the homes in Lower Merion Township were built
| Year built | Lower Merion Township | Montgomery County | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 1.5% (±0.6 points) | 1.5% | 1.0% | 2.0% |
| 2010 to 2019 | 5.4% (±1.2 points) | 6.6% | 5.1% | 9.4% |
| 2000 to 2009 | 3.2% (±0.8 points) | 8.6% | 8.1% | 13.6% |
| 1990 to 1999 | 2.7% (±0.7 points) | 10.8% | 8.9% | 12.4% |
| 1980 to 1989 | 6.1% (±0.9 points) | 11.4% | 9.6% | 12.9% |
| 1970 to 1979 | 7.4% (±1.4 points) | 12.1% | 12.4% | 14.2% |
| 1960 to 1969 | 14.7% (±1.2 points) | 11.7% | 9.9% | 9.9% |
| 1950 to 1959 | 17.3% (±1.8 points) | 15.9% | 13.0% | 9.5% |
| 1940 to 1949 | 11.2% (±1.4 points) | 5.4% | 7.0% | 4.4% |
| 1939 or earlier | 30.5% (±2.1 points) | 16.0% | 25.0% | 11.7% |
In Lower Merion Township, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Montgomery County (61.1%).
It is also higher than in Pennsylvania (67.3%).
It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).
In Montgomery County, Lower Merion Township ranks 14 of 62 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.
Statewide, it ranks 665 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 (73.7%) and the share built before 1980 (81.1%).
- 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 Lower Merion Township
| Place | Distance | Homes built before 1980 | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Merion Township | — | 81.1% (±3.6 points) | — |
| Narberth | 1.7 mi | 93.9% (±10.3 points) | Higher |
| Haverford College | 2.1 mi | 100.0% (±71.8 points) | Not measurably different |
| Villanova | 3.4 mi | 67.4% (±14.1 points) | Not measurably different |
| West Conshohocken | 3.5 mi | 62.7% (±9.7 points) | Lower |
| Conshohocken | 3.5 mi | 58.6% (±7.9 points) | Lower |
| Haverford Township | 3.6 mi | 90.4% (±4.2 points) | Higher |
| Millbourne | 4.8 mi | 93.0% (±22.7 points) | Not measurably different |
| Swedeland | 4.9 mi | 49.4% (±16.7 points) | Lower |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: West Conshohocken, PA (62.7%), Conshohocken, PA (58.6%), Swedeland, PA (49.4%).
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Narberth, PA (93.9%), Haverford Township, PA (90.4%).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Homes built before 1980 across Montgomery County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Homes built before 1980 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Ambler | 84.3% (±11.9 points) |
| 9 | West Pottsgrove Township | 83.1% (±11.3 points) |
| 10 | Cheltenham Township | 83.0% (±5.2 points) |
| 11 | Springfield Township (Montgomery County) | 82.8% (±5.8 points) |
| 12 | Upper Moreland Township | 81.5% (±6.0 points) |
| 13 (tie) | Lansdale | 81.1% (±6.1 points) |
| 13 (tie) | Lower Merion Township | 81.1% (±3.6 points) |
| 15 | Norristown | 80.8% (±6.7 points) |
| 16 | Hatboro | 79.4% (±9.9 points) |
| 17 | Bridgeport | 78.7% (±17.9 points) |
| 18 | Schwenksville | 77.3% (±12.3 points) |
| 19 (tie) | East Greenville | 76.0% (±13.2 points) |
| 19 (tie) | Royersford | 76.0% (±11.3 points) |
Showing 13 of 62 places in Montgomery County, ranked from highest to lowest.
The figures for Lower Merion Township include the places inside it that have pages of their own: Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, Bryn Mawr, Merion Station, Penn Wynne, Rosemont, Wynnewood.
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 Lower Merion Township
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 Lower Merion Township, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.
Own or manage a rental?
List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Lower Merion Township beside you.
Create a landlord account · See what landlords get
Looking for a place to rent?
Browse homes for rent near Lower Merion Township, save the ones you like and apply online.
Questions about Lower Merion Township
How old are most homes in Lower Merion Township?
81.1% of homes in Lower Merion Township, PA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Do homes in Lower Merion Township 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 73.7% and 81.1% of homes in Lower Merion Township were built before then.
Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Lower Merion Township?
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 Lower Merion township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (county subdivision:44976, in state:42 county:091).
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 .
Related
- Housing in Lower Merion Township at a glance
- Median rent in Lower Merion Township
- Rent by bedrooms in Lower Merion Township
- Rent burden in Lower Merion Township
- Renters and owners in Lower Merion Township
- Income and affordability in Lower Merion Township
- Home values in Lower Merion Township
- Homeowner costs in Lower Merion Township
- Property taxes in Lower Merion Township
- Types of homes in Lower Merion Township
- Bedrooms in Lower Merion Township
- Vacancy rate in Lower Merion Township
- Heating fuel in Lower Merion Township
- Commute and cars in Lower Merion Township
- Crime reported to police in Lower Merion Township
- Population growth in Lower Merion Township
- How long people stay in Lower Merion Township
- Crowding and facilities in Lower Merion Township
- Fair Market Rent in Lower Merion Township
- Pennsylvania landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across Montgomery County
- Pennsylvania places ranked by age of homes
- Housing data for every place in Pennsylvania