How old are the homes in Austin, TX?

28.2% (±0.7 points) of the homes in Austin, TX were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

2.2% were built before 1940.

26.2% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on .

Built before 1980
28.2% (±0.7 points)
Built before 1940
2.2%
Built 2010 or later
26.2%

When the homes in Austin were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year builtAustinTravis CountyTexasUnited States
2020 or later4.8% (±0.3 points)5.6%4.0%2.0%
2010 to 201921.4% (±0.6 points)23.5%17.4%9.4%
2000 to 200917.0% (±0.7 points)18.9%17.9%13.6%
1990 to 199911.9% (±0.5 points)12.8%12.8%12.4%
1980 to 198916.6% (±0.6 points)15.1%14.7%12.9%
1970 to 197913.3% (±0.5 points)11.4%13.1%14.2%
1960 to 19696.9% (±0.3 points)5.9%7.7%9.9%
1950 to 19594.0% (±0.3 points)3.4%6.6%9.5%
1940 to 19491.8% (±0.2 points)1.5%2.7%4.4%
1939 or earlier2.2% (±0.2 points)1.9%3.1%11.7%

In Austin, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Travis County (24.1%).

It is also lower than in Texas (33.2%).

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

In Travis County, Austin ranks 7 of 26 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 999 of 1,422.

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 (14.9%) and the share built before 1980 (28.2%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Austin

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Austin
PlaceDistanceHomes built before 1980Compared with this place
Austin—28.2% (±0.7 points)—
Rollingwood2.6 mi41.1% (±14.5 points)Not measurably different
West Lake Hills3.6 mi31.2% (±8.9 points)Not measurably different
Sunset Valley6.2 mi30.7% (±16.8 points)Not measurably different
Barton Creek7.0 mi0.0% (±6.7 points)Lower
Steiner Ranch9.6 mi7.0% (±4.8 points)Lower
Hornsby Bend11 mi9.3% (±7.7 points)Lower
Wells Branch11 mi8.0% (±2.8 points)Lower
Shady Hollow11 mi15.3% (±8.7 points)Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Barton Creek, TX (0.0%), Steiner Ranch, TX (7.0%), Hornsby Bend, TX (9.3%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Travis County, place by place

RankPlaceHomes built before 1980
1Rollingwood41.1% (±14.5 points)
2Creedmoor40.7% (±17.2 points)
3Volente33.7% (±17.6 points)
4Webberville32.3% (±30.0 points)
5West Lake Hills31.2% (±8.9 points)
6Sunset Valley30.7% (±16.8 points)
7Austin28.2% (±0.7 points)
8San Leanna24.1% (±14.1 points)
9Jonestown19.0% (±7.2 points)
10Mustang Ridge18.4% (±12.3 points)
11Garfield16.3% (±15.8 points)
12Point Venture15.7% (±10.2 points)
13Shady Hollow15.3% (±8.7 points)

Showing 13 of 26 places in Travis 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 Austin

How old are most homes in Austin?

28.2% of homes in Austin, TX were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Austin 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 14.9% and 28.2% of homes in Austin were built before then.

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

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 Austin city, Texas (place:05000, in state:48).

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.

Figures last updated on .

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