How old are the homes in University Place, WA?

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

48.4% (±4.1 points) of the homes in University Place, WA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

3.0% were built before 1940.

7.5% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 48.4% (±4.1 points)
Built before 1940: 3.0%
Built 2010 or later: 7.5%

When the homes in University Place were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	University Place	Pierce County	Washington	United States
2020 or later	1.0% (±0.6 points)	2.2%	2.3%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	6.5% (±1.6 points)	11.0%	12.1%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	10.7% (±2.1 points)	16.0%	15.1%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	15.7% (±2.7 points)	15.6%	14.8%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	17.8% (±2.4 points)	12.9%	12.4%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	22.1% (±2.4 points)	13.8%	14.2%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	13.6% (±2.3 points)	8.8%	8.7%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	6.8% (±1.7 points)	5.9%	6.7%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	2.9% (±1.2 points)	3.8%	4.2%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	3.0% (±1.2 points)	10.1%	9.6%	11.7%

In University Place, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Pierce County (42.4%).

It is also higher than in Washington (43.4%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (49.7%).

In Pierce County, University Place ranks 13 of 59 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 214 of 472.

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 (26.3%) and the share built before 1980 (48.4%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near University Place

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with University Place
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
University Place	—	48.4% (±4.1 points)	—
Fircrest	1.8 mi	74.0% (±13.8 points)	Higher
Lakewood	3.7 mi	58.9% (±3.9 points)	Higher
Steilacoom	3.8 mi	57.4% (±7.9 points)	Higher
Tacoma	4.8 mi	64.2% (±2.2 points)	Higher
Wollochet	4.9 mi	23.6% (±7.1 points)	Lower
Fox Island	5.5 mi	33.2% (±9.0 points)	Lower
Ruston	5.9 mi	43.4% (±9.8 points)	Not measurably different
McChord AFB	6.3 mi	38.5% (±11.7 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Wollochet, WA (23.6%), Fox Island, WA (33.2%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Fircrest, WA (74.0%), Lakewood, WA (58.9%), Steilacoom, WA (57.4%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Pierce County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
7	Lakewood	58.9% (±3.9 points)
8	Steilacoom	57.4% (±7.9 points)
9	South Prairie	53.0% (±34.4 points)
10	Parkland	51.6% (±4.9 points)
11	Summit	48.8% (±8.8 points)
12	Home	48.7% (±20.6 points)
13	University Place	48.4% (±4.1 points)
14	Stansberry Lake	47.7% (±18.7 points)
15	Ruston	43.4% (±9.8 points)
16 (tie)	Fort Lewis	42.1% (±7.9 points)
16 (tie)	Midland	42.1% (±7.6 points)
18	Clover Creek	40.9% (±10.5 points)
19	Puyallup	39.2% (±3.6 points)

Showing 13 of 59 places in Pierce 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 University Place

How old are most homes in University Place?

48.4% of homes in University Place, WA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in University Place 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 26.3% and 48.4% of homes in University Place were built before then.

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

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 — University Place city, Washington

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 University Place city, Washington (place:73465, in state:53).

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.