How old are the homes in Wausau, WI?

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

69.3% (±4.2 points) of the homes in Wausau, WI were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

24.0% were built before 1940.

5.2% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 69.3% (±4.2 points)
Built before 1940: 24.0%
Built 2010 or later: 5.2%

When the homes in Wausau were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Wausau	Marathon County	Wisconsin	United States
2020 or later	0.9% (±0.3 points)	1.6%	1.4%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	4.3% (±1.1 points)	6.9%	7.1%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	11.1% (±1.7 points)	15.7%	12.5%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	6.3% (±1.4 points)	12.8%	12.5%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	8.1% (±1.6 points)	9.5%	9.5%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	12.0% (±1.9 points)	14.6%	14.2%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	10.1% (±1.6 points)	8.2%	9.4%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	15.5% (±1.9 points)	9.4%	10.3%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	7.7% (±1.6 points)	4.8%	5.3%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	24.0% (±2.3 points)	16.5%	17.8%	11.7%

In Wausau, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Marathon County (53.5%).

It is also higher than in Wisconsin (57.0%).

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

In Marathon County, Wausau ranks 5 of 56 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 280 of 1,848.

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 (57.3%) and the share built before 1980 (69.3%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Wausau

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Wausau
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Wausau	—	69.3% (±4.2 points)	—
Schofield	3.6 mi	81.6% (±13.0 points)	Not measurably different
Rib Mountain	4.8 mi	43.0% (±8.4 points)	Lower
Town of Wausau	5.2 mi	60.7% (±13.5 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Weston (Marathon County)	6.1 mi	44.7% (±13.5 points)	Lower
Rothschild	6.2 mi	57.3% (±10.1 points)	Lower
Town of Stettin	6.6 mi	47.2% (±10.9 points)	Lower
Weston	6.8 mi	30.9% (±5.9 points)	Lower
Maine	6.9 mi	53.0% (±10.5 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Rib Mountain, WI (43.0%), Town of Weston (Marathon County), WI (44.7%), Rothschild, WI (57.3%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Marathon County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	Elderon	90.1% (±23.4 points)
2	Schofield	81.6% (±13.0 points)
3	Unity	78.4% (±20.3 points)
4	Town of Rietbrock	72.0% (±15.1 points)
5	Wausau	69.3% (±4.2 points)
6	Town of Texas	68.7% (±10.0 points)
7 (tie)	Spencer	68.1% (±13.7 points)
7 (tie)	Town of Johnson	68.1% (±12.4 points)
9	Fenwood	64.8% (±51.4 points)
10	Town of Hewitt	64.2% (±17.9 points)
11	Town of Hull (Marathon County)	63.6% (±12.2 points)

Showing 11 of 56 places in Marathon 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 Wausau

How old are most homes in Wausau?

69.3% of homes in Wausau, WI were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Wausau 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 57.3% and 69.3% of homes in Wausau were built before then.

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

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 — Wausau city, Wisconsin

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 Wausau city, Wisconsin (place:84475, in state:55).

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.