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New Jersey · Census data 2020–2024 · Updated November 2026

How Old Are New Jersey Homes? Year Built by County, 2026

6 in 10 New Jersey homes were built before 1980. Find your county, see what its age means for your windows, and know what to check before you replace them.

  • All 21 counties
  • U.S. Census data
  • Free to use with a link
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New Jersey homes by age, at a glance

63%Of New Jersey homes were built before 1980
2.4 millionHomes built before 1980, of 3.8 million in the state
17%Were built before 1940
78%Union County, the highest share built before 1980

Housing units by year built. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034 and B25035.

Union and Passaic counties have the oldest homes in New Jersey

Darker counties have more homes built before 1980. Tap a county, or pick it from the list.

Map of New Jersey counties by share of homes built before 1980Camden County: 71%Gloucester County: 50%Passaic County: 77%Bergen County: 74%Cape May County: 49%Essex County: 74%Hudson County: 62%Hunterdon County: 51%Mercer County: 64%Ocean County: 48%Salem County: 75%Somerset County: 46%Warren County: 60%Morris County: 62%Sussex County: 63%Atlantic County: 53%Burlington County: 55%Cumberland County: 68%Middlesex County: 57%Monmouth County: 57%Union County: 78%
  • Under 50%
  • 50–59%
  • 60–69%
  • 70% or more
Union County
78%Built before 1980
24%Built before 1940
1956Median year built
212,385Homes (housing units)

Share of homes (housing units) built before 1980 and before 1940. Census ACS 2020–2024.

North Jersey is old, the Shore is newer

In Union, Passaic, Salem, Essex and Bergen counties, about 3 in 4 homes were built before 1980. In Somerset and Ocean, it is under half.

What an older home means for your windows

Before 1978Federal lead-safe rules apply. The EPA rule always covers window replacement in these homes, and the firm must be EPA certified. EPA
Before 1980Windows that came with the house are now more than 45 years old. Compare replacement window styles
Before 1940Openings often do not match today's standard sizes. Windows made to measure fit them without shrinking the glass.
A New Jersey home before our job: old white windows and doors
One of our New Jersey jobs, before: the old windows and doors
The same home after: new grey windows, bay windows and double entry doors
After: new grey windows, bay windows and double entry doors

All 21 New Jersey counties by home age

Tap a column to sort. Homes = all housing units (houses and apartments).

CountyHomesBuilt before 1980Built before 1940Median year builtOwner-occupied
Union212,38578.3%23.5%195657.4%
Passaic185,81677.4%28.8%195653.1%
Salem27,73275.2%21.8%196271.0%
Essex336,96274.2%29.1%195844.9%
Bergen369,61373.8%19.3%196065.3%
Camden213,77470.9%17.4%196764.7%
Cumberland57,28267.5%17.0%196966.5%
Mercer151,13864.2%17.9%196962.2%
Sussex62,86563.2%14.1%197383.7%
Morris199,50662.4%12.4%197174.3%
Hudson320,95961.8%29.7%196630.7%
Warren46,78960.3%23.6%197275.1%
Middlesex317,97957.4%10.4%197463.6%
Monmouth270,41557.0%13.5%197575.6%
Burlington186,31555.2%10.3%197776.1%
Atlantic132,19953.0%13.8%197868.7%
Hunterdon52,11550.7%17.5%197985.1%
Gloucester117,91550.4%10.0%198080.1%
Cape May99,59949.0%12.6%198180.3%
Ocean296,35748.3%4.1%198180.7%
Somerset133,63946.4%9.3%198274.3%

4 checks before you replace windows in an older home

Find your year built

It is on your county tax record and often on your deed.

Built before 1978?

Ask the installer for its EPA lead-safe firm certificate before you sign.

Check the registration

New Jersey requires home improvement contractors to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs. Ask for the HIC reg.#.

Get it in writing

Every window counted and measured, with the price. See what new windows cost in New Jersey.

New Jersey home age questions, answered

How old is the typical home in New Jersey?
63% of New Jersey homes were built before 1980, according to Census data for 2020 to 2024. The median year built ranges from 1956 in Union and Passaic counties to 1982 in Somerset County.
Which New Jersey county has the oldest homes?
Union County has the largest share of homes built before 1980 (78%), followed by Passaic (77%). Hudson County has the largest share built before 1940 (30%).
Which New Jersey county has the newest homes?
Somerset County has the smallest share of homes built before 1980 (46%), then Ocean (48%). Ocean and Somerset also have the latest median year built (1981 and 1982).
Does an older home need a lead-safe window installer?
Yes, if the home was built before 1978. The EPA's lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule always covers window replacement in pre-1978 homes, and the firm doing the work must be EPA certified. Ask the installer for the firm certificate before you sign.
Can I use this data?
Yes. You can use the numbers and the map with a link to this page. The underlying data is public: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates.

Use this data

Free to use with a link to this page.

How we measured
We used the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for all 21 New Jersey counties: table B25034 (year structure built), B25035 (median year built) and B25003 (tenure). "Homes" means all housing units, including apartments. The Census groups years by decade, so "before 1980" is the closest cut to the 1978 lead-paint rule. State totals add the 21 counties. Data read on November 12, 2026.
Sources
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year, tables B25034, B25035, B25003, via Census Reporter. EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting Program and information for contractors.

Cite this page

Factory Direct Windows and Doors New Jersey, "How Old Are New Jersey Homes? Year Built by County, 2026," based on U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 data. https://windowsdoorsnewjersey.com/new-jersey-home-age-by-county/

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