Massachusetts research file / 2024 ACS
Massachusetts housing age and foundation context.
The Census Bureau estimates that 925,420 Massachusetts housing units were built in 1939 or earlier. That is 30.5% of the state total, but it is not a count of old, damaged, or repair-ready foundations.
Estimated housing units, with a reported margin of error of ± 453.
925,420 estimated units, with a margin of error of ± 5,869.
Useful for understanding the state housing stock. Not a remote property diagnosis.
Full distribution
When Massachusetts housing units were built.
Counts and margins of error come from ACS table B25034. Shares are Guide calculations, rounded to one decimal place.
Massachusetts
2024 ACS five-year estimates
Swipe horizontally to see estimates, shares and margins of error
| Year structure built | Estimated units | Share of state | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 30,285 | 1.0% | ± 1,394 |
| 2010 to 2019 | 189,012 | 6.2% | ± 2,955 |
| 2000 to 2009 | 216,069 | 7.1% | ± 3,646 |
| 1990 to 1999 | 224,161 | 7.4% | ± 3,963 |
| 1980 to 1989 | 327,256 | 10.8% | ± 4,569 |
| 1970 to 1979 | 335,091 | 11.1% | ± 4,768 |
| 1960 to 1969 | 299,752 | 9.9% | ± 4,350 |
| 1950 to 1959 | 327,682 | 10.8% | ± 5,063 |
| 1940 to 1949 | 155,678 | 5.1% | ± 3,184 |
| 1939 or earlier | 925,420 | 30.5% | ± 5,869 |
Property-level evidence
What to check next for a specific home.
- 01
Confirm the recorded year
Start with the local assessor or property record. A statewide estimate cannot settle the age of one house.
- 02
Identify what was actually built
Document foundation materials, additions, prior repairs, drainage, visible movement, and access conditions.
- 03
Match the professional to the question
An inspection can document conditions. A qualified design professional may be needed when the concern is structural or the repair changes the load path.
Source and calculation note
The source is the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 American Community Survey five-year table B25034, checked September 10, 2026. We extracted the Massachusetts estimates and margins of error from the table-based summary file. The 30.5% figure is 925,420 divided by 3,030,406, rounded to one decimal place.