Counties with the oldest homes in Missouri
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
Counties with the oldest homes in Missouri
There’s an undeniable charm that comes with pre-World War II American architecture, characterized by high ceilings, crown molding, hardwood floors, and ornate details. In fact, 12.8% of all housing units in America were built in 1939 or before, showing the popularity of the preservation of these units. Owning a piece of history can sometimes come with a cost: Many old homes come with asbestos, lead piping, knob-and-tube wiring, and other outdated building styles that can rack up a hefty price tag to modernize. However, with more and more modernized pre-war homes on the market, generally located just outside bustling downtown metros, investing in property that has withstood the test of time is an attractive prospect.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties in Missouri with the oldest homes using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by median year the structure was built according to 2020 5-year estimates. Ties broken by the highest percentage of homes built before 1939.
The country’s domestic architecture is perhaps best characterized by a rugged individualism as opposed to the hybridization of disparate architectural elements. As Maya Angelou once perceptively observed, “the ache for home lives in all of us,” a phrase that has meant very different things to different people.
Modest or palatial, there is no shortage of noteworthy homes in the U.S. Log cabins constructed by industrious pioneers have dotted the landscape alongside traditional Native American dwellings ever since immigrant Swedes introduced them to the New World in 1638. The unprecedented personal fortunes amassed by the so-called “Robber Barons” at the close of the 19th century gave way to the construction of a staggering number of Gilded Age estates.
The ravages of time spared neither the sumptuous nor the humble. Stately mansions, often prohibitively costly to maintain in the modern era, were frequently neglected; simple structures were forgotten, discarded by their owners, and damaged by natural elements. However, the tireless efforts of architectural preservationists and local historical societies have saved many of these homes from demolition, leading to their inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and thereby safeguarding them for future generations.
Keep reading to learn more about which counties in Missouri have the oldest homes.
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#50. Reynolds County
– Median year homes built: 1975
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.0% (324 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 12.9% (520 homes)
– Total homes built: 4,031
Dazspell // Wikimedia Commons
#49. Scott County
– Median year homes built: 1975
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.0% (1,896 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 13.2% (2,286 homes)
– Total homes built: 17,297
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#48. Iron County
– Median year homes built: 1975
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.4% (767 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 11.1% (592 homes)
– Total homes built: 5,314
Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Lafayette County
– Median year homes built: 1975
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.6% (2,311 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 13.7% (2,028 homes)
– Total homes built: 14,851
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#46. Putnam County
– Median year homes built: 1975
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.1% (541 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 20.7% (619 homes)
– Total homes built: 2,986
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Lewis County
– Median year homes built: 1975
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.8% (854 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 17.9% (815 homes)
– Total homes built: 4,544
TommyBrison // Shutterstock
#44. St. Clair County
– Median year homes built: 1975
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.2% (1,140 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 15.5% (873 homes)
– Total homes built: 5,649
en:User:Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#43. Daviess County
– Median year homes built: 1975
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.6% (906 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 19.9% (834 homes)
– Total homes built: 4,189
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Stoddard County
– Median year homes built: 1974
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.5% (1,033 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 14.1% (1,935 homes)
– Total homes built: 13,730
Paul Sableman // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Cooper County
– Median year homes built: 1974
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.0% (1,500 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 15.8% (1,184 homes)
– Total homes built: 7,494
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Art davis // Wikimedia Commons
#40. Vernon County
– Median year homes built: 1974
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.3% (2,046 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 14.8% (1,423 homes)
– Total homes built: 9,593
NMSU // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Nodaway County
– Median year homes built: 1974
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.5% (2,104 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 18.9% (1,850 homes)
– Total homes built: 9,780
Jpjonesusn // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Bates County
– Median year homes built: 1974
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.0% (1,803 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 16.8% (1,316 homes)
– Total homes built: 7,835
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#37. Mississippi County
– Median year homes built: 1973
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.3% (535 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 12.1% (694 homes)
– Total homes built: 5,734
JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#36. Ray County
– Median year homes built: 1973
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.5% (1,266 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 12.0% (1,212 homes)
– Total homes built: 10,106
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Barton County
– Median year homes built: 1973
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.7% (1,047 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 14.3% (799 homes)
– Total homes built: 5,601
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#34. Pike County
– Median year homes built: 1973
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.0% (1,590 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 17.2% (1,368 homes)
– Total homes built: 7,932
Andrew.Belair // Wikimedia Commons
#33. Adair County
– Median year homes built: 1973
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.3% (2,355 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 15.2% (1,757 homes)
– Total homes built: 11,595
Davekeiser // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Gasconade County
– Median year homes built: 1973
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.2% (1,735 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 15.1% (1,230 homes)
– Total homes built: 8,168
David Wilson // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Pettis County
– Median year homes built: 1972
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.0% (3,279 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 13.2% (2,412 homes)
– Total homes built: 18,245
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Randolph County
– Median year homes built: 1972
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 25.4% (2,745 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 16.3% (1,758 homes)
– Total homes built: 10,800
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Pemiscot County
– Median year homes built: 1971
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.7% (629 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 8.8% (716 homes)
– Total homes built: 8,162
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Mercer County
– Median year homes built: 1971
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.5% (309 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 15.2% (322 homes)
– Total homes built: 2,124
Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Saline County
– Median year homes built: 1971
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.3% (1,561 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 9.3% (950 homes)
– Total homes built: 10,202
Photos BrianScantlebury // Shutterstock
#26. Marion County
– Median year homes built: 1971
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.5% (2,810 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 11.2% (1,469 homes)
– Total homes built: 13,069
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Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Gentry County
– Median year homes built: 1971
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.8% (699 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 16.7% (537 homes)
– Total homes built: 3,210
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Dunklin County
– Median year homes built: 1970
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.5% (1,235 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 8.0% (1,162 homes)
– Total homes built: 14,448
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Audrain County
– Median year homes built: 1970
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 13.6% (1,489 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 10.1% (1,100 homes)
– Total homes built: 10,909
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Shelby County
– Median year homes built: 1970
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 24.5% (785 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 16.8% (538 homes)
– Total homes built: 3,207
JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Macon County
– Median year homes built: 1970
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 24.5% (1,889 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 13.2% (1,016 homes)
– Total homes built: 7,698
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Clark County
– Median year homes built: 1970
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 27.6% (966 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 11.9% (418 homes)
– Total homes built: 3,503
Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Harrison County
– Median year homes built: 1970
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 28.7% (1,255 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 17.0% (743 homes)
– Total homes built: 4,380
Jon Kraft // Shutterstock
#18. Jackson County
– Median year homes built: 1969
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.6% (60,709 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 12.4% (40,503 homes)
– Total homes built: 325,759
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Caldwell County
– Median year homes built: 1969
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 24.9% (1,168 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 12.7% (597 homes)
– Total homes built: 4,694
Sector001 // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Scotland County
– Median year homes built: 1969
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 30.9% (733 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 17.9% (425 homes)
– Total homes built: 2,372
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#15. St. Louis County
– Median year homes built: 1968
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.7% (42,818 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 8.2% (36,186 homes)
– Total homes built: 441,593
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Livingston County
– Median year homes built: 1968
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.8% (1,083 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 12.5% (853 homes)
– Total homes built: 6,841
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Chariton County
– Median year homes built: 1968
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.0% (830 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 9.3% (386 homes)
– Total homes built: 4,148
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Grundy County
– Median year homes built: 1967
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 22.0% (1,103 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 11.6% (583 homes)
– Total homes built: 5,005
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Howard County
– Median year homes built: 1967
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.8% (1,093 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 14.9% (685 homes)
– Total homes built: 4,594
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Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Holt County
– Median year homes built: 1967
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 29.4% (820 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 12.3% (344 homes)
– Total homes built: 2,793
Charvex // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Sullivan County
– Median year homes built: 1965
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 25.3% (844 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 10.8% (361 homes)
– Total homes built: 3,339
Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Carroll County
– Median year homes built: 1963
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.4% (996 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 12.6% (584 homes)
– Total homes built: 4,649
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Linn County
– Median year homes built: 1963
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.4% (1,493 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 10.8% (690 homes)
– Total homes built: 6,382
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Schuyler County
– Median year homes built: 1963
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 29.4% (618 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 9.3% (196 homes)
– Total homes built: 2,100
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Original by Patrick Hull, modifications by Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Worth County
– Median year homes built: 1962
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 31.5% (400 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 9.6% (122 homes)
– Total homes built: 1,270
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Buchanan County
– Median year homes built: 1961
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 28.5% (11,077 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 10.1% (3,929 homes)
– Total homes built: 38,822
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#3. Knox County
– Median year homes built: 1959
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 35.6% (811 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 5.8% (133 homes)
– Total homes built: 2,275
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Atchison County
– Median year homes built: 1958
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 30.4% (896 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 4.6% (136 homes)
– Total homes built: 2,947
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#1. St. Louis
– Median year homes built: before 1939
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 58.2% (102,944 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 6.1% (10,836 homes)
– Total homes built: 176,955
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