13 Oct How Old Are Westchester Homes? Housing Age by City and Town
Westchester County has some of the oldest housing in the country. The median home was built in 1959, and 76.0% of homes and apartments were built before 1980, compared with 49.7% across the United States. Pelham has the oldest housing in the county (median year built 1938), and Somers the newest (1980). These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2020-2024, the latest five-year release.
Key facts at a glance
| Measure | Westchester County | New York State | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median year built | 1959 | 1959 | 1980 |
| Built before 1980 | 76.0% | 73.9% | 49.7% |
| Built before 1970 | 66.1% | 64.1% | 35.5% |
| Built before 1960 | 52.1% | 52.0% | 25.6% |
| Built before 1940 | 27.5% | 30.3% | 11.7% |
| Total housing units | 394,358 | 8,585,241 | 143,775,360 |
How old are homes in each Westchester city and town?
The table lists all 6 cities and 19 towns in Westchester County, sorted from the highest share of pre-1980 housing to the lowest. Villages are counted inside the town they sit in (for example, the Village of Ossining is counted within the Town of Ossining, and Croton-on-Hudson within the Town of Cortlandt). The county, state and national figures are included for comparison.
| City or town | Housing units | Median year built | Built before 1980 | Built before 1960 | Built before 1940 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelham (town) | 4,436 | 1938 | 92.8% | 82.1% | 64.8% |
| Eastchester (town) | 13,688 | 1952 | 85.6% | 66.5% | 35.0% |
| Mount Vernon (city) | 30,080 | 1953 | 82.4% | 60.2% | 33.8% |
| Mamaroneck (town) | 12,423 | 1945 | 81.8% | 68.8% | 46.4% |
| Yonkers (city) | 85,006 | 1958 | 81.1% | 53.6% | 26.6% |
| Scarsdale (town) | 5,921 | 1943 | 80.6% | 71.2% | 48.0% |
| North Salem (town) | 1,988 | 1963 | 79.3% | 45.1% | 34.5% |
| Rye (town) | 17,854 | 1956 | 79.2% | 57.2% | 31.1% |
| Mount Pleasant (town) | 16,001 | 1957 | 78.8% | 55.6% | 28.7% |
| Greenburgh (town) | 38,167 | 1959 | 76.4% | 52.1% | 22.4% |
| Westchester County | 394,358 | 1959 | 76.0% | 52.1% | 27.5% |
| New Rochelle (city) | 32,792 | 1955 | 75.9% | 59.0% | 32.5% |
| New York State | 8,585,241 | 1959 | 73.9% | 52.0% | 30.3% |
| Bedford (town) | 6,140 | 1963 | 73.8% | 46.4% | 25.7% |
| Cortlandt (town) | 16,010 | 1962 | 73.5% | 46.8% | 17.9% |
| Rye (city) | 6,108 | 1957 | 70.7% | 56.4% | 30.0% |
| White Plains (city) | 27,561 | 1961 | 70.5% | 49.2% | 29.8% |
| Yorktown (town) | 13,599 | 1968 | 70.0% | 33.6% | 9.0% |
| Peekskill (city) | 11,572 | 1963 | 69.8% | 45.0% | 30.8% |
| Mount Kisco (town) | 4,620 | 1968 | 69.6% | 30.3% | 16.8% |
| Pound Ridge (town) | 1,951 | 1970 | 69.5% | 34.1% | 15.1% |
| New Castle (town) | 6,516 | 1964 | 68.6% | 44.8% | 20.8% |
| Ossining (town) | 14,310 | 1965 | 67.9% | 41.7% | 25.2% |
| Harrison (town) | 9,711 | 1962 | 67.7% | 46.6% | 20.2% |
| North Castle (town) | 4,402 | 1971 | 60.2% | 28.7% | 12.3% |
| Lewisboro (town) | 4,721 | 1974 | 58.8% | 30.5% | 17.2% |
| Somers (town) | 8,781 | 1980 | 50.1% | 21.5% | 8.3% |
| United States | 143,775,360 | 1980 | 49.7% | 25.6% | 11.7% |
Which Westchester town has the oldest homes?
Pelham. Its median home was built in 1938, 92.8% of its housing predates 1980 and 64.8% predates 1940. Scarsdale (median 1943) and Mamaroneck (1945) follow. Among the cities, Mount Vernon has the oldest housing (median 1953, 82.4% before 1980), followed by New Rochelle (1955) and Yonkers (1958).
Which Westchester town has the newest homes?
Somers, with a median year built of 1980 and just over half (50.1%) of its housing built before 1980. That matches the national average. Lewisboro (1974), North Castle (1971) and Pound Ridge (1970) are next.
Why does home age matter for demolition and renovation?
Older buildings take more planning to take down safely, and the rules reflect that:
- Asbestos. New York requires an asbestos survey by a certified inspector before any demolition. Materials such as floor tile, pipe insulation and siding from before the 1980s are the usual concern. See Do you need an asbestos survey before demolition in New York?
- Lead paint. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint. Federal lead-safe rules apply to renovation and partial demolition, such as interior demolition, though not to taking down an entire free-standing building.
- Old utilities. Gas, electric, water and sewer connections in older neighbourhoods need to be confirmed and cut off before a house comes down. Our Westchester house demolition checklist covers who signs off on each one.
- Tight lots. Many pre-war neighbourhoods have small lots and houses close together, which shapes how a house demolition is planned.
How was this data calculated?
We used the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25034 (Year Structure Built) and table B25035 (Median Year Structure Built), for every county subdivision in Westchester County, the county, New York State and the United States. “Built before 1980” adds together every category from 1970-1979 and earlier, divided by total housing units. The survey counts all housing units, houses and apartments alike, and every figure is an estimate with a margin of error, which is larger for smaller towns. Data was retrieved through Census Reporter in October 2026.
Planning a demolition in an older Westchester home?
Demolition Experts NY handles full house, garage, pool and interior demolition across Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Fairfield County. Request a free estimate or call 914-737-0823.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034 and B25035, via Census Reporter.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer files (county subdivisions), for the list of Westchester cities and towns.
Cite this page: “How Old Are Westchester Homes? Housing Age by City and Town”, Demolition Experts NY, October 2026, using U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 data.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median age of homes in Westchester County?
The median Westchester County housing unit was built in 1959, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2020-2024. The national median is 1980.
What percentage of Westchester homes were built before 1980?
76.0% of Westchester County’s 394,358 housing units were built before 1980, compared with 73.9% in New York State and 49.7% in the United States.
Which town in Westchester has the oldest housing?
Pelham, with a median year built of 1938. 92.8% of its housing was built before 1980 and 64.8% before 1940.
Which town in Westchester has the newest housing?
Somers, with a median year built of 1980. 50.1% of its housing was built before 1980.
Which Westchester city has the oldest housing?
Mount Vernon, with a median year built of 1953 and 82.4% of housing built before 1980. New Rochelle (1955) and Yonkers (1958) follow.
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