Counties in Alabama with the most pre-war homes
Pre-war homes—those built before 1939—are architectural gems. They are sturdy, charming, and often what people are referring to when they look at the prevalent colorless, linear designs of today and lament “they just don’t make them like they used to.”
In some ways, that’s a good thing. Pre-war homes often contained materials we know to be hazardous today, like asbestos and lead. But their signature characteristics, including hardwood floors, nickel accents, ornate crown molding, and high ceilings, are among the features many people look for in a dream home.
Preserving the history of these properties, many of which you’ll find on the National Register of Historic Places, is labor that often extends beyond the scope of an individual homeowner. Depending on where these homes are located, special permission by local historic commissions may be required before renovations can be done in an effort to preserve their historic architectural integrity.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Alabama with the most pre-war homes using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of homes that were built before 1939 based on 2020 5-year estimates.
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#30. Cullman County
- Homes built since 2000: 19.3%
- Median year built: 1984
- Total homes: 38,056
#29. Hale County
- Homes built since 2000: 18.7%
- Median year built: 1984
- Total homes: 7,847
#28. Pike County
- Homes built since 2000: 25.6%
- Median year built: 1985
- Total homes: 16,241
#27. Walker County
- Homes built since 2000: 18.9%
- Median year built: 1982
- Total homes: 31,238
#26. DeKalb County
- Homes built since 2000: 18.7%
- Median year built: 1983
- Total homes: 31,424
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#25. Lamar County
- Homes built since 2000: 14.3%
- Median year built: 1976
- Total homes: 7,410
#24. Geneva County
- Homes built since 2000: 19.0%
- Median year built: 1980
- Total homes: 12,901
#23. Jackson County
- Homes built since 2000: 14.5%
- Median year built: 1981
- Total homes: 25,135
#22. Tallapoosa County
- Homes built since 2000: 17.1%
- Median year built: 1982
- Total homes: 22,565

#21. Montgomery County
- Homes built since 2000: 17.9%
- Median year built: 1979
- Total homes: 105,063
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#20. Crenshaw County
- Homes built since 2000: 17.6%
- Median year built: 1980
- Total homes: 6,834
#19. Greene County
- Homes built since 2000: 8.7%
- Median year built: 1980
- Total homes: 5,131
#18. Coosa County
- Homes built since 2000: 16.7%
- Median year built: 1983
- Total homes: 6,615
#17. Bibb County
- Homes built since 2000: 20.1%
- Median year built: 1983
- Total homes: 9,237
#16. Chilton County
- Homes built since 2000: 24.8%
- Median year built: 1985
- Total homes: 19,897
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#15. Talladega County
- Homes built since 2000: 18.5%
- Median year built: 1981
- Total homes: 38,021
#14. Henry County
- Homes built since 2000: 20.3%
- Median year built: 1983
- Total homes: 9,203
#13. Covington County
- Homes built since 2000: 12.5%
- Median year built: 1983
- Total homes: 19,073
#12. Bullock County
- Homes built since 2000: 18.0%
- Median year built: 1987
- Total homes: 4,591
#11. Fayette County
- Homes built since 2000: 14.8%
- Median year built: 1979
- Total homes: 8,493
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#10. Marengo County
- Homes built since 2000: 15.5%
- Median year built: 1982
- Total homes: 10,377
#9. Colbert County
- Homes built since 2000: 21.4%
- Median year built: 1977
- Total homes: 26,727
#8. Butler County
- Homes built since 2000: 7.8%
- Median year built: 1979
- Total homes: 10,119
#7. Randolph County
- Homes built since 2000: 24.1%
- Median year built: 1986
- Total homes: 12,147
#6. Barbour County
- Homes built since 2000: 11.8%
- Median year built: 1980
- Total homes: 12,057
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#5. Etowah County
- Homes built since 2000: 14.3%
- Median year built: 1973
- Total homes: 47,805

#4. Jefferson County
- Homes built since 2000: 16.4%
- Median year built: 1974
- Total homes: 308,825
#3. Chambers County
- Homes built since 2000: 18.8%
- Median year built: 1978
- Total homes: 16,985
#2. Clay County
- Homes built since 2000: 16.8%
- Median year built: 1979
- Total homes: 6,832
#1. Dallas County
- Homes built since 2000: 11.8%
- Median year built: 1974
- Total homes: 20,427
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