Counties in North Carolina with the most pre-war homes

Written by:
June 22, 2022
HarmonyReignPope // Wikimedia Commons

Counties in North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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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Susan C. Griffin // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Perquimans County

- Homes built before 1939: 7.7%
- Homes built since 2000: 34.4%
- Median year built: 1992
- Total homes: 7,171
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Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Warren County

- Homes built before 1939: 7.7%
- Homes built since 2000: 22.3%
- Median year built: 1987
- Total homes: 12,051
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Canva

#28. Haywood County

- Homes built before 1939: 7.8%
- Homes built since 2000: 19.1%
- Median year built: 1982
- Total homes: 35,659
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Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Montgomery County

- Homes built before 1939: 7.8%
- Homes built since 2000: 17.8%
- Median year built: 1980
- Total homes: 16,297
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Indy beetle // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Northampton County

- Homes built before 1939: 7.9%
- Homes built since 2000: 13.7%
- Median year built: 1978
- Total homes: 11,663

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Ceh2624 // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Davie County

- Homes built before 1939: 7.9%
- Homes built since 2000: 24.9%
- Median year built: 1986
- Total homes: 18,998
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BrendaByrneGreene // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Nash County

- Homes built before 1939: 7.9%
- Homes built since 2000: 22.8%
- Median year built: 1986
- Total homes: 43,192
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Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Richmond County

- Homes built before 1939: 7.9%
- Homes built since 2000: 14.3%
- Median year built: 1978
- Total homes: 21,775
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Indy beetle // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Greene County

- Homes built before 1939: 8.2%
- Homes built since 2000: 15.7%
- Median year built: 1982
- Total homes: 8,352
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G Keith Hall // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Surry County

- Homes built before 1939: 8.3%
- Homes built since 2000: 14.8%
- Median year built: 1980
- Total homes: 34,279

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Boston Public Library // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Hertford County

- Homes built before 1939: 8.3%
- Homes built since 2000: 10.9%
- Median year built: 1975
- Total homes: 10,648
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Tradewinds // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Jones County

- Homes built before 1939: 8.3%
- Homes built since 2000: 20.8%
- Median year built: 1981
- Total homes: 5,009
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Person County

- Homes built before 1939: 8.7%
- Homes built since 2000: 21.0%
- Median year built: 1985
- Total homes: 18,578
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Alanteitleman // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Martin County

- Homes built before 1939: 9.2%
- Homes built since 2000: 15.8%
- Median year built: 1974
- Total homes: 11,592
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Indy beetle // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Gates County

- Homes built before 1939: 9.5%
- Homes built since 2000: 23.9%
- Median year built: 1988
- Total homes: 5,428

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Bethbrownebooks // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Chowan County

- Homes built before 1939: 9.5%
- Homes built since 2000: 17.5%
- Median year built: 1981
- Total homes: 7,322
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Indy beetle // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Rockingham County

- Homes built before 1939: 9.6%
- Homes built since 2000: 14.7%
- Median year built: 1978
- Total homes: 44,245
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Shapard Wolf // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Yancey County

- Homes built before 1939: 9.8%
- Homes built since 2000: 17.3%
- Median year built: 1984
- Total homes: 11,270
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Cecouchman // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Halifax County

- Homes built before 1939: 9.9%
- Homes built since 2000: 10.8%
- Median year built: 1978
- Total homes: 25,953
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State Archives of North Carolina // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Edgecombe County

- Homes built before 1939: 10.0%
- Homes built since 2000: 16.3%
- Median year built: 1978
- Total homes: 25,013

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AlexiusHoratius // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Rowan County

- Homes built before 1939: 10.0%
- Homes built since 2000: 18.7%
- Median year built: 1981
- Total homes: 62,052
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Limozine // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Polk County

- Homes built before 1939: 10.4%
- Homes built since 2000: 20.2%
- Median year built: 1983
- Total homes: 11,783
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Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Anson County

- Homes built before 1939: 10.8%
- Homes built since 2000: 14.2%
- Median year built: 1976
- Total homes: 11,656
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Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Stanly County

- Homes built before 1939: 11.6%
- Homes built since 2000: 15.0%
- Median year built: 1974
- Total homes: 28,007
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Nagel Photography // Shutterstock

#6. Buncombe County

- Homes built before 1939: 11.8%
- Homes built since 2000: 24.9%
- Median year built: 1985
- Total homes: 125,872

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Toribio93 // Shutterstock

#5. Madison County

- Homes built before 1939: 11.8%
- Homes built since 2000: 21.4%
- Median year built: 1984
- Total homes: 11,067
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Ymblanter // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Washington County

- Homes built before 1939: 12.0%
- Homes built since 2000: 8.3%
- Median year built: 1974
- Total homes: 6,450
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#3. Pasquotank County

- Homes built before 1939: 12.6%
- Homes built since 2000: 24.9%
- Median year built: 1985
- Total homes: 17,279
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Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Mitchell County

- Homes built before 1939: 13.0%
- Homes built since 2000: 15.9%
- Median year built: 1976
- Total homes: 8,844
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HarmonyReignPope // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Tyrrell County

- Homes built before 1939: 13.9%
- Homes built since 2000: 18.4%
- Median year built: 1979
- Total homes: 2,230

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