Counties with the oldest homes in Arizona

Written by:
September 25, 2025
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Counties with the oldest homes in Arizona

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, 11.4% 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history can sometimes come with a cost: Many old homes come with asbestos, lead piping, knob-and-tube wiring, and other outdated building styles that can rack up a hefty price tag to modernize.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 Arizona with the oldest homes using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by median year the structure was built according to 2023 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 Arizona have the oldest homes.

#15. Pinal County

- Median year homes built: 2003
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 0.9% (1,701 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 3.4% (6,047 homes)
- Total homes built: 179,861

#14. Mohave County

- Median year homes built: 1994
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 0.5% (549 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (1,545 homes)
- Total homes built: 119,593

#13. Yuma County

- Median year homes built: 1994
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 1.5% (1,372 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (951 homes)
- Total homes built: 93,924

#12. Yavapai County

- Median year homes built: 1994
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.4% (3,018 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.0% (2,429 homes)
- Total homes built: 124,032

#11. Maricopa County

- Median year homes built: 1992
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 0.9% (16,708 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.7% (32,353 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,850,862

#10. Coconino County

- Median year homes built: 1990
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 1.7% (1,162 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (721 homes)
- Total homes built: 69,907

#9. Santa Cruz County

- Median year homes built: 1990
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.0% (759 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (142 homes)
- Total homes built: 18,997

#8. Apache County

- Median year homes built: 1988
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 0.9% (265 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (160 homes)
- Total homes built: 29,001

#7. Navajo County

- Median year homes built: 1988
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.9% (1,669 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (333 homes)
- Total homes built: 56,946

#6. Graham County

- Median year homes built: 1987
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.7% (791 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (220 homes)
- Total homes built: 13,941

#5. La Paz County

- Median year homes built: 1986
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 0.8% (111 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (38 homes)
- Total homes built: 13,653

#4. Pima County

- Median year homes built: 1986
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 1.9% (9,035 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (5,537 homes)
- Total homes built: 475,378

#3. Cochise County

- Median year homes built: 1986
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.9% (4,100 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (253 homes)
- Total homes built: 59,312

#2. Gila County

- Median year homes built: 1985
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.8% (1,888 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (285 homes)
- Total homes built: 32,614

#1. Greenlee County

- Median year homes built: 1981
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.0% (175 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (15 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,422

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