Counties with the most pre-war homes in Georgia

Written by:
October 20, 2025
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Counties with the most pre-war homes in Georgia

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 Georgia 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 in 1939 or earlier based on 2023 5-year estimates.

#50. Candler County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.3% (340 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (8 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #1,978
- Total homes built: 4,653

#49. Mitchell County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.4% (665 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (29 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #1,971
- Total homes built: 9,042

#48. Jasper County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.4% (478 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.6% (165 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1990
- National rank: #1,956
- Total homes built: 6,452

#47. Heard County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.4% (357 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (4 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #1,948
- Total homes built: 4,797

#46. Morgan County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.6% (661 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.2% (192 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1994
- National rank: #1,931
- Total homes built: 8,699

#45. Richmond County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.7% (7,112 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (1,245 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #1,919
- Total homes built: 92,652

#44. Floyd County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.7% (3,155 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (258 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #1,908
- Total homes built: 40,763

#43. Walker County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.8% (2,296 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (283 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1978
- National rank: #1,900
- Total homes built: 29,452

#42. Talbot County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.9% (243 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1989
- National rank: #1,887
- Total homes built: 3,069

#41. Emanuel County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.0% (795 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (29 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1981
- National rank: #1,884
- Total homes built: 9,990

#40. Greene County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.2% (859 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.9% (304 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1996
- National rank: #1,855
- Total homes built: 10,503

#39. Early County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.3% (408 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (10 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #1,838
- Total homes built: 4,933

#38. Telfair County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.3% (394 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #1,836
- Total homes built: 4,756

#37. Thomas County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.3% (1,744 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.8% (375 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1986
- National rank: #1,827
- Total homes built: 20,957

#36. Chattooga County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.4% (909 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (171 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #1,824
- Total homes built: 10,883

#35. Irwin County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.4% (352 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (16 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1981
- National rank: #1,818
- Total homes built: 4,185

#34. Elbert County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.5% (795 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (100 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #1,810
- Total homes built: 9,370

#33. Stewart County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.6% (181 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (13 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #1,799
- Total homes built: 2,113

#32. Washington County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.8% (762 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (45 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1982
- National rank: #1,775
- Total homes built: 8,696

#31. Warren County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.9% (229 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (20 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #1,764
- Total homes built: 2,572

#30. Montgomery County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.9% (337 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (47 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1990
- National rank: #1,761
- Total homes built: 3,776

#29. Bibb County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.9% (6,424 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (472 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1976
- National rank: #1,759
- Total homes built: 71,869

#28. Lanier County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.0% (374 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (37 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1994
- National rank: #1,746
- Total homes built: 4,134

#27. Sumter County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.1% (1,222 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #1,745
- Total homes built: 13,499

#26. Macon County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.2% (476 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (5 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #1,721
- Total homes built: 5,148

#25. Decatur County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.3% (1,216 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (54 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #1,715
- Total homes built: 13,106

#24. Johnson County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.4% (334 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (39 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #1,706
- Total homes built: 3,571

#23. Troup County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.5% (2,770 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (452 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #1,693
- Total homes built: 29,255

#22. Chatham County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.5% (12,946 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (2,204 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1985
- National rank: #1,686
- Total homes built: 135,983

#21. Screven County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.5% (625 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (70 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1982
- National rank: #1,683
- Total homes built: 6,545

#20. Wilkes County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.7% (503 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1976
- National rank: #1,673
- Total homes built: 5,210

#19. Jefferson County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.8% (699 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (72 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1982
- National rank: #1,664
- Total homes built: 7,165

#18. Lamar County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.2% (789 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (127 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #1,609
- Total homes built: 7,738

#17. Meriwether County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.4% (998 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (63 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #1,592
- Total homes built: 9,642

#16. Ben Hill County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.4% (843 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (14 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1981
- National rank: #1,591
- Total homes built: 8,135

#15. Charlton County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.7% (505 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (42 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1986
- National rank: #1,555
- Total homes built: 4,708

#14. Dooly County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.7% (515 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (60 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #1,552
- Total homes built: 4,796

#13. Polk County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.9% (1,883 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (24 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1983
- National rank: #1,540
- Total homes built: 17,301

#12. Calhoun County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.1% (226 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #1,519
- Total homes built: 2,033

#11. Clay County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.5% (223 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1986
- National rank: #1,485
- Total homes built: 1,936

#10. Wilcox County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.6% (402 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (6 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1978
- National rank: #1,469
- Total homes built: 3,457

#9. Pike County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.2% (885 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.2% (157 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1993
- National rank: #1,429
- Total homes built: 7,262

#8. Glascock County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.5% (177 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (18 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1988
- National rank: #1,408
- Total homes built: 1,412

#7. Baker County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 13.0% (185 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (5 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1978
- National rank: #1,367
- Total homes built: 1,419

#6. Turner County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 13.7% (539 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (26 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #1,325
- Total homes built: 3,921

#5. Upson County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.4% (1,783 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (18 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1976
- National rank: #1,268
- Total homes built: 12,373

#4. Terrell County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.6% (619 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (20 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1975
- National rank: #1,254
- Total homes built: 4,241

#3. Taliaferro County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.5% (153 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (5 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1975
- National rank: #1,186
- Total homes built: 984

#2. Chattahoochee County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 16.3% (473 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1978
- National rank: #1,130
- Total homes built: 2,902

#1. Randolph County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 16.7% (597 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #1,095
- Total homes built: 3,573

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