Counties with the oldest homes in North Dakota

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

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history can sometimes come with a cost: Many old homes come with asbestos, lead piping, knob-and-tube wiring, and other outdated building styles that can rack up a hefty price tag to modernize.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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota have the oldest homes.

#53. McKenzie County

- Median year homes built: 2010
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.0% (542 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (65 homes)
- Total homes built: 7,691

#52. Cass County

- Median year homes built: 1993
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.3% (6,362 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.0% (1,730 homes)
- Total homes built: 87,497

#51. Williams County

- Median year homes built: 1993
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.1% (1,838 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (174 homes)
- Total homes built: 20,291

#50. Mountrail County

- Median year homes built: 1989
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.7% (644 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (38 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,073

#49. Burleigh County

- Median year homes built: 1987
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.5% (2,388 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (529 homes)
- Total homes built: 43,387

#48. Stark County

- Median year homes built: 1987
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.7% (1,503 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.7% (258 homes)
- Total homes built: 15,455

#47. Billings County

- Median year homes built: 1984
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.5% (50 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 527

#46. Ward County

- Median year homes built: 1983
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.1% (3,264 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (259 homes)
- Total homes built: 32,372

#45. Sioux County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.3% (80 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (4 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,276

#44. Grand Forks County

- Median year homes built: 1981
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.6% (3,561 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (543 homes)
- Total homes built: 33,736

#43. Dunn County

- Median year homes built: 1981
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 13.0% (275 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (5 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,116

#42. Rolette County

- Median year homes built: 1980
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.4% (296 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (12 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,601

#41. Morton County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.7% (1,640 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.8% (279 homes)
- Total homes built: 15,334

#40. Mercer County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.4% (531 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (27 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,657

#39. Bottineau County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.9% (514 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 3,972

#38. Oliver County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.6% (115 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (6 homes)
- Total homes built: 912

#37. McLean County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.8% (739 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (15 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,794

#36. Ramsey County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 13.9% (815 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (1 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,875

#35. Stutsman County

- Median year homes built: 1973
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.0% (1,243 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (13 homes)
- Total homes built: 10,397

#34. Renville County

- Median year homes built: 1973
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 17.8% (233 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,312

#33. Richland County

- Median year homes built: 1972
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.5% (1,546 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (26 homes)
- Total homes built: 7,552

#32. Bowman County

- Median year homes built: 1972
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.6% (337 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,637

#31. Sargent County

- Median year homes built: 1972
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 24.5% (489 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,997

#30. Foster County

- Median year homes built: 1971
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 16.4% (293 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,782

#29. Walsh County

- Median year homes built: 1971
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 17.9% (934 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (6 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,207

#28. Pierce County

- Median year homes built: 1971
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.1% (479 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,077

#27. Cavalier County

- Median year homes built: 1970
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.2% (301 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,115

#26. Benson County

- Median year homes built: 1970
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 16.9% (430 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (3 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,544

#25. Kidder County

- Median year homes built: 1969
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.7% (308 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (20 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,651

#24. Towner County

- Median year homes built: 1968
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 25.7% (325 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (2 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,263

#23. Burke County

- Median year homes built: 1968
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 27.8% (390 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,403

#22. Steele County

- Median year homes built: 1968
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 34.1% (382 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (11 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,120

#21. Pembina County

- Median year homes built: 1967
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.2% (712 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (17 homes)
- Total homes built: 3,517

#20. Eddy County

- Median year homes built: 1967
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 24.8% (332 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,338

#19. Barnes County

- Median year homes built: 1967
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 29.5% (1,686 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (24 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,706

#18. Sheridan County

- Median year homes built: 1966
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 24.8% (204 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (2 homes)
- Total homes built: 824

#17. Adams County

- Median year homes built: 1966
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.3% (351 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (7 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,336

#16. Logan County

- Median year homes built: 1965
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 22.2% (237 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (9 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,068

#15. McHenry County

- Median year homes built: 1965
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 24.9% (706 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,832

#14. Dickey County

- Median year homes built: 1965
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 25.4% (606 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (16 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,386

#13. Emmons County

- Median year homes built: 1965
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 28.0% (573 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.1% (43 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,049

#12. Traill County

- Median year homes built: 1965
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 30.2% (1,105 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (58 homes)
- Total homes built: 3,656

#11. LaMoure County

- Median year homes built: 1964
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 28.2% (585 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,074

#10. Ransom County

- Median year homes built: 1964
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 31.4% (797 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (29 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,538

#9. Golden Valley County

- Median year homes built: 1964
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 34.2% (310 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 906

#8. Wells County

- Median year homes built: 1962
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.3% (479 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (8 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,250

#7. Nelson County

- Median year homes built: 1962
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.9% (484 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (1 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,798

#6. Divide County

- Median year homes built: 1962
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 33.9% (466 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (2 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,373

#5. Hettinger County

- Median year homes built: 1961
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 24.6% (354 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (17 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,438

#4. Grant County

- Median year homes built: 1960
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 27.7% (455 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (3 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,642

#3. Griggs County

- Median year homes built: 1958
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 35.8% (484 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (9 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,353

#2. McIntosh County

- Median year homes built: 1956
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.7% (454 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,701

#1. Slope County

- Median year homes built: 1954
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 29.5% (135 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 458

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