The cities with the oldest homes in America — and no, they’re not all in New England

Why so many U.S. homes predate 1960, and how aging inventory is reshaping markets, according to Redfin

Across the U.S., housing stock is aging in uneven, sometimes surprising ways. In many cities, the typical home was built decades ago, not because preservation was the goal, but because new construction never fully caught up after past downturns.

The result is a patchwork housing market where older homes dominate not just coastal enclaves, but post-industrial cities, college towns, and sprawling metros better known for growth than for age.

In 2012, according to an analysis by Redfin, the typical U.S. home was 35 years old. Today it’s 41, in large part because construction has lagged since the Great Recession. However, the age of housing varies dramatically by city. Some markets have leaned into their historical identity and preserved older homes, while others struggle with the twin challenges of limited new supply and rising prices. 

Here are 10 cities where history isn’t just preserved — it’s lived in every day.

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Buffalo, NY has the oldest homes in the country

Adam Bouse / Unsplash

Buffalo’s typical home was built in 1957, and more than 24% of its housing predates 1940, making it the city with the oldest inventory in the U.S. on average, according to Redfin. Limited new builds — only 1% constructed since 2020 — highlight how little recent development has occurred. Buyers are paying........

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