Counties with the oldest homes in Oregon

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can sometimes come with a cost: Many old homes come with asbestos, lead piping, knob-and-tube wiring, and other outdated building styles that can rack up a hefty price tag to modernize.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

#36. Deschutes County

- Median year homes built: 1997

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.1% (3,012 homes)

- Homes built since 2000: 2.4% (2,301 homes)

- Total homes built: 97,064

#35. Crook County

- Median year homes built: 1994

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.5% (400 homes)

- Homes built since 2000: 3.6% (415 homes)

- Total homes built: 11,524

#34. Jefferson County

- Median year homes built: 1990

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.1% (220 homes)

- Homes built since 2000: 2.5% (261 homes)

- Total homes built: 10,455

#33. Washington County

- Median year homes built: 1990

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.8% (6,780 homes)

- Homes built since 2000: 1.4% (3,262 homes)

- Total homes built: 240,409

#32. Polk County

- Median year homes built: 1989

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.6% (2,282 homes)

- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (530 homes)

- Total homes built: 34,446

#31. Yamhill County

- Median year homes built: 1989

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.6% (3,495 homes)

- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (436 homes)

- Total homes built: 40,744

#30. Clackamas County

- Median year homes built: 1985

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.7% (11,556 homes)

- Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (2,247 homes)

- Total homes built: 172,599

#29. Jackson County

- Median year homes built: 1984

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.4% (6,231 homes)

- Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (1,295 homes)

- Total homes built: 97,083

#28. Curry County

- Median year homes built: 1982

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.0% (520 homes)

- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (115 homes)

- Total homes built: 13,123