Counties with the most pre-war homes in Missouri
Counties with the most pre-war homes in Missouri
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 Missouri 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. Henry County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 13.5% (1,442 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (77 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1979
– National rank: #1,341
– Total homes built: 10,708
#49. Putnam County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.0% (399 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1977
– National rank: #1,312
– Total homes built: 2,845
#48. Livingston County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.2% (907 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (101 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1969
– National rank: #1,295
– Total homes built: 6,376
#47. Mercer County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.4% (275 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (9 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1971
– National rank: #1,267
– Total homes built: 1,908
#46. St. Clair County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.7% (777 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (50 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1977
– National rank: #1,245
– Total homes built: 5,295
#45. Moniteau County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.2% (938 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (24 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1979
– National rank: #1,217
– Total homes built: 6,177
#44. Andrew County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.4% (1,163 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (64 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1979
– National rank: #1,202
– Total homes built: 7,551
#43. Lafayette County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.6% (2,210 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (178 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1974
– National rank: #1,184
– Total homes built: 14,183
#42. Pettis County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.9% (2,955 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (153 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1974
– National rank: #1,159
– Total homes built: 18,608
#41. Osage County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 16.6% (1,077 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (80 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1979
– National rank: #1,104
– Total homes built: 6,490
#40. Montgomery County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 16.9% (977 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 2.0% (115 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1978
– National rank: #1,085
– Total homes built: 5,797
#39. Linn County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 17.1% (1,028 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (39 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1965
– National rank: #1,063
– Total homes built: 6,007
#38. Bates County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.3% (1,313 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (24 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1977
– National rank: #995
– Total homes built: 7,192
#37. Audrain County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.3% (1,931 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (111 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1970
– National rank: #991
– Total homes built: 10,566
#36. Gasconade County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.4% (1,400 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (38 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1974
– National rank: #980
– Total homes built: 7,597
#35. Barton County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.5% (981 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (55 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1973
– National rank: #973
– Total homes built: 5,295
#34. DeKalb County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.6% (795 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (16 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1982
– National rank: #967
– Total homes built: 4,277
#33. Vernon County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.6% (1,664 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (34 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1975
– National rank: #966
– Total homes built: 8,949
#32. Jackson County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.8% (62,735 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (2,650 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1970
– National rank: #954
– Total homes built: 333,385
#31. Clinton County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.8% (1,700 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (133 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1978
– National rank: #950
– Total homes built: 9,019
#30. Carroll County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.4% (849 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1964
– National rank: #916
– Total homes built: 4,380
#29. Adair County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.5% (2,216 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (61 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1973
– National rank: #906
– Total homes built: 11,380
#28. Dade County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.6% (743 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (36 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1974
– National rank: #899
– Total homes built: 3,790
#27. Monroe County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.6% (879 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (29 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1977
– National rank: #895
– Total homes built: 4,476
#26. Sullivan County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.8% (601 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (29 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1965
– National rank: #879
– Total homes built: 3,032
#25. Saline County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.9% (1,959 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (22 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1970
– National rank: #872
– Total homes built: 9,833
#24. Nodaway County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.2% (1,919 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (94 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1977
– National rank: #850
– Total homes built: 9,478
#23. Pike County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.2% (1,614 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (65 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1970
– National rank: #805
– Total homes built: 7,629
#22. Gentry County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.2% (622 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (6 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1973
– National rank: #797
– Total homes built: 2,928
#21. Lewis County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.5% (927 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (22 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1968
– National rank: #780
– Total homes built: 4,315
#20. Howard County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.7% (952 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (41 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1972
– National rank: #770
– Total homes built: 4,381
#19. Cooper County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.7% (1,582 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (37 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1974
– National rank: #767
– Total homes built: 7,276
#18. Macon County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 22.1% (1,642 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (54 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1972
– National rank: #747
– Total homes built: 7,425
#17. Chariton County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 22.8% (865 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (28 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1969
– National rank: #715
– Total homes built: 3,797
#16. Randolph County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.1% (2,501 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (134 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1974
– National rank: #696
– Total homes built: 10,811
#15. Harrison County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.7% (955 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (20 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1969
– National rank: #666
– Total homes built: 4,023
#14. Caldwell County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.8% (1,017 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (63 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1973
– National rank: #660
– Total homes built: 4,269
#13. Daviess County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.9% (988 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (16 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1976
– National rank: #658
– Total homes built: 4,140
#12. Shelby County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 24.5% (722 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (28 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1968
– National rank: #632
– Total homes built: 2,952
#11. Marion County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 25.0% (3,227 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (95 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1970
– National rank: #603
– Total homes built: 12,886
#10. Scotland County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.0% (577 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (23 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1969
– National rank: #548
– Total homes built: 2,215
#9. Grundy County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.2% (1,271 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (33 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1962
– National rank: #539
– Total homes built: 4,851
#8. Buchanan County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.4% (10,147 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (217 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1964
– National rank: #518
– Total homes built: 38,415
#7. Knox County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.6% (517 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1964
– National rank: #511
– Total homes built: 1,940
#6. Clark County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 27.5% (889 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (16 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1969
– National rank: #472
– Total homes built: 3,233
#5. Holt County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 28.7% (694 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (2 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1968
– National rank: #406
– Total homes built: 2,420
#4. Schuyler County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 29.2% (556 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.8% (35 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1963
– National rank: #382
– Total homes built: 1,906
#3. Worth County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 34.0% (379 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1959
– National rank: #189
– Total homes built: 1,115
#2. Atchison County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 34.8% (950 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1957
– National rank: #158
– Total homes built: 2,726
#1. St. Louis city
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 58.3% (101,319 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (403 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1939
– National rank: #1
– Total homes built: 173,920 
