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 Oregon 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.
#36. Jefferson County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.1% (220 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 2.5% (261 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1990
– National rank: #2,953
– Total homes built: 10,455
#35. Washington County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.8% (6,780 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.4% (3,262 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1990
– National rank: #2,839
– Total homes built: 240,409
#34. Deschutes County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.1% (3,012 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 2.4% (2,301 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1997
– National rank: #2,790
– Total homes built: 97,064
#33. Crook County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.5% (400 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 3.6% (415 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1994
– National rank: #2,717
– Total homes built: 11,524
#32. Curry County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.0% (520 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (115 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1982
– National rank: #2,624
– Total homes built: 13,123
#31. Lane County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.4% (10,788 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (1,373 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1977
– National rank: #2,142
– Total homes built: 168,316
#30. Jackson County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.4% (6,231 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (1,295 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1984
– National rank: #2,139
– Total homes built: 97,083
#29. Josephine County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.6% (2,595 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (210 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1981
– National rank: #2,106
– Total homes built: 39,217
#28. Polk County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.6% (2,282 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (530 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1989
– National rank: #2,104
– Total homes built: 34,446
#27. Clackamas County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.7% (11,556 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (2,247 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1985
– National rank: #2,088
– Total homes built: 172,599
#26. Douglas County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.1% (4,092 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (633 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1976
– National rank: #1,860
– Total homes built: 50,257
#25. Marion County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.2% (10,722 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (2,147 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1979
– National rank: #1,848
– Total homes built: 130,600
#24. Benton County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.4% (3,416 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (538 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1979
– National rank: #1,816
– Total homes built: 40,565
#23. Yamhill County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.6% (3,495 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (436 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1989
– National rank: #1,797
– Total homes built: 40,744
#22. Lincoln County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.9% (2,884 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (218 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1981
– National rank: #1,763
– Total homes built: 32,373
#21. Linn County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.0% (4,746 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (691 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1978
– National rank: #1,753
– Total homes built: 52,740
#20. Malheur County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.1% (1,291 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (33 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1974
– National rank: #1,524
– Total homes built: 11,678
#19. Morrow County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.4% (547 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (45 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1980
– National rank: #1,503
– Total homes built: 4,813
#18. Umatilla County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.5% (3,651 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (108 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1978
– National rank: #1,484
– Total homes built: 31,693
#17. Coos County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.5% (3,962 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (307 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1973
– National rank: #1,410
– Total homes built: 31,698
#16. Tillamook County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.9% (2,847 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (148 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1981
– National rank: #1,228
– Total homes built: 19,093
#15. Columbia County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.5% (3,404 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (150 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1981
– National rank: #1,193
– Total homes built: 21,980
#14. Klamath County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.7% (5,171 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (250 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1975
– National rank: #1,179
– Total homes built: 33,004
#13. Harney County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.7% (583 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (31 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1974
– National rank: #1,178
– Total homes built: 3,718
#12. Lake County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 16.0% (675 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1972
– National rank: #1,144
– Total homes built: 4,223
#11. Wasco County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 17.4% (2,106 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (64 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1972
– National rank: #1,039
– Total homes built: 12,102
#10. Grant County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 17.5% (724 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (45 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1972
– National rank: #1,038
– Total homes built: 4,147
#9. Hood River County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.2% (1,958 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.4% (141 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1981
– National rank: #929
– Total homes built: 10,210
#8. Wallowa County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.8% (943 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (57 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1974
– National rank: #766
– Total homes built: 4,334
#7. Clatsop County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 22.7% (5,289 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (143 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1975
– National rank: #719
– Total homes built: 23,251
#6. Multnomah County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.1% (84,889 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (3,565 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1971
– National rank: #698
– Total homes built: 367,704
#5. Gilliam County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 25.7% (286 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1958
– National rank: #561
– Total homes built: 1,111
#4. Union County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 27.9% (3,292 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (35 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1972
– National rank: #451
– Total homes built: 11,786
#3. Wheeler County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 28.0% (253 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (5 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1975
– National rank: #448
– Total homes built: 905
#2. Baker County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 31.1% (2,704 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (49 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1967
– National rank: #302
– Total homes built: 8,687
#1. Sherman County
– Homes built 1939 or earlier: 37.9% (371 homes)
– Homes built since 2000: 1.8% (18 homes)
– Median year homes built: 1956
– National rank: #92
– Total homes built: 979
Stacker
Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.