Bonus List

THIS OLD HOUSE: STATES WITH THE MOST AND FEWEST OF THEIR HOUSES BUILT BEFORE 1940
These lists correlate closely to migration patterns. Since 1940, the population has generally shifted west and (especially) south across the United States. Thus, the Northeast and Midwest have the highest percentages of their houses being old (with Massachusetts, where the TV series "This Old House" was filmed, not surprisingly ranking #1). The states that are furthest south (which, with the advent of air conditioning, saw big population gains) rank lowest.

Highest Percentage of Houses Built Before 1940:

STATE

1. Massachusetts
2. Iowa
3. New York
4. Pennsylvania
5. Vermont
6. Rhode Island
7. Maine
8. Nebraska
9. South Dakota
10. New Hampshire

% OF HOUSES
BUILT BEFORE 1940
34.5
31.6
31.2
30.3
30.0
29.4
29.1
25.3
24.1
23.7

Lowest Percentage of Houses Built Before 1940:

STATE

1. Nevada
2. Alaska
3. Florida
4. Arizona
5. Hawaii
6. Texas
7. Georgia
8. South Carolina
9. Mississippi
10. Arkansas

% OF HOUSES
BUILT BEFORE 1940
1.7
2.1
2.9
4.2
4.7
5.4
5.9
6.1
6.2
7.0

If the District of Columbia were counted as a state, it rank #1 (highest percentage of houses built before 1940) at 34.6 percent.

Source of Data: 2000 U.S. Census.

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