Counties with the most pre-war homes in Tennessee

Counties with the most pre-war homes in Tennessee

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 Tennessee 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. Shelby County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.9% (23,748 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (2,647 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #2,240
- Total homes built: 403,144

#49. Bedford County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.9% (1,188 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.9% (383 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1990
- National rank: #2,236
- Total homes built: 20,129

#48. Wayne County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.0% (429 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (110 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1981
- National rank: #2,223
- Total homes built: 7,205

#47. Roane County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.0% (1,533 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (306 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #2,214
- Total homes built: 25,560

#46. Campbell County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.1% (1,236 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (88 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #2,201
- Total homes built: 20,370

#45. Jackson County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.1% (354 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (91 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #2,200
- Total homes built: 5,832

#44. Stewart County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.1% (411 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (58 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1989
- National rank: #2,189
- Total homes built: 6,698

#43. Davidson County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.2% (21,329 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 3.2% (10,962 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1985
- National rank: #2,181
- Total homes built: 345,026

#42. Crockett County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.3% (388 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (6 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #2,153
- Total homes built: 6,114

#41. Trousdale County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.4% (248 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 5.3% (205 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #2,141
- Total homes built: 3,866

#40. Claiborne County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.6% (1,023 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (126 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #2,103
- Total homes built: 15,437

#39. Knox County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.7% (14,473 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.7% (3,600 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1985
- National rank: #2,080
- Total homes built: 214,606

#38. Carroll County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.7% (884 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (60 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #2,079
- Total homes built: 13,107

#37. Overton County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.8% (700 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (155 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1982
- National rank: #2,077
- Total homes built: 10,368

#36. Sullivan County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.8% (5,165 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (341 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1976
- National rank: #2,061
- Total homes built: 75,917

#35. McMinn County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.9% (1,663 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (278 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1983
- National rank: #2,045
- Total homes built: 24,027

#34. Jefferson County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.9% (1,749 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (268 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1990
- National rank: #2,040
- Total homes built: 25,223

#33. Morgan County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.0% (597 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (65 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1986
- National rank: #2,033
- Total homes built: 8,550

#32. Dickson County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.0% (1,627 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.9% (435 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #2,030
- Total homes built: 23,198

#31. Perry County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.0% (339 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (24 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #2,029
- Total homes built: 4,830

#30. Cocke County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.0% (1,257 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (263 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #2,026
- Total homes built: 17,883

#29. Cannon County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.0% (449 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (104 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1989
- National rank: #2,024
- Total homes built: 6,384

#28. Franklin County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.0% (1,396 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.3% (465 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #2,022
- Total homes built: 19,815

#27. White County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.1% (858 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (111 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1985
- National rank: #2,018
- Total homes built: 12,158

#26. Washington County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.4% (4,532 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (919 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1986
- National rank: #1,967
- Total homes built: 61,426

#25. Loudon County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.5% (1,909 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.7% (696 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1991
- National rank: #1,940
- Total homes built: 25,415

#24. Greene County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.6% (2,455 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (187 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1983
- National rank: #1,936
- Total homes built: 32,470

#23. Lauderdale County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.6% (814 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (43 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1981
- National rank: #1,928
- Total homes built: 10,697

#22. Grainger County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.6% (894 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.9% (223 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1992
- National rank: #1,927
- Total homes built: 11,746

#21. Polk County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.7% (683 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (82 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1991
- National rank: #1,911
- Total homes built: 8,856

#20. Marshall County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.7% (1,124 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.0% (293 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1991
- National rank: #1,907
- Total homes built: 14,521

#19. Weakley County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.8% (1,168 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (85 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1978
- National rank: #1,903
- Total homes built: 15,028

#18. Van Buren County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.9% (230 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (23 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #1,890
- Total homes built: 2,915

#17. Hawkins County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.2% (2,240 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (185 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #1,849
- Total homes built: 27,299

#16. Obion County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.5% (1,214 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (130 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1975
- National rank: #1,812
- Total homes built: 14,343

#15. Grundy County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.5% (526 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (48 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #1,811
- Total homes built: 6,213

#14. Johnson County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.5% (743 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (134 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #1,808
- Total homes built: 8,755

#13. Gibson County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.5% (1,910 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (336 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1976
- National rank: #1,806
- Total homes built: 22,500

#12. Haywood County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.6% (707 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (20 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #1,798
- Total homes built: 8,247

#11. Hamilton County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.6% (14,213 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.4% (2,257 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #1,794
- Total homes built: 165,605

#10. Smith County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.1% (785 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (134 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1985
- National rank: #1,741
- Total homes built: 8,649

#9. Henry County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.3% (1,592 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (172 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1983
- National rank: #1,708
- Total homes built: 17,044

#8. Dyer County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.8% (1,598 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (156 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #1,655
- Total homes built: 16,296

#7. Lincoln County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.0% (1,619 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (165 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1986
- National rank: #1,623
- Total homes built: 16,124

#6. Moore County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.3% (310 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (16 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1990
- National rank: #1,594
- Total homes built: 2,996

#5. Houston County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.9% (432 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.9% (76 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1981
- National rank: #1,537
- Total homes built: 3,960

#4. Giles County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.1% (1,567 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (150 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #1,520
- Total homes built: 14,104

#3. Hancock County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.1% (444 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (2 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1982
- National rank: #1,435
- Total homes built: 3,667

#2. Carter County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.7% (3,543 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (175 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #1,399
- Total homes built: 27,982

#1. Unicoi County

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 13.0% (1,138 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (29 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1976
- National rank: #1,368
- Total homes built: 8,740