Indicator Gauge Icon Legend
Legend Colors
Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.
Compared to Distribution
the value is in the best half of communities.
the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.
the value is in the worst quarter of communities.
Compared to Target
meets target; 
does not meet target.
Compared to a Single Value
lower than the comparison value;
higher than the comparison value;
not statistically different from comparison value.
Trend
non-significant change over time; 
significant change over time; 
no change over time.
Compared to Prior Value
higher than the previous measurement period;
lower than the previous measurement period;
no statistically different change from previous measurement period.
Significantly better than the overall value
Significantly worse than the overall value
No significant difference with the overall value
No data on significance available
Houses Built Prior to 1950
This indicator is archived and is no longer being updated. Click to learn more
This indicator shows the percentage of houses in the area built prior to 1950.
Numerator = Total estimate of housing units built prior to 1950
Denominator = Total estimate of housing units
Why is this important?
Houses built prior to 1950 that have not undergone substantial updates may contain hazardous materials. Lead based paint, which was banned in the United States in 1977, is a known toxin that causes nervous system damage, stunted growth and delayed development and is especially toxic to children under the age of six. Lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the United States and the common source of exposure is dust from deteriorating lead paint in older homes. Homes built prior to 1950 are also likely to have asbestos insulation; the long-term inhalation of asbestos fibers is known to trigger cancer development specifically malignant mesothelioma and other lung diseases such as asbestosis.
County: Washington
25.4%
Source:
American Community Survey 5-Year
Measurement period: 2018-2022
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: February 2024
Measurement period: 2018-2022
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: February 2024
Filter(s) for this location: State: Maryland
Compared to
Technical note: The U.S. Census Bureau calculates 90% confidence intervals for American Community Survey estimates. Use caution when interpreting values with wide confidence intervals. Confidence intervals that are farther away from estimates in either direction indicate uncertainty due to small survey sample sizes.
The U.S. Census Bureau does not recommend comparing overlapping 5-year periods since much of the data in each estimate are the same. Use caution when comparing estimates for census tracts over time as these geographies are redefined with each decennial census according to population changes.
Graph Selections
View maps, graphs, and tables for this indicator by selecting other location types (above).
Data Source
- American Community Survey 5-Year
Note: This source uses Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) for its Zip Code data. Learn more
Maintained By: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute (Methodology)
Filed under: Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants, Environmental Health / Built Environment, Physical Determinants of Health