When San Diego's homes were built, by decade
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Nearly half of San Diego's homes were built in the 1970s and 1980s, per the latest census data.
Why it matters: The region's homebuilding as a share of its housing stock for over three decades has trailed the national average, as housing costs have emerged as a top concern among local residents.
By the numbers: Compared to the rest of the country, a smaller share of San Diego homes were built before 1940 — 11.6% nationally to 4.1% locally — reflecting San Diego's youth as a city and growth in the post-war era.
- 20% of all San Diego homes were built in the 1970s, compared to 13.9% in the rest of the country.
- 18.2% of homes in the region were built in the 1980s, compared to 12.7% countrywide.
Yes, but: Since the end of the 90s, the share of the region's housing stock built in each period has trailed the national average — again reflecting that it is both expensive and difficult to build housing in California.
- Homes built in the 2000s represent 12.5% of San Diego homes, compared to 13.8% nationwide.
- After the Great Recession, during the 2010s, San Diego built 7.5% of its housing stock, while the US built 9.8%.
- That trend hasn't reversed in the new decade: 2% of San Diego's homes were built since 2019, compared to 2.8% overall.
The big picture: Existing homes aren't getting any younger and sellers are still feeling the rate-lock effect.
- This opens the window for a remodeling wave, according to the National Association of Home Builders.