A recent study by Construction Coverage about the U.S. locations with the oldest housing stock, shows Iowa’s aging housing stock is the 10th oldest in the U.S.  Although older homes do have some advantages for buyers—often being less expensive to purchase, and having more character or higher quality craftsmanship—older housing also means higher repair costs and more home-buying competition.

America has been slow to add new homes to its housing supply. A recent study estimated that the U.S. is short between 2.3 and 6.5 million housing units relative to the needs of the current population. And with fewer new homes coming onto the market, many buyers are increasingly competing for older homes. Researchers calculated the median age of residential housing units based on the year each unit was built, and ranked U.S. cities and states accordingly.

These are the key takeaways from the report for Iowa:

• The median age of Iowa homes is 50 years, with half of its housing stock constructed before 1972.
• At the national level, the median home age is 41 years.
• Overall, Iowa has the 10th oldest housing stock in the U.S.