Lead Paint Risk in McDowell County, North Carolina

44.9%Pre-1978 Housing
9,644Pre-1978 Units
21,475Total Housing Units
12Census Tracts

How to Interpret This

This is an area-level screening signal based on Census housing-age data. It does not confirm lead paint in any specific home. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and certified inspection or testing is the only way to confirm a property-level hazard.

Reporter / Resident Story Kit

  • 9,644 housing units in McDowell County were built before 1978.
  • The county's pre-1978 housing share is 44.9%, compared with the state rate of 34.9%.
  • Local questions: Which neighborhoods have the oldest housing stock? Are lead-safe renovation resources available? Do renters and families with young children know how to request testing?

Highest-Risk Census Tracts

Individual census tracts ranked by pre-1978 housing percentage. Showing the top 12 of 12 tracts; download the full county tract CSV.

TractPre-1978TotalRisk Rate1970s1960s1950s1940s≤1939
Census Tract 97071,7052,29374.4%45756628980313
Census Tract 97047481,04971.3%16060184175169
Census Tract 97039671,49464.7%212157204176218
Census Tract 97067861,54650.8%3441271736379
Census Tract 97058741,77349.3%22722018150196
Census Tract 9709.029302,10444.2%45910914217446
Census Tract 97081,0142,42541.8%23027370101340
Census Tract 9701.014871,20140.5%2486416807
Census Tract 97028352,49233.5%23325090159103
Census Tract 9701.025131,70430.1%223161105024
Census Tract 9709.042891,21923.7%1529437411
Census Tract 9709.034962,17522.8%139176137044