Special Report
American Cities With the Highest Concentration of Historic Places
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Because of the American zeal for new things, the United States has been criticized for not caring enough about its past. Civil War battlefields have been encroached on by malls; storied train hubs have met the wrecking ball, despite the best efforts of preservation groups to save them; historic houses have deteriorated because of neglect.
But more and more cities are embracing their past and are finding ways to preserve it. Many of these cities, some of them among the oldest in the United States, have multiple stories to tell.
To determine the cities with the highest concentration of historic places, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places, current as of June 2021. The Register is an official list of buildings, neighborhoods, and various structures around the country that have been deemed worthy of preservation.
Cities and towns were ranked according to the number of their total housing units that are registered as historic. Only cities with at least 1,500 housing units built in 1949 or earlier were considered. (Data on number of housing units and median home value for pre-1949 homes are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.)
For a site to be considered as a historic place, it must be weighed by the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. The process involves examining the site’s age, significance, and historic integrity (including location, design, materials, workmanship, etc.). In most cases, to qualify a property must be at least 50 years old. It also has to be significant, meaning that it’s associated with an important event, person or development, or is an example of remarkable engineering achievements or notable architecture. (These are the most visited national historic sites in the U.S.)
Click here to see the cities with the highest concentration of historic places
Given the path of our nation’s history, it is not surprising that many of the cities with the highest concentration of historic places are located in the eastern United States. Our list includes cities in more than half the states, however, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and everywhere in between. Some of the cities will be familiar, such as Plymouth, Mass.; Gettysburg, Pa.; and St. Augustine, Fla. Others may be less well-known, like Tiffin, Ohio, or Yankton, South Dakota. (This is the oldest historic town in every state.)
Famous or not, all these history-filled places help to capture the scope of the American experience.
50. Waltham, Massachusetts
> Historic places: 1 for every 231 housing units (109 total)
> First listed historic place: Gore Place (registered 1970)
> Latest listed historic place: Wilson’s Diner (registered 1999)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $522,843
> Total housing units: 25,136
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49. Thomasville, Georgia
> Historic places: 1 for every 230 housing units (39 total)
> First listed historic place: Augustine Hansell House (registered 1970)
> Latest listed historic place: Judge Henry William and Francesca Hopkins House (registered 2013)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $145,830
> Total housing units: 8,978
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48. Port Angeles, Washington
> Historic places: 1 for every 227 housing units (42 total)
> First listed historic place: Humes Ranch Cabin (registered 1977)
> Latest listed historic place: Tse-whit-zen Village (registered 2014)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $191,129
> Total housing units: 9,541
47. Hudson, New York
> Historic places: 1 for every 227 housing units (15 total)
> First listed historic place: Front Street-Parade Hill-Lower Warren Street Historic District (registered 1970)
> Latest listed historic place: South Bay Mill (registered 2021)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $242,695
> Total housing units: 3,400
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46. Hannibal, Missouri
> Historic places: 1 for every 222 housing units (35 total)
> First listed historic place: Mark Twain Boyhood Home (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Ilasco Historic District (registered 2016)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $75,115
> Total housing units: 7,771
45. Augusta, Maine
> Historic places: 1 for every 220 housing units (46 total)
> First listed historic place: James G. Blaine House (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Hartford Fire Station (registered 2018)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $116,725
> Total housing units: 10,134
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44. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
> Historic places: 1 for every 220 housing units (12 total)
> First listed historic place: Gettysburg National Military Park (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Spangler-Benner Farm (registered 1992)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $237,304
> Total housing units: 2,636
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43. Huntington, New York
> Historic places: 1 for every 214 housing units (36 total)
> First listed historic place: Eatons Neck Light (registered 1973)
> Latest listed historic place: The Crest (registered 2007)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $597,865
> Total housing units: 7,695
42. Tiffin, Ohio
> Historic places: 1 for every 209 housing units (38 total)
> First listed historic place: Founders Hall, Heidelberg College (registered 1973)
> Latest listed historic place: National Home, Daughters of America (registered 2003)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $86,353
> Total housing units: 7,940
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41. St. Johnsbury, Vermont
> Historic places: 1 for every 208 housing units (14 total)
> First listed historic place: Railroad Street Historic District (registered 1974)
> Latest listed historic place: Fairbanks Museum (registered 2008)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $152,593
> Total housing units: 2,918
40. Brattleboro, Vermont
> Historic places: 1 for every 205 housing units (18 total)
> First listed historic place: Creamery Covered Bridge (registered 1973)
> Latest listed historic place: Homestead-Horton Neighborhood Historic District (registered 2009)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $217,989
> Total housing units: 3,682
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39. Red Wing, Minnesota
> Historic places: 1 for every 202 housing units (37 total)
> First listed historic place: Fort Sweeney Site (registered 1970)
> Latest listed historic place: Red Wing Waterworks (registered 2013)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $141,050
> Total housing units: 7,481
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38. Livingston, Montana
> Historic places: 1 for every 202 housing units (19 total)
> First listed historic place: B Street District (registered 1979)
> Latest listed historic place: Billy Miles & Bros. Grain Elevator (registered 2020)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $209,502
> Total housing units: 3,834
37. Faribault, Minnesota
> Historic places: 1 for every 202 housing units (45 total)
> First listed historic place: Alexander Faribault House (registered 1970)
> Latest listed historic place: Faribault Historic Commercial District (Boundary Increase) (registered 2021)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $128,432
> Total housing units: 9,076
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36. Owosso, Michigan
> Historic places: 1 for every 202 housing units (34 total)
> First listed historic place: Curwood Castle (registered 1971)
> Latest listed historic place: Lincoln School (registered 2016)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $75,376
> Total housing units: 6,855
35. Adams, Massachusetts
> Historic places: 1 for every 193 housing units (16 total)
> First listed historic place: Quaker Meetinghouse (registered 1976)
> Latest listed historic place: Maple Street Cemetery (registered 2004)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $144,346
> Total housing units: 3,086
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34. Oyster Bay, New York
> Historic places: 1 for every 193 housing units (16 total)
> First listed historic place: Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Christ Church (registered 2018)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $601,400
> Total housing units: 3,082
33. Newport, Rhode Island
> Historic places: 1 for every 191 housing units (68 total)
> First listed historic place: Brick Market (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Kay Street-Catherine Street-Old Beach Road Historic District (Boundary Decrease) (registered 2018)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $474,181
> Total housing units: 12,991
32. Ashland, Oregon
> Historic places: 1 for every 188 housing units (59 total)
> First listed historic place: H. B. Carter House (registered 1977)
> Latest listed historic place: Mountain House (registered 2004)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $465,542
> Total housing units: 11,081
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31. Greenwich, Connecticut
> Historic places: 1 for every 186 housing units (33 total)
> First listed historic place: French Farm (registered 1975)
> Latest listed historic place: River Road-Mead Avenue Historic District (registered 2014)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $778,600
> Total housing units: 6,129
30. Yankton, South Dakota
> Historic places: 1 for every 185 housing units (36 total)
> First listed historic place: Bishop Marty Rectory (registered 1974)
> Latest listed historic place: Yankton Historic Commercial District (Boundary Decrease) (registered 2018)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $100,774
> Total housing units: 6,677
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29. Winchester, Kentucky
> Historic places: 1 for every 182 housing units (47 total)
> First listed historic place: Gov. James A. Clark Mansion (registered 1974)
> Latest listed historic place: Wright-Evans House (registered 2019)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $127,853
> Total housing units: 8,573
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28. Rockland, Maine
> Historic places: 1 for every 178 housing units (23 total)
> First listed historic place: Farnsworth Homestead (registered 1973)
> Latest listed historic place: Friendship Sloop Blackjack (registered 2020)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $168,161
> Total housing units: 4,103
27. Marshall, Michigan
> Historic places: 1 for every 178 housing units (19 total)
> First listed historic place: Harold C. Brooks House (registered 1970)
> Latest listed historic place: Marshall Avenue Bridge (registered 2001)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $112,455
> Total housing units: 3,377
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26. Davenport, Iowa
> Historic places: 1 for every 177 housing units (255 total)
> First listed historic place: Antoine LeClaire House (registered 1974)
> Latest listed historic place: WOC Broadcasting Center (registered 2021)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $99,686
> Total housing units: 45,183
25. St. Augustine, Florida
> Historic places: 1 for every 177 housing units (43 total)
> First listed historic place: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Storm Wreck (registered 2017)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $318,863
> Total housing units: 7,592
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24. Newton, Massachusetts
> Historic places: 1 for every 173 housing units (188 total)
> First listed historic place: Jackson Homestead (registered 1973)
> Latest listed historic place: Crafts Street City Stable (registered 2009)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $925,561
> Total housing units: 32,551
23. Newberry, South Carolina
> Historic places: 1 for every 170 housing units (27 total)
> First listed historic place: Newberry Opera House (registered 1969)
> Latest listed historic place: Frederick Nance House (registered 2014)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $83,475
> Total housing units: 4,598
22. Glens Falls, New York
> Historic places: 1 for every 165 housing units (44 total)
> First listed historic place: Sherman House (registered 1977)
> Latest listed historic place: The Queensbury Hotel (registered 2018)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $147,161
> Total housing units: 7,260
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21. Waxahachie, Texas
> Historic places: 1 for every 164 housing units (80 total)
> First listed historic place: Waxahachie Chautauqua Building (registered 1974)
> Latest listed historic place: Highway Garage (registered 2003)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $183,943
> Total housing units: 13,151
20. Poughkeepsie, New York
> Historic places: 1 for every 161 housing units (90 total)
> First listed historic place: Locust Grove (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Soldiers’ Memorial Fountain and Park (registered 2017)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $191,428
> Total housing units: 14,534
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19. Plymouth, Massachusetts
> Historic places: 1 for every 159 housing units (24 total)
> First listed historic place: Cole’s Hill (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Mayflower II (registered 2020)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $345,621
> Total housing units: 3,820
18. Bennington, Vermont
> Historic places: 1 for every 157 housing units (26 total)
> First listed historic place: Bennington Battle Monument (registered 1971)
> Latest listed historic place: Julius and Sophia Norton House (registered 2021)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $149,054
> Total housing units: 4,079
17. Kalispell, Montana
> Historic places: 1 for every 155 housing units (64 total)
> First listed historic place: Charles E. Conrad Mansion (registered 1975)
> Latest listed historic place: C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery (registered 2012)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $201,704
> Total housing units: 9,940
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16. Vicksburg, Mississippi
> Historic places: 1 for every 153 housing units (73 total)
> First listed historic place: Vicksburg National Military Park (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Uptown Vicksburg Historic District (Boundary Increase II) (registered 2020)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $117,409
> Total housing units: 11,165
15. Martinsburg, West Virginia
> Historic places: 1 for every 147 housing units (56 total)
> First listed historic place: Boydville (registered 1970)
> Latest listed historic place: West Martinsburg Historic District (registered 2010)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $106,451
> Total housing units: 8,208
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14. Stoneham, Massachusetts
> Historic places: 1 for every 146 housing units (68 total)
> First listed historic place: Almshouse (registered 1984)
> Latest listed historic place: Warren Sweetser House (registered 2005)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $464,822
> Total housing units: 9,921
13. Coatesville, Pennsylvania
> Historic places: 1 for every 141 housing units (36 total)
> First listed historic place: High Bridge (registered 1976)
> Latest listed historic place: Coatesville Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District (registered 2013)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $121,885
> Total housing units: 5,073
12. Miami Shores, Florida
> Historic places: 1 for every 138 housing units (26 total)
> First listed historic place: Grand Concourse Apartments (registered 1985)
> Latest listed historic place: Barry University Historic District (registered 2019)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $567,416
> Total housing units: 3,593
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11. Oskaloosa, Iowa
> Historic places: 1 for every 126 housing units (43 total)
> First listed historic place: Daniel Nelson House and Barn (registered 1974)
> Latest listed historic place: Oskaloosa Post Office (registered 2020)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $75,679
> Total housing units: 5,419
10. Wakefield, Massachusetts
> Historic places: 1 for every 120 housing units (93 total)
> First listed historic place: US Post Office-Wakefield Main (registered 1987)
> Latest listed historic place: Oliver House (registered 2014)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $479,574
> Total housing units: 11,137
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9. Winchester, Massachusetts
> Historic places: 1 for every 119 housing units (68 total)
> First listed historic place: Capt. Josiah Locke House (registered 1979)
> Latest listed historic place: Mystic Dam (registered 1990)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $982,020
> Total housing units: 8,125
8. Sandusky, Ohio
> Historic places: 1 for every 114 housing units (119 total)
> First listed historic place: Mad River Block (registered 1974)
> Latest listed historic place: Downtown Sandusky Commercial Historic District (registered 2017)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $83,871
> Total housing units: 13,586
7. Astoria, Oregon
> Historic places: 1 for every 110 housing units (46 total)
> First listed historic place: Fort Astoria (registered 1966)
> Latest listed historic place: Astoria Marine Construction Company Historic District (registered 2014)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $239,333
> Total housing units: 5,056
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6. Reading, Massachusetts
> Historic places: 1 for every 105 housing units (90 total)
> First listed historic place: Parker Tavern (registered 1975)
> Latest listed historic place: Pearl Street School (registered 1997)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $534,736
> Total housing units: 9,419
5. Atchison, Kansas
> Historic places: 1 for every 101 housing units (43 total)
> First listed historic place: Amelia Earhart Birthplace (registered 1971)
> Latest listed historic place: A. J. Harwi Hardware Company Building (registered 2021)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $76,600
> Total housing units: 4,356
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4. Lewistown, Montana
> Historic places: 1 for every 82 housing units (37 total)
> First listed historic place: St. Joseph’s Hospital (registered 1978)
> Latest listed historic place: Symmes Park Missile (registered 2021)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $108,398
> Total housing units: 3,039
3. Las Vegas, New Mexico
> Historic places: 1 for every 74 housing units (89 total)
> First listed historic place: Montezuma Hotel Complex (registered 1974)
> Latest listed historic place: Las Vegas Municipal Building (registered 2007)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $137,010
> Total housing units: 6,622
2. Andover, Massachusetts
> Historic places: 1 for every 71 housing units (51 total)
> First listed historic place: Benjamin Abbot House (registered 1975)
> Latest listed historic place: Abbot-Stinson House (registered 1990)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $575,411
> Total housing units: 3,606
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1. Saranac Lake, New York
> Historic places: 1 for every 45 housing units (71 total)
> First listed historic place: Will Rogers Memorial Hospital (registered 1983)
> Latest listed historic place: Hotel Saranac (registered 2019)
> Median value of homes built 1949 or earlier: $155,387
> Total housing units: 3,185
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