The 13 Oldest Homes in America… With People Still Living in Them

We love old homes. From Adobe and Art Deco to Victorian, and all styles in between. The romance of a home that has seen a century (or more) captures our hearts. That’s why we put together a list of the oldest homes in America. Even better, the oldest occupied homes.

Perhaps you are considering embarking on your own restoration journey, or dreaming of starting one. But, whether or not you are into restoration or just love the look, we’ve gathered a great list of material for you to look at.

The 13 oldest homes in America that still have people living in them … Or that you can buy

Even those empty hulks, the shells with good bones that call for restoration are often lovely. But those that still house people, and are living up to their potential, those are particularly fascinating. To feed that desire to feast on architectural whimsy and maybe even inspire you in your own restoration journey, we’ve gathered an impressive list.

We start this list with homes in communities with literally 1,000 years of history, then move on to more “modern” century-plus homes. Enjoy the beauty, history, and architecture of the oldest currently occupied homes in the United States.

1. Circa 1000-1200 AD:  Acoma Pueblo Cibola County, NM

Going back way more than 100 years, the Acoma Pueblo, aka the “Sky City,” is known as the oldest continually inhabited settlement in the United States. It is more than one house, of course, and predates the United States. The city was only accessible by hand cut staircases cut into the sandstone beneath the beautiful earthen structures. At one point, this tribal land covered more than 5,000,000 acres. The current tribal lands are about ten percent of that.

Here is an Arial View of Acoma Pueblo:

The Sky City:

Easily protected, the city still stands today and is home to fewer than 50 tribal members, year-round. According to the New Mexico tourism website, “Those living in the community tend to the massive San Estévan del Rey Mission, completed in 1640.” There are nearly 3,000 more tribal members living nearby, in the villages of Acomita, McCarty’s and Anzac.

It is registered on the National Register of Historic Places, reference number, 66000500.

San Estévan del Rey Mission

2. Circa 1000-1450 AD: Taos Pueblo Taos, NM

The only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark: Taos Pueblo. This location boasts of over 1,000 years of history and is still currently occupied today. It would be impossible to talk about the oldest continuously occupied homes in America without mentioning these original properties.

3. 1656: Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead

Built around 1656, this historic Dutch Colonial style home, is in East Elmhurst, New York and has a rich history. Not to mention, the original Riker family graveyard in the backyard. This gorgeous property boasts gardens planned and created by Michael and Marion Smith. The scenery inspired Marion, a professional Photographer, to publish her best-selling book, “The Romantic Garden“.

They have a GoFundMe, currently, to care for the trees on the property. Old houses are expensive, and the grounds can be even more so.

4. 1660-1662: Stephen Northup House, North Kingstown, Rhode Island

This house was first built in 1662, by Stephen Northup. The largest part of the original structure, however, burnt down — along with most of Providence — during King Philp’s War (1675-76). Rebuilt with what most assume is original components when available, it had additions in 1712 and 1850.

5. 1670 Abraham Manee House Staten Island NY (A Cautionary Tale)

When you own a historic house, regardless of your circumstances, it can become very expensive to neglect it. Such is the story of the Abraham Manee House (AKA the Manee-Seguine Homestead). A three-part Colonial Dutch dwelling on Staten Island in New York. It was designated a New York City landmark in 1984. Paulus Regrenier built the oldest section of the home in 1670.

The state of New York sued the current owners of this historic home for neglect. The owners purchased the home registered as a historical site, yet chose to allow it to fall into horrific disrepair.

They had an option to file a hardship waiver but didn’t do that either. In 2017, the courts ruled, imposing a whopping $8.5 million dollar fine should the property not be restored back to the condition it was in when they purchased it.

6. 1677 Edward Searle House Cranston RI

This home, built in the Stone-ender style, was rebuilt on its own foundation in 1677 after the original 1600 home was burnt down. According to Wikipedia, the current owner of the home has posted a chalk-board out front, frequently posting messages for passers-by.

7. 1700 Benoni Fox House, Concord, MA

One of the Oldest houses in the United States, the Benoni House has been on the market recently enough to have a wonderful Youtube video on it.

8. 1707: Hosmer Homestead Concord MA

This Georgian home was built by Stephen Hosmer around 1707, by architectural evidence. It was featured in a Forbes article that showcased 13 homes from the original 13 US Colonies.

9. 1707: McIntire Garrison House York, ME

This home is a gem for those who seek truly historical homes. It is extremely rare, as examples of the New England colonial log garrison house style aren’t common. Let alone buildings preserved this well.

10. 1730: Findowrie, Albemarle County, VA (No one’s living there right now…but it’s for sale!)

Listed for $1.25 million, this home has actually not been occupied in decades. However, if you are into extreme rehabilitation of needy old homes – this one is ready. Findowrie has a rich history, and though it is in very rough shape, a future in the right hands.

The only updated image we can find of this home is here.

11. 1736 Quackenbush House Albany NY

12. 1769 William Henry House Bennington VT

Built 1769, this gorgeous black and white house is known as The Henry House. This home has 6 bedrooms and 5 full bathrooms. It is also currently a bed and breakfast, so if you are looking to visit an old home, this may be it if you are in the North Bennington, Vemont area.

13. 1774 Josiah Bartlett House Kingston NH

According to Land and Community Heritage Investment Program’s Facebook page, “The Josiah Bartlett House in Kingston, NH has been on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1972.” In front of the house, the yard is adorned by “a linden tree that Josiah Bartlett brought from Philadelphia as a sapling after signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776.”  That is some serious American history, right there.

There you have it, the 13 oldest houses still occupied, (or available to occupy) in the United States.