RANK #876 / 996 · POP 240,668 · DE
PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.3%
Lewes, known as "The First Town in the First State," offers a blend of historic charm and coastal living where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Located in southern Delaware, Sussex County is within a two-hour drive of major cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., and about three hours from New York City. The county's landscape transitions from agrarian pastures inland to a network of bays, rivers, and Atlantic Ocean beaches. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with five state parks, including Cape Henlopen State Park and Delaware Seashore State Park, offering opportunities for hiking, fishing, kayaking, and bird-watching.
Sussex County offers a quality of life that attracts both retirees and families. The public school system includes districts like Cape Henlopen and Indian River, with schools such as H.O. Brittingham Elementary and Southern Delaware School of the Arts. While many residents own their homes, the county is experiencing rapid growth, leading to discussions about managing development and increasing affordable housing options. The economy is driven by tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, with Perdue Farms being a major employer in Georgetown. Commute options include major highways like Routes 1 and 13, and DART First State provides public bus services, including on-demand microtransit in Georgetown and Millsboro.
Below national median (4.7x)
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.4x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Sussex County has a Boom Town Index score of 12/100, ranking #876 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +3.8% and a median household income of $75,406, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Sussex County is $324,400 with median rent at $1,162/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2324, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +2.8% year-over-year. Job growth: +3.8%. Home values changed -0.5% in the past 12 months.