The Town Files

Sussex County, Delaware

255,626 people. The median home is worth $382,600 (typical Delaware town: $302,450) and the median household earns $81,497.

Towns in Sussex County

Towns in Sussex County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Milford11,190$296,900$59,46441.9
Seaford7,957$224,300$54,01641.1
Georgetown7,134$281,400$49,71935.4
Millsboro6,863$332,600$78,70739.5
Laurel3,865$230,300$48,64433.0
Lewes3,303$826,100$96,39367.2
Milton3,291$407,000$80,87552.6
Long Neck3,017$187,600$56,74567.1
Selbyville2,878$432,900$75,59250.3
Ocean View2,636$514,200$91,50066.1
Bridgeville2,568$400,900$64,87962.6

People and housing

Sussex CountyTypical Delaware town
Median home value$382,600$302,450
Median rent$1,238$1,342
Median household income$81,497$78,707
Median age51.939.5
Bachelor's degree or higher33.0%32.5%
Below the poverty line10.9%8.4%

Jobs and pay

94,273 jobs in 2024, average pay $55,078 a year.

Largest industries in Sussex CountyHotels & restaurants14,617 jobs · $28,748Health care & social assistan…14,175 jobs · $69,371Retail13,446 jobs · $38,159Manufacturing11,376 jobs · $57,254Construction6,274 jobs · $64,470Administrative & support5,961 jobs · $51,312
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Sussex County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.8%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 2,069 storm events in Sussex County from 1996 to 2026, with 15 deaths.

Storm events in Sussex County by type since 1996Heat102Flood51Drought105Dense Fog62High Wind122Lightning81Heavy Rain210Flash Flood70Strong Wind278Coastal Flood139
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Sussex County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 29, 2026Winter StormDR-4916: Severe Winter Storm
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4526: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3449: Covid-19
March 16, 2016SnowstormDR-4265: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
November 16, 2012HurricaneDR-4090: Hurricane Sandy
October 29, 2012HurricaneEM-3357: Hurricane Sandy
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).