The Town FilesHarrington, Delaware
City in Kent County · population 3,774 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $221,900
- Household income
- $72,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 32.2
Harrington is a city of 3,774 people in Kent County, Delaware. The median home is worth $221,900, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Delaware towns, better for families than 70% of Delaware towns.
How Harrington ranks
Percentile among Delaware towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Delaware towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Harrington is worth $221,900, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $72,679, which is more affordable than 89% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,277 a month. 65.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harrington | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,900 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $1,277 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $72,679 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.2% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Harrington
| People | Harrington | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 32.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 93.0% |
Weather in Harrington
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 25.4°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.8 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrington since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 1, 2023 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 24, 1991.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4916: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4566: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4526: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3449: Covid-19 |
| November 16, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4090: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 71,071 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,464 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Harrington itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Harrington
3 public schools with 1,380 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipman (W.T.) Middle School | 6-8 | 939 | 18.1 |
| Lake Forest South Elementary School | K-3 | 371 | 13.3 |
| Delaware Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 70 | 14.0 |
Towns near Harrington
- Milford, DE8.0 mi · 11,190 people · home $296,900
- Woodside East, DE9.9 mi · 2,570 people · home $330,700
- Camden, DE12.0 mi · 3,715 people · home $300,100
- Rising Sun-Lebanon, DE12.5 mi · 4,104 people · home $389,900
- Highland Acres, DE13.4 mi · 3,492 people · home $306,400
- Dover Base Housing, DE14.0 mi · 2,810 people · home —
- Bridgeville, DE14.0 mi · 2,568 people · home $400,900
- Denton, MD14.1 mi · 4,848 people · home $234,600
Harrington questions
Is Harrington, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harrington scores better for retirees than 30% of Delaware towns and quieter than 59%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.2).
How much does a house cost in Harrington?
The median owner-occupied home in Harrington is valued at $221,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,679, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,277 a month.
What is the weather like in Harrington?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 25.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Harrington get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 1, 2023. The typical Delaware town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)