The Town FilesLaurel, Delaware
Town in Sussex County · population 3,865 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,300
- Household income
- $48,644
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 33.0
Laurel is a town of 3,865 people in Sussex County, Delaware. The median home is worth $230,300, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks better transit than 79% of Delaware towns, more walkable than 77% of Delaware towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Delaware towns.
How Laurel 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 Laurel is worth $230,300, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $48,644, which is more affordable than 31% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,056 a month. 39.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,300 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $1,056 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $48,644 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 39.6% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Laurel
| People | Laurel | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.6% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.6% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 93.0% |
Weather in Laurel
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 29.0°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.3 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 15, 2019 about 0.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 16, 2022.
Severe weather in Sussex County since 1996
Sussex County has been included in 20 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 |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4526: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3449: Covid-19 |
| March 16, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4265: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 16, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4090: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Sussex County
Sussex County had 94,273 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,078 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Laurel itself the ACS puts it at 15.9%.
Public schools in Laurel
4 public schools with 2,529 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Elementary School | 1-6 | 1,134 | 18.3 |
| Laurel Senior High School | 9-12 | 724 | 19.6 |
| Laurel Middle School | 7-8 | 437 | 16.2 |
| North Laurel Early Learning Academy | PK-K | 234 | 12.3 |
Towns near Laurel
- Seaford, DE6.4 mi · 7,957 people · home $224,300
- Delmar, MD9.0 mi · 3,798 people · home $226,500
- Bridgeville, DE10.8 mi · 2,568 people · home $400,900
- Georgetown, DE12.8 mi · 7,134 people · home $281,400
- Salisbury, MD13.6 mi · 33,050 people · home $227,300
- Federalsburg, MD13.7 mi · 2,833 people · home $156,500
- Millsboro, DE14.2 mi · 6,863 people · home $332,600
- Fruitland, MD17.6 mi · 5,534 people · home $227,200
Laurel questions
Is Laurel, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel scores better for retirees than 20% of Delaware towns and quieter than 30%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.0).
How much does a house cost in Laurel?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurel is valued at $230,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,644, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,056 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 29.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.3 inches of snow.
Does Laurel get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 15, 2019. 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)