The Town FilesLewes, Delaware
City in Sussex County · population 3,303 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $826,100
- Household income
- $96,393
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 67.2
Lewes is a city of 3,303 people in Sussex County, Delaware. The median home is worth $826,100, above the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Delaware towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of Delaware towns, hipper than 93% of Delaware towns.
- #1 in The 12 Best Small Towns to Retire in Delaware
- #3 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Rent
- #3 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Rent
- #3 in 10 Small Towns in Delaware With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #10 in The 11 Most Walkable Small Towns in Delaware
- #13 in The 13 Best Small Towns for Families in Delaware
How Lewes 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 Lewes is worth $826,100, above the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 8.6 times the median household income of $96,393, which is more affordable than 2% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $381 a month. 87.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lewes | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $826,100 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $381 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $96,393 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.1% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 32.3% | — |
Who lives in Lewes
| People | Lewes | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 67.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 59.3% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 6.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67.8% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 13.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 40.2% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 93.0% |
Weather in Lewes
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 30.2°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.5 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewes since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 15, 2019 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 15, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 1988.
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 Lewes itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Lewes
5 public schools with 4,315 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Henlopen High School | 9-12 | 1,918 | 14.6 |
| Beacon Middle School | 6-8 | 705 | 14.1 |
| Love Creek Elementary School | K-5 | 681 | 14.2 |
| Lewes Elementary School | K-5 | 570 | 13.3 |
| Sussex Consortium | PK-12 | 441 | 5.1 |
Towns near Lewes
- Milton, DE9.2 mi · 3,291 people · home $407,000
- Long Neck, DE10.9 mi · 3,017 people · home $187,600
- Georgetown, DE14.5 mi · 7,134 people · home $281,400
- Millsboro, DE15.9 mi · 6,863 people · home $332,600
- Ocean View, DE16.9 mi · 2,636 people · home $514,200
- Cape May, NJ17.3 mi · 2,768 people · home $863,900
- North Cape May, NJ17.4 mi · 4,007 people · home $393,300
- Milford, DE17.5 mi · 11,190 people · home $296,900
Lewes questions
Is Lewes, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lewes scores better for retirees than 100% of Delaware towns and quieter than 84%. 59.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 67.2).
How much does a house cost in Lewes?
The median owner-occupied home in Lewes is valued at $826,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,393, so homes cost about 8.6 times income. Median rent is $381 a month.
What is the weather like in Lewes?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 30.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 10.5 inches of snow.
Does Lewes get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 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)