The Town FilesMilton, Delaware
Town in Sussex County · population 3,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $407,000
- Household income
- $80,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 52.6
Milton is a town of 3,291 people in Sussex County, Delaware. The median home is worth $407,000, above the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Delaware towns, more upscale than 73% of Delaware towns, easier by car than 71% of Delaware towns.
How Milton 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 Milton is worth $407,000, above the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $80,875, which is more affordable than 24% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,310 a month. 80.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Milton | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $407,000 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $1,310 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $80,875 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.5% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.4% | — |
Who lives in Milton
| People | Milton | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.5% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.7% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.9% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 93.0% |
Weather in Milton
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 28.6°F. About 43.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.5 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Milton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 1, 2023 about 5.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 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 Milton itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Milton
3 public schools with 1,744 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mariner Middle School | 6-8 | 682 | 13.9 |
| Milton Elementary School | K-5 | 565 | 13.5 |
| H. O. Brittingham Elementary School | K-5 | 497 | 12.7 |
Towns near Milton
- Georgetown, DE7.0 mi · 7,134 people · home $281,400
- Lewes, DE9.2 mi · 3,303 people · home $826,100
- Milford, DE11.1 mi · 11,190 people · home $296,900
- Millsboro, DE12.8 mi · 6,863 people · home $332,600
- Long Neck, DE13.3 mi · 3,017 people · home $187,600
- Bridgeville, DE15.9 mi · 2,568 people · home $400,900
- Harrington, DE17.3 mi · 3,774 people · home $221,900
- Seaford, DE18.0 mi · 7,957 people · home $224,300
Milton questions
Is Milton, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Milton scores better for retirees than 89% of Delaware towns and quieter than 64%. 40.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.6).
How much does a house cost in Milton?
The median owner-occupied home in Milton is valued at $407,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,875, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,310 a month.
What is the weather like in Milton?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 28.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.5 inches of snow.
Does Milton get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Milton 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)