The Town FilesTownsend, Delaware
Town in New Castle County · population 2,717 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $465,100
- Household income
- $153,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 36.5
Townsend is a town of 2,717 people in New Castle County, Delaware. The median home is worth $465,100, above the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks better for families than 100% of Delaware towns, more upscale than 89% of Delaware towns.
How Townsend 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 Townsend is worth $465,100, above the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $153,000, which is more affordable than 95% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,193 a month. 93.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Townsend | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $465,100 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $1,193 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $153,000 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.5% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Townsend
| People | Townsend | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.1% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.5% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.4% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.4% | — |
| Work from home | 26.4% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 34.6 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.2% | 93.0% |
Weather in Townsend
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Townsend since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 4, 2020 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 9, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 6, 2002.
Severe weather in New Castle County since 1996
New Castle County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 24, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4627: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 New Castle County
New Castle County had 303,806 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $80,334 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Townsend itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Townsend
6 public schools with 3,659 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa High School | 9-12 | 1,190 | 16.1 |
| Cantwells Bridge Middle School | 6-8 | 854 | 17.1 |
| Old State Elementary School | 1-5 | 788 | 14.9 |
| Townsend Elementary School | 1-5 | 434 | 14.0 |
| Spring Meadow Early Childhood Center | K-K | 201 | 12.6 |
| Townsend Early Childhood Center | K-K | 192 | 16.0 |
Towns near Townsend
- Middletown, DE2.8 mi · 23,192 people · home $409,600
- Smyrna, DE9.0 mi · 12,883 people · home $291,400
- Clayton, DE9.7 mi · 3,961 people · home $361,300
- Glasgow, DE13.8 mi · 15,288 people · home $373,900
- Bear, DE14.8 mi · 23,060 people · home $304,800
- Elkton, MD15.3 mi · 15,807 people · home $293,400
- Salem, NJ16.5 mi · 5,296 people · home $79,800
- Brookside, DE18.1 mi · 14,974 people · home $279,700
Townsend questions
Is Townsend, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Townsend scores better for retirees than 16% of Delaware towns and quieter than 59%. 6.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Townsend?
The median owner-occupied home in Townsend is valued at $465,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $153,000, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,193 a month.
What is the weather like in Townsend?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Townsend get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Townsend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 4, 2020. 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)