The Town Files

10 Small Towns in Delaware With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950

Ranked by tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950 among 26 towns of 500–10,000 people in Delaware. #1 is Georgetown, DE (6 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950).

Map of the 10 towns12345678910
Numbers match the ranking.

  1. 10Dover Base Housing, Delaware

    12 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Dover Base Housing is a community of 2,810 people in Kent County, Delaware. 12 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an EF2 on August 4, 2020.

    2,810 people · Kent County · median home — · income $82,161 · Jan low 28°F · 13 in snow

    Full Dover Base Housing, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Dover Base Housing by decade'502'602'70'803'901'002'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  2. 9Long Neck, Delaware

    11 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Long Neck is a community of 3,017 people in Sussex County, Delaware. 11 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an F2 on August 12, 1955.

    3,017 people · Sussex County · median home $187,600 · income $56,745 · Jan low 30°F · 11 in snow

    Full Long Neck, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Long Neck by decade2'501'602'701'802'90'001'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  3. 8Laurel, Delaware

    11 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Laurel is a town of 3,865 people in Sussex County, Delaware. 11 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an EF2 on April 15, 2019.

    3,865 people · Sussex County · median home $230,300 · income $48,644 · Jan low 29°F · 10 in snow

    Full Laurel, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Laurel by decade'50'60'705'803'90'001'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  4. 7Clayton, Delaware

    9 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Clayton is a town of 3,961 people in Kent County, Delaware. 9 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an EF2 on August 4, 2020.

    3,961 people · Kent County · median home $361,300 · income $107,307 · Jan low 28°F · 14 in snow

    Full Clayton, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Clayton by decade'50'602'704'80'901'00'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  5. 6Ocean View, Delaware

    8 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Ocean View is a town of 2,636 people in Sussex County, Delaware. 8 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an F2 on August 12, 1955.

    2,636 people · Sussex County · median home $514,200 · income $91,500 · Jan low 28°F · 11 in snow

    Full Ocean View, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Ocean View by decade2'502'60'701'80'90'001'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  6. 5Townsend, Delaware

    7 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Townsend is a town of 2,717 people in New Castle County, Delaware. 7 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an EF2 on August 4, 2020.

    2,717 people · New Castle County · median home $465,100 · income $153,000 · Jan low 25°F · 17 in snow

    Full Townsend, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Townsend by decade1'50'601'702'80'90'00'103'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  7. 4Milton, Delaware

    7 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Milton is a town of 3,291 people in Sussex County, Delaware. 7 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an EF3 on April 1, 2023.

    3,291 people · Sussex County · median home $407,000 · income $80,875 · Jan low 29°F · 11 in snow

    Full Milton, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Milton by decade'50'603'70'80'90'002'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  8. 3Lewes, Delaware

    6 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Lewes is a city of 3,303 people in Sussex County, Delaware. 6 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an EF1 on April 15, 2019.

    3,303 people · Sussex County · median home $826,100 · income $96,393 · Jan low 30°F · 11 in snow

    Full Lewes, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Lewes by decade'50'603'70'801'90'002'10'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  9. 2Millsboro, Delaware

    6 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Millsboro is a town of 6,863 people in Sussex County, Delaware. 6 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an F1 on July 15, 1992.

    6,863 people · Sussex County · median home $332,600 · income $78,707 · Jan low 29°F · 10 in snow

    Full Millsboro, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Millsboro by decade1'50'601'701'801'90'00'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  10. 1Georgetown, Delaware

    6 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Georgetown is a town of 7,134 people in Sussex County, Delaware. 6 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Delaware town: 13); the strongest was an EF3 on April 1, 2023.

    7,134 people · Sussex County · median home $281,400 · income $49,719 · Jan low 29°F · 12 in snow

    Full Georgetown, Delaware profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Georgetown by decade'50'601'701'801'90'002'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

More Delaware rankings

Same ranking, other places

Methodology. We ranked 26 towns of 500–10,000 people in Delaware (2020 Census population). Only towns better than 60% of their peers on this measure qualify, so lists can be shorter than 25. Sources: