South Bethany, Delaware Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 545, South Bethany's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

South Bethany is a small community located in Delaware, within Sussex County. The total population is 545. It ranks as the 61st most populous out of 79 Census-designated places in Delaware.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Bethany is 68.7 years. This is 65% higher than the state median of 41.6 years. Only 0.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 21.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Bethany is $116,875. This is 38% higher than the state median of $84,954. It is also 45% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.6%. This is 56% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.4%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.2%. This is 77% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $955,200. Housing costs are 171% higher than the state median of $352,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 73.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South Bethany is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 11.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.3%.

Education

77.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places South Bethany in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 117% higher than the state rate of 35.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 47.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Bethany, Delaware is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Delaware state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 79 Census-designated places in Delaware. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.