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Sussex County, Delaware Demographics 2026

Sussex County, Delaware has a population of 255,626, the 2nd most populous county in Delaware. The median household income is $81,497 and the median home value is $382,600. The poverty rate is 10.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Sussex County Quick Facts

Population 255,626
Median Household Income $81,497
Median Home Value $382,600
Poverty Rate 10.9%
Unemployment Rate 5.3%
Median Age 51.9 years
Homeownership Rate 81.6%
Affordability Ratio 4.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 33.0%
High School Graduation 90.2%
Cities/Places 27
Population 255,626 2nd of 3
Median Income $81,497 4% lower than state
Poverty Rate 10.9%
Unemployment 5.3%

How Sussex County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population247,799255,626+3.2%
Median household income$78,162$81,497+4.3%
Median home value$353,300$382,600+8.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.1%
$25K-$50K 17.8%
$50K-$100K 30.7%
$100K+ 39.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.9%
$10K-$15K
2.9%
$15K-$20K
2.9%
$20K-$25K
2.4%
$25K-$30K
3.2%
$30K-$35K
3.4%
$35K-$40K
3.6%
$40K-$45K
3.7%
$45K-$50K
3.9%
$50K-$60K
6.5%
$60K-$75K
9.5%
$75K-$100K
14.6%
$100K-$125K
11.1%
$125K-$150K
7.0%
$150K-$200K
10.1%
$200K+
11.2%

Employment

5.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%
54.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.6%
Renter 18.4%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.7x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,238/mo 18.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

45out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 60 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Sussex County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Milford12,803$59,46417.2%$296,900
Seaford8,485$54,01618.8%$224,300
Georgetown7,660$49,71916.8%$281,400
Millsboro7,424$78,7078.3%$332,600
Laurel4,152$48,64434.6%$230,300
Milton3,567$80,8755.5%$407,000
Lewes3,505$96,3937.9%$826,100
Selbyville3,097$75,5924.3%$432,900
Ocean View2,851$91,5009.8%$514,200
Bridgeville2,745$64,87913.4%$400,900
Millville2,430$99,7765.8%$494,500
Delmar2,412$61,2509.2%$232,800
Long Neck2,161$56,74510.2%$187,600
Lincoln1,873$107,6900.0%$262,100
Greenwood1,564$73,3458.4%$252,200
Dagsboro1,376$60,60710.4%$318,400
Rehoboth Beach1,370$137,5008.7%$1,486,100
Frankford1,215$77,2069.2%$315,000
Blades1,071$56,87513.0%$227,900
Bethany Beach905$117,1591.7%$720,900
Ellendale760$65,25011.6%$269,500
South Bethany545$116,8754.6%$955,200
Slaughter Beach408$109,37510.1%$757,400
Fenwick Island401$113,1253.0%$1,394,700
Bethel375$99,3750.5%$294,700
Dewey Beach351$105,6258.6%$961,300
Henlopen Acres176$151,2500.0%$2,000,000+

Explore Delaware Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Sussex County is located in Delaware with a total population of 255,626. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 3 in Delaware. The county encompasses 27 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sussex County is 51.9 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 41.6 years. 11.2% 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 Sussex County is $81,497. This is 4% lower than the state median of $84,954. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.9%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.4%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $382,600. Housing costs are 9% higher than the state median of $352,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.7x. 81.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 73.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sussex County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 72.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.5%. The Black or African American population (9.8%) is well below the state average of 21.4%. The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 4.3%.

Education

33.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 35.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sussex County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Delaware and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Sussex County, Delaware?

Sussex County has a population of 255,626, making it the 2nd most populous county in Delaware.

What is the median income in Sussex County?

The median household income in Sussex County is $81,497 with a poverty rate of 10.9%.

How many cities are in Sussex County, Delaware?

Sussex County contains 27 Census-designated places.