1st Advantage MortgageSussex County households have a median income of $81,497 and median rent of $1,238 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Sussex County, and confirm each one's Delaware license.
On this page
- Sussex County in brief
- Renting and owning in Sussex County
- The $81,497 median and what sits around it
- Work, industries and travel time in Sussex County
- Census places in Sussex County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Sussex County's medians
- People and households in Sussex County
- What the numbers mean for Sussex County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Sussex County
- More guides for Sussex County
- Frequently asked questions
Sussex County in brief
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Sussex County's population at 255,626; only 1 of Delaware's 3 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 936 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 273 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sussex County is not part of any metropolitan area. Seaford is the biggest of its 26 Census places, at roughly 8,485 people (3% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Sussex County
Renters in Sussex County pay a median of $1,238 a month, 12% below the Delaware figure of $1,401. About 5 in 10 Sussex County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. With a median value of $382,600, a typical Sussex County house costs 4.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 82%, renters 18%. Nationally, Sussex County's $1,238 rent is 41% above the middle county.
| Home costs | Sussex County | Delaware | Compared with Delaware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,238/mo | $1,401/mo | 12% lower |
| Median home value | $382,600 | $352,000 | 9% higher |
| Owners | 82% | 73% | +8.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 50% | +3.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | +0.5 pts |
| Mobile homes | 12.8% | 7.0% | +5.8 pts |
| Vacant units | 30% | 13% | +16.5 pts |
At a $382,600 median value, many Sussex County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The $81,497 median and what sits around it
At $81,497, the typical Sussex County household income is 24% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 2nd of 3.
| Household income | Sussex County | vs Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.6% | +0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | +2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.2% | -1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.2% | -1.2 pts |
Six-figure households (39%) outnumber those under $35,000 (19%) in Sussex County. 10.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.4%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.457 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $81,497 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Sussex County
Education and health care (23%), retail trade (11%) and professional and administrative services (11%) lead Sussex County's job mix. Sussex County over-indexes on construction: 10% versus 7% in Delaware. Unemployment in Sussex County, ACS five-year: 5.3%; Delaware: 5.1%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 17%; under 15 minutes: 25%. Only 3.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Sussex County | Compared with Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | -2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.6% | +1.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Census places in Sussex County
Places, by size: the top 14 of 26. Roughly 75% of Sussex County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,644 in Laurel to $137,500 in Rehoboth Beach. Rent is cheapest in Lewes ($381) and steepest in Ocean View ($1,774). None of the 26 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seaford | city | 8,485 | $54,016 | $1,176 | 15 mi |
| Georgetown | town | 7,660 | $49,719 | $1,410 | 3 mi |
| Millsboro | town | 7,424 | $78,707 | $1,277 | 6 mi |
| Laurel | town | 4,152 | $48,644 | $1,056 | 14 mi |
| Milton | town | 3,567 | $80,875 | $1,310 | 7 mi |
| Lewes | city | 3,505 | $96,393 | $381 | 13 mi |
| Selbyville | town | 3,097 | $75,592 | $1,152 | 16 mi |
| Ocean View | town | 2,851 | $91,500 | $1,774 | 16 mi |
| Bridgeville | town | 2,745 | $64,879 | $1,140 | 15 mi |
| Millville | town | 2,430 | $99,776 | $1,750 | 15 mi |
| Delmar | town | 2,412 | $61,250 | $906 | 18 mi |
| Long Neck | CDP | 2,161 | $56,745 | $1,025 | 10 mi |
| Lincoln | CDP | 1,873 | $107,690 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Greenwood | town | 1,564 | $73,345 | $1,316 | 16 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 26 to 42 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Sussex County's $81,497 median trails 2 of the six and beats 4; the range runs $61,839 (Dorchester County) to $91,128 (Cape May County). The list crosses into Maryland, New Jersey, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex County | - | $81,497 | $1,238/mo | 82% |
| Wicomico County, MD | 26 mi | $76,210 | $1,327/mo | 62% |
| Caroline County, MD | 30 mi | $68,457 | $1,105/mo | 72% |
| Kent County, DE | 31 mi | $74,477 | $1,354/mo | 73% |
| Worcester County, MD | 31 mi | $81,745 | $1,159/mo | 78% |
| Cape May County, NJ | 39 mi | $91,128 | $1,360/mo | 80% |
| Dorchester County, MD | 42 mi | $61,839 | $1,032/mo | 66% |
Debt-to-income at Sussex County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Sussex County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Sussex County: $6,791
- Rent at the median, $1,238, takes 18% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,682 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Sussex County
College graduates make up 33% of the adult population. Uninsured, Sussex County: 7.0%; Delaware: 6.3%.
| Measure | Sussex County | Gap to Delaware | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.9 | +10.3 yrs | +10.4 yrs |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | -2.9 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.0% | -2.8 pts | +10.8 pts |
| Work from home | 13.4% | -1.7 pts | +4.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | +1.5 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.0% | +0.7 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | +0.5 pts | -2.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | +0.2 pts | +0.9 pts |
| Minutes to work | Sussex County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
What the numbers mean for Sussex County borrowers
- 13% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Sussex County's median age is 51.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent at $1,238. With 53% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Sussex County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Sussex County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Delaware borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Sussex County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Sussex County, check the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide.
More guides for Sussex County
The Delaware guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Sussex County rank on income in Delaware?
2nd of 3, with a median of $81,497. The state median is $84,954.
How much is rent in Sussex County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,238 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Sussex County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Sussex County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 26 Census places: Seaford, Georgetown, Millsboro, Laurel, Milton.
Are Sussex County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.