The 10 Best Places To Live In Delaware For 2024

The 10 Best Places To Live In Delaware For 2024

More on Ocean View: Crime | Real Estate

We’re driving back down south along the coast to reach our best place in Delaware, Ocean View. A neighbor of Bethany Beach, Ocean View gets all the perks of having a seaside resort next-door with none (or at least fewer) of those pesky summertime tourists. Home to art studios, farm stands, and more historical buildings than you can shake a stick at, Ocean View is your quintessential Delawarean small town. Oh, and as the name implies, you get a pretty sweet view of the ocean here, perhaps nowhere better than the James Farm Preserve on Indian River Bay.

A place can have a charming veneer with a dark underbelly, but that’s not the case in Ocean View, the safest place in Delaware with a crime rate less than half the national average. Poverty and unemployment rates in Ocean View both rank in the top ten statewide and only 0.4% of folks require food stamps to get by, the lowest rate of places covered on this list.

Nearly 90% of folks in Ocean View decide to buy rather than rent, and who can blame them for being 100% positive they scored an awesome “Place to Come Home To”; it is the town’s motto after all. Homes in Ocean View are the 4th costliest in the state at $522,372, but we’re sure most residents would agree it’s worth every penny.

More on Lewes: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Lewes is used to coming in first; it brands itself as “The First Town in The First State” and it’s now come first on our tally of best places to live in Delaware for the second year running. Situated where the Atlantic meets Cape Henlopen, Lewes is a walking town replete with historically-rich architecture, museums, boutique-lined streets, and waterfront dining. It’s both a hidden treasure and perhaps the most beloved place in Delaware, for locals and tourists alike. Between taking a seabound adventure on the Cape May-Lewes ferry and staying closer to home at the gorgeous Cape Henlopen State Park, there’s no shortage of activity in Lewes.

On the statistical side of things, Lewes shines in several ways. The city has the lowest unemployment rate and 5th lowest poverty rate in Delaware at 1.0% and 5.8% respectively. And it’s not like people are just getting by in Lewes either; we did, after all, name it the richest place in Delaware. Folks here earn the 7th highest median household income in the state at $87,458/year. Which is good when you’re also paying the highest median price for homes at $574,392. On the bright side, property taxes in Lewes are relatively low and both income and property value have risen by roughly 8% in the last year.

With a median age of 66, Lewes’s population is definitely on the older side. It’s one of Delaware’s best retirement cities after all. And with a whopping 98.7% of residents having health insurance, the highest rate statewide, you won’t have to worry about being buried in medical bills here. Just because Lewes is on the older side, it doesn’t mean they don’t take care of the youth. Lewes spends more than twice as much per student as the Delaware average and it pays off with award-winning schools, higher test scores, and greater rates of graduation.

More on New Castle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

New Castle is a historic city located just 15 minutes south of Wilmington’s downtown Rodney Square. A key part of Delaware’s (and America’s) past, New Castle’s cobblestone streets and stately townhouses work to imbue the place with a Colonial charm that makes for a memorable day out strolling and shopping. Pay a visit to the First State National Historical Park to brush up on your history or just enjoy the lovely green spaces. And if you’re around in May, make sure you’ve got some old-timey clothes so you can participate in A Day in Old New Castle, an exploration of the many homes, gardens, and historic public buildings, as well as a series of reenactments and period-appropriate children’s games. It’s things like this that landed New Castle at the top of our list of Delaware’s best family cities.

As for statistics, New Castle has low unemployment and poverty rates, a high rate of residents with health insurance, and some great public schools. Additionally, the cost of living is actually slightly lower than your average city in Delaware, with housing costs about 10% cheaper. Rent is a bit pricier at $1,525/month, but homes are among the cheapest on this list at $256,759.

More on Milton: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Located a short drive inland from Lewes, Milton is a town of 3,349 in the rapidly-expanding Cape Region. Just because Milton isn’t right on the coast, it doesn’t mean you’ll be short on entertainment. Beer-lovers will want to check out the Dogfish Head Brewery, the local pride and joy of Milton, while those looking for an arts scene will find what they’re looking for at the Milton Theatre. Outdoorsmen and women will love exploring the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and the more romantic types will positively melt once they lay their eyes on Lavender Fields Farm. I won’t even get into all the annual events that Milton puts on.

About a third of Milton’s population chooses to rent instead of buy and it’s easy to see why. The median rent in Milton is only $1,215/month, which is slightly lower than the statewide average. Homes, on the other hand, are the 5th priciest in Delaware, with a median price tag of $451,950. It shouldn’t be hard to come up with the cash though, seeing as Milton’s unemployment rate is the 16th lowest in the state at 7.4%. And you don’t have to worry about getting carjacked on the way to work, seeing as Milton also has the lowest total crime rate in Delaware, as well as the 4th lowest amount of violent crime.

More on Clayton: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Clayton sits around the mid-point between two of Delaware’s two most important cities. A 45-minute drive north will take you to Wilmington, the state’s largest population center. Head a half hour south and you’ll arrive at the state capital of Dover.

More than just a stopover between more famous locations, Clayton has a lot to offer on its own. For instance, the town’s crime rate sits nearly 50% below the national average and it boasts an above-average school district.

The main draw, though, is economic. The 3,978 residents of Clayton enjoy a median income of $98,367, the 2nd best level in Delaware. Homes in the area represent a good investment as well. Median home values sit at $369,829.

Clayton also provides easy access to some of the most beautiful spots in Delaware. The Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge sits a short drive to the east.

More on Townsend: Real Estate

Townsend, Delaware, may seem like an unassuming town of 2,728 residents. But this quaint community isn’t your average burb. It’s the number 6 best place to live in the state.

With good schools and quick access to nearby commercial hubs, Townsend acts as a magnet for young professionals. The city has a median income of $147,917, putting it 1st in the state in that category. Home values are high as well, with a median home value of $451,746.

Townsend is situated in the northern part of the state. A quick trip down the road will take you to Wilmington, Delaware’s biggest city. It also sits a little more than an hour outside of Philadelphia.

In terms of local amenities, you can tour the picturesque Townsend Historic District, with more than 200 charming buildings. Meanwhile, a 20-minute drive will take you to the Delaware River and access to robust outdoor activities at places like the Augustine Wildlife Area.

More on Newark: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Delaware’s third biggest and 3rd most densely-populated city, Newark, comes in as the 7th best place to live. Being home to the University of Delaware helps explain Newark’s status as the youngest place on this list, with a median age of 22. It also explains why about half the population has a college degree and a quarter have a master’s degree or higher. The importance of education runs from top to bottom in Newark, because public schools here spend nearly twice as much per student as the statewide average and have the 3rd lowest high school dropout rate in Delaware.

Being a college town comes with other perks, like being the Delaware’s best city for singles. Evidently, people are copping on to the awesomeness that is Newark, because the city has grown by about 7% since 2010. While the median income in Newark is the lowest on this list at $67,738/year, the fact that students aren’t usually known for being big-earners may account for the gap. In any case, you don’t need to be loaded to enjoy the hiking, biking, and fishing at White Clay Creek Park.

The cost of living in Newark is slightly higher than your average city in Delaware, with housing costing about 15% more on average. A home in Newark will set you back around $333,102 while a typical rental will cost about $1,482/month.

More on Millville: Real Estate

You won’t have to grind my gears to get me to move to Millville.

Millville is a thriving community with a rich, milling history and small-town feel. Since its 1906 incorporation, the population has grown, and its location near the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Bay, along with nearby Delaware beaches, makes it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

In Sussex County, Millville is well-connected via Delaware Route 26 and Route 17, promoting easy commuting. The town has a low 2.3% unemployment rate and an attractive housing market, indicated by its 3rd highest median home values.

More on Selbyville: Crime | Real Estate

Selbyville, located on the Maryland border in southeast Delaware off of Route 113, finds itself on our list of the best places to live in Delaware. Some of the things that make Selbyville a great place to live include Freeman Arts Pavilion for some outdoor theater fun, Synergy Cafe where they make you feel like family, and La Sierra where you can grab some high quality mexican food.

On the numbers side of things, the town has some of the best economic indicators you could ask for in a place to live. The unemployment rate is the 7th lowest in Delaware per the latest Census data. Median incomes rank 4th in Delaware and home prices rank 2nd. Those home values indicate that Selbyville is a place where a lot of people want to be — and are willing to pay for it.

More on Smyrna: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Smyrna is a historically rich town in Kent County. Its residents benefit from a $381,842 median income that ranks 7th statewide and complemented by a 68,260 median income in Delaware’s top 10. Smyrna’s 12,870 people have quick access to routes 120, 301, and 302, contributing to an average 31 minute commute time.

Safety is a priority, as evidenced by low 0.0054 violent and 0.0223 property per capita rate, making it one of the safest areas in the state.

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Delaware

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.

We ranked each place in Delaware across a number of criteria from one to 21, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Delaware.”

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

• Median Home Values
• Median Income
• Population Density (Higher is better)
• Unemployment Rate
• Commute Time
• Crime
• Education Levels
• Health Insurance Coverage
• Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking Delaware’s best places to live.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Delaware. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Ocean View at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Best Places To Live In Delaware Table