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COUNTY

Sussex County

Delaware · 277,140 residents (2025 est.) · 936 sq mi
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Part of the Seaford micropolitan area
The short version

Sussex County is home to 255,626 people in Delaware. At a median age of 51.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Since 2000 the county has risen by half, up 98,988 people. Few US counties rank higher on income. Owners hold 82% of the housing stock. 8% of residents were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Average income
median household income $81,497, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 51.9
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 111%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Sussex County

What changed most since 1990

  • Population113,229 → 255,626 (+126%)US over the same years: +35%
  • Median age36.6 → 51.9 (+15.3 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
  • White share81.0% → 72.3% (−8.7 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
255,626
+63%since 2000
from 156,638 in 2000
277,140 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
273 / sq mi
+63%since 2000
from 167 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
51.9
+26%since 2000
from 41.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
936 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
99K142K184K227K270K19902000201020202024Sussex County
2024256K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(12,138)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95%(12,667)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.2%(13,259)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.9%(12,441)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.5%(11,413)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.5%(24,345)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.6%(24,659)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410%(25,684)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.3%(41,771)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7419%(48,601)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.9%(22,717)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.3%(5,931)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$81,497
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,208 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$46,684
+130%since 2000
from $20,328 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
54.1%
+24.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.457
+7%since 2010
from 0.428 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade8.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$382,600
+111%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,238
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $507 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 80.7% in 2000
18.4% rent
Vacancy rate
29.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 35.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.38 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.48 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
20.1%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.9%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.7
+1%since 2009
from 4.7 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
65
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic78.5%(122,888)
Black14.7%(23,017)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(6,915)
Asian0.7%(1,150)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic72.3%(184,909)
Black9.8%(25,014)
Hispanic / Latino11.5%(29,438)
Asian1.3%(3,242)
Other5.1%(13,023)
Diversity Score
56
+20%since 2009
from 47 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
35
−6%since 2020
from 37 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Central American5.1%(12,937)
Guatemalan3.9%(9,918)
Mexican3.2%(8,180)
Puerto Rican1.6%(3,975)
Honduran0.6%(1,563)
Salvadoran0.5%(1,260)
South American0.5%(1,206)
Dominican0.3%(859)
Cuban0.2%(498)
Colombian0.1%(297)
Chilean0.1%(283)
Peruvian0.1%(247)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Ecuadorian0.1%(171)
Spaniard0.1%(171)
Bolivian0%(27)
Uruguayan0%(17)
Argentine0%(16)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(757)
Asian Indian0.3%(655)
Chinese0.2%(408)
Vietnamese0.2%(392)
Pakistani0.1%(274)
Korean0.1%(213)
Taiwanese0.1%(144)
Laotian0%(64)
Japanese0%(55)
Thai0%(28)
Uzbek0%(16)
+ 4 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(138)
Samoan0%(38)
Ancestry
Irish16.8%(42,841)
German14.8%(37,753)
English14.1%(35,959)
Italian8.3%(21,329)
American6.8%(17,264)
Polish3.7%(9,339)
Scottish2.2%(5,560)
French1.4%(3,593)
West Indian1.1%(2,777)
Dutch1%(2,649)
Welsh0.9%(2,251)
Russian0.8%(2,136)
+ 48 more ancestry groups with data
Haitian0.7%(1,871)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(1,751)
Hungarian0.6%(1,447)
Swedish0.6%(1,433)
Norwegian0.5%(1,296)
Ukrainian0.5%(1,282)
British0.5%(1,269)
Portuguese0.4%(1,086)
Greek0.3%(871)
Lithuanian0.3%(868)
Arab0.3%(723)
Slovak0.3%(701)
Jamaican0.3%(656)
Swiss0.3%(652)
Romanian0.2%(607)
Canadian0.2%(493)
Czech0.2%(423)
Austrian0.2%(414)
Turkish0.2%(402)
Danish0.1%(269)
Egyptian0.1%(235)
Armenian0.1%(215)
Belgian0.1%(214)
Palestinian0.1%(168)
Brazilian0.1%(168)
Lebanese0.1%(136)
Latvian0%(121)
Croatian0%(115)
Finnish0%(99)
Ethiopian0%(94)
Bulgarian0%(82)
Slovene0%(67)
Israeli0%(56)
Guyanese0%(44)
Iranian0%(38)
Serbian0%(37)
Syrian0%(34)
Kenyan0%(27)
Nigerian0%(20)
Moroccan0%(17)
Iraqi0%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.0%
+16.4 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.2%
+13.7 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.1%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.3 min
+70%since 2000
from 16.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.4%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 81.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.4%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.1%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 58.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
72.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 71.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.3%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
8.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.5%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2012
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.0%
−4.4 ptssince 2013
from 11.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.5%
+15.7 ptssince 2017
from 75.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
95.7%
+4.6 ptssince 2020
from 91.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
90.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 89.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
87.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2016
from 89.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2016
from 7.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.7%(28,929)
Married59.7%(62,474)
Widowed3.3%(3,416)
Divorced9.3%(9,775)
Women 15+
Never married23.4%(26,428)
Married52.8%(59,683)
Widowed11%(12,458)
Divorced12.7%(14,399)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
7.0%
−4.4 ptssince 2013
from 11.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
51.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2020
from 53.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
18.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 16.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
31.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 30.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
21.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 22.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
65.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2020
from 67.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
50.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 49.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)15.8%(2,803)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.2%(3,063)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era47.4%(8,429)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.9%(878)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.3%(51)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 17,767 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Sussex County, decade by decade

Sussex County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990113,229$64,571$192,48613.0%39.4
2000156,638$71,423$181,61916.6%45.1
2010197,145$73,433$350,58021.2%50.6
2020237,378$78,667$326,88729.4%56.4
2024255,626$81,497$382,60033.0%56.4

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Sussex County

St. Tammany Parish
Pop 279,108
Henry County
Pop 264,922
Atlantic County
Pop 278,657
Baldwin County
Pop 267,761
Places similar to Sussex County
Head to head

Compare Sussex County to nearby counties

SUSSEX COUNTY VS
Wicomico County
Income$76,210−6%
Home value$254,700−33%
Population106,899−61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SUSSEX COUNTY VS
Caroline County
Income$68,457−16%
Home value$290,100−24%
Population34,116−88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SUSSEX COUNTY VS
Kent County
Income$74,477−9%
Home value$316,600−17%
Population194,786−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SUSSEX COUNTY VS
Worcester County
Income$81,745same
Home value$374,700−2%
Population54,459−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sussex County, Delaware?

Sussex County, Delaware has about 255,626 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sussex County, Delaware?

The typical household in Sussex County, Delaware earns about $81,497 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sussex County, Delaware expensive?

In Sussex County, Delaware, the median home is worth about $382,600, and the typical rent is about $1,238 a month.

How educated are people in Sussex County, Delaware?

About 33.0% of adults age 25 and over in Sussex County, Delaware hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sussex County, Delaware?

About 10.9% of people in Sussex County, Delaware live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sussex County, Delaware grown since 1990?

Yes, Sussex County, Delaware has grown since 1990. The population has added about 142,397 residents, a change of about 126 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →