Population 665 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fenwick Island
Household size in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.80 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.83 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.91 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.12 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.32 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Fenwick Island is a place of small households, averaging 2.12 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 1.80, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 65.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 66.0 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 65.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 69.1 | 43.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.3 | +3.6 | +2.3 |
Fenwick Island skews older: half of its residents are older than 69.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 12.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 0.7% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −10.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 0.4% of households in Fenwick Island, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Fenwick Island
Renters in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 26.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 28.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 27.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 8.6% of households in Fenwick Island rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 53.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 80.0% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 79.2% | 11.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 80.1% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −3.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 80.1% of the housing in Fenwick Island, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1979 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Fenwick Island is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. Delaware as a whole looks much the same.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $955 | $1,037 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,125 | $1,109 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,152 | $1,228 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,385 | $1,514 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$430 | +$477 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fenwick Island costs $1,385 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 12.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Fenwick Island
Bachelor's degrees in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3% | 27.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.3% | 29.2% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.6% | 31.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 56.6% | 35.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.2 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fenwick Island is highly educated: nearly six in ten adults 25 and older (56.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.0% | 87.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.4% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.9% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.1% | 91.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Fenwick Island have finished high school as nationally: 88.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Delaware as a whole (91.5%).
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Fenwick Island
| Period | Fenwick Island | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 8.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.1% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Fenwick Island has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Fenwick Island compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenwick Island | 2.12 | 69.1 | 0.4% | 8.6% | 80.1% | 1986 | $1,385 | 56.6% | 88.1% | 3.2% |
| South Bethany | 1.73 | 68.5 | 1.0% | 0.0% | 74.1% | 1993 | $1,375 | 77.9% | 100.0% | 0.9% |
| Ocean City | 1.82 | 49.6 | 6.8% | 24.2% | 74.9% | 1985 | $1,366 | 45.4% | 95.2% | 5.9% |
| Selbyville | 2.22 | 58.0 | 6.2% | 10.8% | 31.0% | 2000 | $1,126 | 36.5% | 91.3% | 5.6% |
| Bethany Beach | 2.00 | 66.9 | 1.2% | 3.3% | 77.9% | 1990 | $1,292 | 66.2% | 99.1% | 1.9% |
| Millville | 1.98 | 65.6 | 2.7% | 6.0% | 35.4% | 2013 | $1,796 | 44.3% | 97.6% | 4.0% |
| Ocean View | 2.07 | 64.1 | 3.9% | 8.1% | 50.8% | 2004 | $1,462 | 49.2% | 96.0% | 2.8% |
| Frankford | 2.47 | 53.8 | 8.4% | 13.9% | 24.6% | 1998 | $1,335 | 29.8% | 89.4% | 6.4% |
| Bishopville | 2.31 | 52.1 | 5.1% | 20.8% | 17.7% | 1992 | $1,125 | 27.8% | 92.3% | 3.7% |
| Ocean Pines | 2.14 | 60.8 | 6.8% | 9.6% | 32.7% | 1992 | $1,913 | 39.9% | 96.2% | 5.9% |
| West Ocean City | 2.42 | 49.1 | 6.9% | 24.0% | 27.4% | 1997 | $1,599 | 36.6% | 92.9% | 9.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Hooker, GA · Shiloh, TX · Sherwood Forest, FL · Shady Grove, IL · Seneca, MS · Sechlerville, WI · Indore, WV · Indian Village, IN · Hytop, AL · Huron, MO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Fenwick Island. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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