Population 596 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Bethany
Household size in South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.79 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.81 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.75 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.73 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
South Bethany is a place of small households, averaging 1.73 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children.
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 South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 64.6 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 69.1 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 69.6 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 68.5 | 43.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +3.6 | +2.3 |
South Bethany skews older: half of its residents are older than 68.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 64.6, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 12.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 1.7% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.9% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −9.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in South Bethany: 1.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 South Bethany
Renters in South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 26.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 28.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 0.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 0.0% | 27.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Almost every household in South Bethany owns its home; nationally, 34.8% rent. Among homeowners, 52.0% 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 South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 81.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 81.4% | 11.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 74.1% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | −3.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in South Bethany: 74.1% of homes are empty, 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 South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1979 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 | +6 |
South Bethany has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally.
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 South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $909 | $1,037 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,130 | $1,109 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,033 | $1,228 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,375 | $1,514 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$466 | +$477 | +$606 |
The median renter in South Bethany pays $1,375 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 17.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 South Bethany
Bachelor's degrees in South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.5% | 27.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 60.8% | 29.2% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.2% | 31.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 77.9% | 35.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.4 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in South Bethany: 77.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby.
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 South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 100.0% | 87.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 99.4% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.4% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 100.0% | 91.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in South Bethany: 100.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 South Bethany
| Period | South Bethany | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 8.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.9% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Bethany has been low: just 0.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
South Bethany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bethany | 1.73 | 68.5 | 1.0% | 0.0% | 74.1% | 1993 | $1,375 | 77.9% | 100.0% | 0.9% |
| Bethany Beach | 2.00 | 66.9 | 1.2% | 3.3% | 77.9% | 1990 | $1,292 | 66.2% | 99.1% | 1.9% |
| Ocean View | 2.07 | 64.1 | 3.9% | 8.1% | 50.8% | 2004 | $1,462 | 49.2% | 96.0% | 2.8% |
| Millville | 1.98 | 65.6 | 2.7% | 6.0% | 35.4% | 2013 | $1,796 | 44.3% | 97.6% | 4.0% |
| Fenwick Island | 2.12 | 69.1 | 0.4% | 8.6% | 80.1% | 1986 | $1,385 | 56.6% | 88.1% | 3.2% |
| Selbyville | 2.22 | 58.0 | 6.2% | 10.8% | 31.0% | 2000 | $1,126 | 36.5% | 91.3% | 5.6% |
| Frankford | 2.47 | 53.8 | 8.4% | 13.9% | 24.6% | 1998 | $1,335 | 29.8% | 89.4% | 6.4% |
| Dagsboro | 2.38 | 55.4 | 6.2% | 9.6% | 22.3% | 1999 | $1,642 | 37.4% | 91.5% | 2.0% |
| Ocean City | 1.82 | 49.6 | 6.8% | 24.2% | 74.9% | 1985 | $1,366 | 45.4% | 95.2% | 5.9% |
| Long Neck | 1.78 | 66.6 | 5.5% | 9.6% | 45.5% | 1998 | $1,098 | 20.6% | 98.3% | 0.6% |
| Bishopville | 2.31 | 52.1 | 5.1% | 20.8% | 17.7% | 1992 | $1,125 | 27.8% | 92.3% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mining City, KY · Micawber, OK · Middle Lancaster, PA · Middletown Heights, KY · Milan Center, IN · Miller, OK · Milligan, NE · Millville, NY · Milo, CA · Micaville, AL
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 South Bethany. 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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