Population 255,626 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Sussex County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Sussex County
Household size in Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.44 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Sussex County run small, averaging 2.44 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.51, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the northeast.
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 Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.8 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.9 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.0 | 43.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +3.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.0, Sussex County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 45.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 12.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Sussex County (10.0%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Sussex County
Renters in Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.0% | 26.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.9% | 28.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.7% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 27.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 18.4% of households in Sussex County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 43.3% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the southeast. The renter share has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 11.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.9% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.9 pts | −3.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 18.9% of the housing in Sussex County, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 5.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1979 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1994 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1997 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Sussex County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1997, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the southwest has the oldest housing.
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 Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $930 | $1,037 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,020 | $1,109 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,108 | $1,228 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,429 | $1,514 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$499 | +$477 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Sussex County costs $1,429 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $499 a month from 2006–10, a 54% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the southwest.
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 Sussex County
Bachelor's degrees in Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.2% | 27.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.5% | 29.2% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 31.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.4% | 35.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over three in ten adults 25 and older in Sussex County (31.4%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.2 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southwest.
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 Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.1% | 87.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.4% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.5% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.4% | 91.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Sussex County is close to the national rate: 89.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Delaware as a whole (91.5%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Sussex County
| Period | Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 8.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Sussex County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Sussex County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex County | 2.44 | 50.0 | 10.0% | 18.4% | 18.9% | 1997 | $1,429 | 31.4% | 89.4% | 5.1% |
| Dorchester County | 2.42 | 43.9 | 12.0% | 34.4% | 16.2% | 1974 | $1,144 | 18.8% | 85.5% | 6.5% |
| Talbot County | 2.33 | 49.9 | 10.0% | 24.9% | 14.6% | 1982 | $1,411 | 40.0% | 92.1% | 4.2% |
| Calvert County | 2.85 | 41.0 | 8.0% | 12.8% | 7.9% | 1989 | $1,810 | 37.4% | 95.0% | 2.7% |
| Charles County | 2.84 | 39.3 | 11.6% | 17.9% | 5.4% | 1992 | $1,956 | 33.7% | 94.6% | 4.8% |
| Prince William County | 3.21 | 37.1 | 12.2% | 25.7% | 4.5% | 1993 | $2,274 | 44.9% | 90.0% | 4.6% |
| Manassas Park City | 3.71 | 36.3 | 12.9% | 33.5% | 6.4% | 1983 | $2,042 | 25.7% | 78.8% | 5.5% |
| Manassas City | 3.17 | 35.3 | 12.6% | 28.5% | 3.3% | 1985 | $1,893 | 33.7% | 81.2% | 3.9% |
| Fauquier County | 2.84 | 42.4 | 8.5% | 21.2% | 7.5% | 1989 | $1,817 | 40.7% | 92.3% | 2.7% |
| Rappahannock County | 2.63 | 50.4 | 9.6% | 26.6% | 22.6% | 1981 | $1,402 | 32.5% | 91.1% | 9.7% |
| Page County | 2.45 | 46.2 | 9.9% | 28.2% | 16.8% | 1973 | $882 | 14.3% | 82.5% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Tuscaloosa County, AL · Boulder County, CO · Buncombe County, NC · Butte County, CA · Cabarrus County, NC · Caddo Parish, LA · Calcasieu Parish, LA · Erie County, PA · Sumner County, TN · Alachua County, FL
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 Sussex County. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.