Sussex County, DE Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Sussex County | Delaware Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 257,175 | 1,015,835 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 215.1 | 408.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 2.31% | 1.04% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 52.3 | 42.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 103,213 | 395,977 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Sussex County grew by 32.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 247,799 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Sussex County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Sussex County | Delaware Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,500 | $83,492 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.29% | 4.57% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Sussex County is about 6% lower than in Delaware.
Housing
| Metric | Sussex County | Delaware Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $333,413 | $249,028 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,221 | $1,341 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.3% | 72.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Sussex County is about 22.8 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,221 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Sussex County spend about 45 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 189 hours, about 7.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Sussex County | Delaware Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.7 | 22.1 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 45.3 | 44.1 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 189 | 184 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,854 | $5,700 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 13.3% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 7,094 | 11,244 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,029 | 1,341 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Delaware:
Kent County (21.7 min), New Castle County (22.0 min), Sussex County (22.7 min).
Slowest:
Sussex County (22.7 min), New Castle County (22.0 min), Kent County (21.7 min).
The average commute time in Sussex County is 23 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Delaware.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Sussex County has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Sussex County | Delaware Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.0% | 31.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.38 | 2.48 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Delaware:
New Castle County (0.3), Sussex County (0.3), Kent County (0.2).
Lowest:
Kent County (0.2), Sussex County (0.3), New Castle County (0.3).
Health
Sussex County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Sussex County | Delaware Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.5 | 77.7 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 14.5% | 14.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.6% | 17.3% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Delaware:
New Castle County (0.8), Sussex County (0.8), Kent County (0.8).
Lowest:
Kent County (0.8), Sussex County (0.8), New Castle County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Sussex County, Delaware.
What is the population of Sussex County, Delaware?
The population of Sussex County, Delaware is 257,175, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Sussex County, Delaware?
The population density of Sussex County, Delaware is 215.1 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Sussex County, Delaware?
The median household income in Sussex County, Delaware is $78,500, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Sussex County, Delaware?
The median home price in Sussex County, Delaware is $333,413, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Sussex County, Delaware?
The unemployment rate in Sussex County, Delaware is 5.1%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.