The Town FilesBlades, Delaware
Town in Sussex County · population 1,179 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,900
- Household income
- $56,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 36.6
Blades is a town of 1,179 people in Sussex County, Delaware. The median home is worth $227,900, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks better for families than 80% of Delaware towns, quieter than 79% of Delaware towns.
How Blades ranks
Percentile among Delaware towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Delaware towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Blades is worth $227,900, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $56,875, which is more affordable than 45% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,012 a month. 70.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blades | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,900 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $1,012 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $56,875 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.4% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Blades
| People | Blades | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.0% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.8% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 93.0% |
Weather in Blades
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 25.4°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.5 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blades since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 1, 2023 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 3, 2002.
Severe weather in Sussex County since 1996
Sussex County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4916: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4526: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3449: Covid-19 |
| March 16, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4265: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 16, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4090: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Sussex County
Sussex County had 94,273 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,078 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Blades itself the ACS puts it at 11.9%.
Public schools in Blades
1 public school with 405 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blades Elementary School | K-2 | 405 | 15.6 |
Towns near Blades
- Seaford, DE1.6 mi · 7,957 people · home $224,300
- Laurel, DE4.7 mi · 3,865 people · home $230,300
- Bridgeville, DE6.2 mi · 2,568 people · home $400,900
- Sharptown, MD9.2 mi · 691 people · home $192,500
- Federalsburg, MD10.0 mi · 2,833 people · home $156,500
- Delmar, DE11.7 mi · 2,027 people · home $232,800
- Greenwood, DE11.9 mi · 990 people · home $252,200
- Georgetown, DE12.2 mi · 7,134 people · home $281,400
Blades questions
Is Blades, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blades scores better for retirees than 39% of Delaware towns and quieter than 79%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.6).
How much does a house cost in Blades?
The median owner-occupied home in Blades is valued at $227,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,875, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,012 a month.
What is the weather like in Blades?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 25.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 11.5 inches of snow.
Does Blades get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blades since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 1, 2023. The typical Delaware town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)