The Town FilesDelaware City, Delaware
City in New Castle County · population 1,885 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $266,900
- Household income
- $85,395
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 40.4
Delaware City is a city of 1,885 people in New Castle County, Delaware. The median home is worth $266,900, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks quieter than 73% of Delaware towns, easier by car than 73% of Delaware towns, better for cycling than 71% of Delaware towns.
How Delaware City 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 Delaware City is worth $266,900, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $85,395, which is more affordable than 89% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,511 a month. 73.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Delaware City | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,900 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $1,511 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $85,395 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.0% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Delaware City
| People | Delaware City | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 93.0% |
Weather in Delaware City
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.2 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Delaware City since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 28, 1961 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 9, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 10, 2008.
Severe weather in New Castle County since 1996
New Castle County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 24, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4627: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4566: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4526: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3449: Covid-19 |
| November 16, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4090: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in New Castle County
New Castle County had 303,806 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $80,334 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Delaware City itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Towns near Delaware City
- St. Georges, DE3.1 mi · 1,957 people · home $463,200
- Bear, DE5.5 mi · 23,060 people · home $304,800
- Elsinboro, NJ5.8 mi · 1,001 people · home $254,900
- Pennsville, NJ6.1 mi · 12,684 people · home $214,100
- Salem, NJ6.5 mi · 5,296 people · home $79,800
- New Castle, DE6.8 mi · 5,551 people · home $285,100
- Pennsville, NJ7.2 mi · 12,043 people · home $207,600
- Wilmington Manor, DE7.8 mi · 8,162 people · home $240,600
Delaware City questions
Is Delaware City, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Delaware City scores better for retirees than 52% of Delaware towns and quieter than 73%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Delaware City?
The median owner-occupied home in Delaware City is valued at $266,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,395, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,511 a month.
What is the weather like in Delaware City?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 20.2 inches of snow.
Does Delaware City get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Delaware City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 28, 1961. 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)