The Town FilesFrankford, Delaware
Town in Sussex County · population 790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $315,000
- Household income
- $77,206
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 38.8
Frankford is a town of 790 people in Sussex County, Delaware. The median home is worth $315,000, close to the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of Delaware towns, easier by car than 95% of Delaware towns, quieter than 93% of Delaware towns.
How Frankford 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 Frankford is worth $315,000, close to the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $77,206, which is more affordable than 42% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,072 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Frankford | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $315,000 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $1,072 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $77,206 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in Frankford
| People | Frankford | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 30.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 23.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.3% | 93.0% |
Weather in Frankford
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 28.6°F. About 43.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.6 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Frankford since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 12, 1955 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 30, 1976.
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 Frankford itself the ACS puts it at 0.2%.
Public schools in Frankford
3 public schools with 482 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton (John M.) Elementary School | K-5 | 482 | 12.7 |
| SCOPE - South | 15-15 | — | — |
| Carver (G.W.) Educational Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Frankford
- Dagsboro, DE1.8 mi · 870 people · home $318,400
- Selbyville, DE4.4 mi · 2,878 people · home $432,900
- Millville, DE5.7 mi · 1,825 people · home $494,500
- Millsboro, DE6.2 mi · 6,863 people · home $332,600
- Ocean View, DE7.5 mi · 2,636 people · home $514,200
- Long Neck, DE7.9 mi · 3,017 people · home $187,600
- Bethany Beach, DE9.2 mi · 954 people · home $720,900
- Ocean Pines, MD10.5 mi · 12,145 people · home $380,100
Frankford questions
Is Frankford, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Frankford scores better for retirees than 75% of Delaware towns and quieter than 93%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Frankford?
The median owner-occupied home in Frankford is valued at $315,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,206, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,072 a month.
What is the weather like in Frankford?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 28.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.9 inches of precipitation a year and 9.6 inches of snow.
Does Frankford get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Frankford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 12, 1955. 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)