The Town FilesDelaware, New York
Town in Sullivan County · population 2,203 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,300
- Household income
- $96,146
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 60 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 49.3
Delaware is a town of 2,203 people in Sullivan County, New York. The median home is worth $227,300, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of New York towns, hipper than 94% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of New York towns.
How Delaware ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Delaware is worth $227,300, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $96,146, which is more affordable than 67% of New York towns. 87.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Delaware | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $96,146 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 22.4% | — |
Who lives in Delaware
| People | Delaware | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 12.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 27.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 91.1% |
Weather in Delaware
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 12.8°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 60.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Delaware since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 22, 2023 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 24, 1985.
Severe weather in Sullivan County since 1996
Sullivan County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Sullivan County
Sullivan County had 30,393 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,182 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Delaware itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Delaware
- Cochecton, NY5.2 mi · 1,448 people · home $335,600
- Callicoon, NY6.8 mi · 2,989 people · home $316,800
- Damascus, PA7.5 mi · 3,674 people · home $282,200
- Fremont, NY8.4 mi · 1,161 people · home $307,100
- Bethel, NY8.8 mi · 3,959 people · home $247,700
- Manchester, PA9.9 mi · 785 people · home $292,200
- Smallwood, NY11.6 mi · 839 people · home $162,100
- Liberty, NY12.0 mi · 10,159 people · home $248,500
Delaware questions
Is Delaware, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Delaware scores better for retirees than 99% of New York towns and quieter than 89%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.3).
How much does a house cost in Delaware?
The median owner-occupied home in Delaware is valued at $227,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,146, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Delaware?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 12.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 60.1 inches of snow.
Does Delaware get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Delaware since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 22, 2023. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)