State rank#2 of 3
Smallest county255,626 residentsNew Castle County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 10005
Sussex County, Delaware
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population255,626
Household income$81,497
Unemployment3.6%
Life expectancy77.1 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Sussex County has 255,626 residents and ranks #2 by population among Delaware county equivalents. Median household income is $81,497. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.6%. Its clearest relative strength is median gross rent. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Delaware
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Sussex County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Sussex County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median gross rent.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $382,600 median home value and $1,238/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $81,497, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Sussex County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median gross rent, unemployment rate, and life expectancy. College attainment is 33% and life expectancy is 77.1 years.
Potential advantages
- Median gross rent: $1,238/mo, rank #1 of 3 available Delaware counties.
- Unemployment rate: 3.6%, rank #1 of 3 available Delaware counties.
- Life expectancy: 77.1 years, rank #1 of 3 available Delaware counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median home value: $382,600, rank #3 of 3; investigate local variation before moving.
- Uninsured: 8.4%, rank #3 of 3; investigate local variation before moving.
- Mental health access: 1 per 433 residents, rank #3 of 3; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Delaware
Rank and range use only counties in Delaware with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$81,497
$81,497; at the state county median of $81,497.
State rank #2 of 3 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$382,600
$382,600; above the state county median of $352,200.
State rank #3 of 3 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,238/mo
$1,238/mo; below the state county median of $1,354/mo.
State rank #1 of 3 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.6%
3.6%; at the state county median of 3.6%.
State rank #1 of 3 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
33%
33%; at the state county median of 33%.
State rank #2 of 3 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
77.1 years
77.1 years; above the state county median of 77.1 years.
State rank #1 of 3 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
15.5%
15.5%; below the state county median of 16.1%.
State rank #1 of 3 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
8.4%
8.4%; above the state county median of 7.5%.
State rank #3 of 3 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,628 residents
1 per 1,628 residents; at the state county median of 1 per 1,628 residents.
State rank #2 of 3 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 433 residents
1 per 433 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 414 residents.
State rank #3 of 3 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Sussex County FAQ
Is Sussex County a good place to live?
Sussex County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median gross rent, unemployment rate, and life expectancy. College attainment is 33% and life expectancy is 77.1 years.
What should I know before moving to Sussex County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $382,600 median home value and $1,238/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $81,497, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Sussex County?
Sussex County has 255,626 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Sussex County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 10005; the parent state FIPS is 10.
What is the median household income in Sussex County?
The ACS median household income is $81,497.
How much does housing cost in Sussex County?
Housing benchmarks are $382,600 median home value and $1,238/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $81,497, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Sussex County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.6%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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