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Compare towns

Cheswold vs Townsend

14 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.3× in Townsend) and household income (+76% in Townsend).

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Cheswold, DEOne of the healthiest townsDelaware · 2,143 people
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Townsend, DEKnown for its schoolsDelaware · 2,832 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

CheswoldOne of the healthiest towns
Health92% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors31.1% conserved land0.4 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves HistorySettled in 18562 places on the National Register All about Cheswold →
TownsendKnown for its schools
Schools#12 for schools in DEof 31 towns HealthHealthier than 86%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SafetySafer than 88%of U.S. towns we grade All about Townsend →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Property tax bill2.3×
Tax bills are bigger in Townsend
Townsend $3,506Cheswold $1,495
Household income+76%
Households in Townsend earn more
Townsend $153,000Cheswold $86,875
Home values+48%
Homes cost more in Townsend
Townsend $465,100Cheswold $314,600
Age 65++17.5 pts
Cheswold has more people 65 and up
Cheswold 23.6%Townsend 6.1%
Kids under 18+13 pts
Townsend has more kids
Townsend 29.4%Cheswold 16.4%
Bachelor’s degree++20.2 pts
More adults in Townsend have a degree
Townsend 41.5%Cheswold 21.3%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,160 more a month in Townsend

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Cheswold$1,770/mo
Typical home $315K (Census) · tax rate 0.48% · or rent about $880/mo · Housing →
Townsend$2,930/mo
Typical home $500K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.75% · or rent about $1,193/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,160 a month, about $13,900 a year, between Townsend and Cheswold.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Delaware ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
C+CheswoldSafer than 44% of U.S. towns ATownsendSafer than 88% of U.S. towns
Schools
–CheswoldNot graded A−TownsendBetter than 83% of districts in the state
Health
DCheswoldHealthier than 8% of U.S. towns ATownsendHealthier than 86% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
CheswoldTownsend
Snow a year13″20″
January low28°F26°F
July high87°F87°F
Growing season (days)214d209d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)29th24th
Outdoors & history
CheswoldTownsend
Trails0 mi1 mi
Conserved land31.1%15.9%
Settled18561885
National Register places21
Archive photos—6
Famous people born here24
Community
CheswoldTownsend
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

14 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

CheswoldTownsendCheswoldTownsend
Cheswold ↔ Townsend14 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

CheswoldTownsend
People
Population 2,143Lowest 2,832Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +39.3%Highest DE: +10.2% +32.6%Lowest DE: +10.2%
Median age 45.6±4.8Highest 10% above DE 36.5±4.1Lowest 12% below DE
Kids under 18 16.4%±4.1Lowest DE: 20.7% 29.4%±5Highest DE: 20.7%
Age 65+ 23.6%±4.2Highest DE: 20.6% 6.1%±2Lowest DE: 20.6%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.3%Lowest DE: 35.8% 41.5%Highest DE: 35.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 9%±4Highest DE: 6.5% 7.8%±3.9Lowest DE: 6.5%
Cheswold and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $86,875±$27kLowest about the DE average $153,000±$31kHighest 80% above DE
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $314,600±$119kLowest 11% below DE $465,100±$26kHighest 32% above DE
Rentmedian gross, monthly $880±$221Lowest 37% below DE $1,193±$114Highest 15% below DE
Townsend and Cheswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,495Lowest 15% below DE $3,506Highest 98% above DE
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 52.6%±35.3Highest DE: 49.6% 8.1%±61.2Lowest DE: 49.6%
Cheswold and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 7.2%Highest DE: 10.4% 2.4%Lowest DE: 10.4%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 94.6%Highest DE: 73% 93.5%Lowest DE: 73%
Typical home builtmedian year 2010Highest 23 yrs newer than DE 2006Lowest 19 yrs newer than DE
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minLowest 18% above DE 35 minHighest 33% above DE
Work from home 18.5%±7.6Lowest DE: 15% 26.4%±10.7Highest DE: 15%
Townsend and Cheswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.4%Lowest 1.4%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.8 miLowest 20.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.39Highest 0.21Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Dover (25%)Middletown (14%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in TownsendFew work in Cheswold
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 31.1%Highest 15.9%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.4 miLowest 0.9 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miLowest 0.8 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 51.6Lowest 69.8Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#12 of 31 in DE
School district —Appoquinimink School District
High school in town —None in town
Delaware average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Cheswold neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Cheswold’s Town Square.

Townsend neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Townsend’s Town Square.

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Delaware towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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