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Townsend vs Clayton

10 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.4× in Townsend) and household income (+43% in Townsend).

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Townsend, DEKnown for its schoolsDelaware · 2,832 people
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Clayton, DEKnown for its schoolsDelaware · 4,222 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.

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 →
ClaytonKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 54%of DE districts SafetySafer than 82%of U.S. towns we grade History5 archive photos & papers4 places on the National Register All about Clayton →
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 bill2.4×
Tax bills are bigger in Townsend
Townsend $3,506Clayton $1,485
Household income+43%
Households in Townsend earn more
Townsend $153,000Clayton $107,307
Rent+36%
Rent runs higher in Clayton
Clayton $1,621Townsend $1,193
Jobs per worker2.3×
Clayton is more of a job hub
Clayton 0.49Townsend 0.21
Trails2.3×
Townsend has more miles of trail
Townsend 0.9 miClayton 0.4 mi
Home values+29%
Homes cost more in Townsend
Townsend $465,100Clayton $361,300
★ What stands out · Report cards

Townsend places higher on 15 of 19 DE lists

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
ATownsendSafer than 88% of U.S. towns A−ClaytonSafer than 82% of U.S. towns
Schools
A−TownsendBetter than 83% of districts in the state B−ClaytonBetter than 54% of districts in the state
Health
ATownsendHealthier than 86% of U.S. towns B−ClaytonHealthier than 51% of U.S. towns
15Townsend
4Clayton

Lists won, of 19 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Lowest obesityHealth · 36 towns #13#33 Lowest property taxCost of living · 35 towns #32#14 Cheapest rentCost of living · 34 towns #7#23 HealthiestHealth · 36 towns #6#21 Most educatedPeople · 36 towns #11#24 Most activeHealth · 36 towns #5#17 Fewest smokersHealth · 36 towns #7#19 Lowest depressionHealth · 36 towns #17#27

Left end = #1 in Delaware. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Townsend’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $630 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.

Townsend$2,930/mo
Typical home $500K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.75% · or rent about $1,193/mo · Housing →
Clayton$2,310/mo
Typical home $413K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.41% · or rent about $1,621/mo · Housing →

The difference: $630 a month, about $7,500 a year, between Townsend and Clayton.

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.

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
TownsendClayton
Snow a year20″13″
January low26°F28°F
July high87°F87°F
Growing season (days)209d214d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)24th32nd
Outdoors & history
TownsendClayton
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land15.9%10.5%
Settled1885—
National Register places14
Archive photos65
Famous people born here41
Community
TownsendClayton
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

10 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

TownsendClaytonTownsendClayton
Townsend ↔ Clayton9.7 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.

TownsendClayton
People
Population 2,832Lowest 4,222Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +32.6%Lowest DE: +10.2% +35.7%Highest DE: +10.2%
Median age 36.5±4.1Lowest 12% below DE 37.1±5.1Highest 11% below DE
Clayton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.4%±5Lowest DE: 20.7% 29.5%±5.8Highest DE: 20.7%
Clayton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 6.1%±2Lowest DE: 20.6% 9.5%±3.7Highest DE: 20.6%
Clayton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 41.5%Highest DE: 35.8% 32.1%Lowest DE: 35.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.8%±3.9 DE: 6.5% 7.8%±3.5 DE: 6.5%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $153,000±$31kHighest 80% above DE $107,307±$8kLowest 26% above DE
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $465,100±$26kHighest 32% above DE $361,300±$44kLowest about the DE average
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,193±$114Lowest 15% below DE $1,621±$226Highest 16% above DE
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,506Highest 98% above DE $1,485Lowest 16% below DE
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 8.1%±61.2Lowest DE: 49.6% 38.7%±25.9Highest DE: 49.6%
Clayton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 2.4%Lowest DE: 10.4% 5.3%Highest DE: 10.4%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 93.5%Highest DE: 73% 89.5%Lowest DE: 73%
Typical home builtmedian year 2006Highest 19 yrs newer than DE 2005Lowest 18 yrs newer than DE
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 35 minHighest 33% above DE 33 minLowest 27% above DE
Work from home 26.4%±10.7Highest DE: 15% 11.3%±4.8Lowest DE: 15%
Townsend and Clayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.4%Lowest 2.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.3 miHighest 13.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.21Lowest 0.49Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Middletown (14%)Dover (18%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ClaytonFew work in Townsend
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 15.9%Highest 10.5%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.9 miHighest 0.4 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.8 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 69.8Highest 64.5Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 31 in DE#17 of 31 in DE
School district Appoquinimink School DistrictFirst State Military Academy · Smyrna School District
High school in town None in townFirst State Military Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — 18.0
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.

Townsend neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Townsend’s Town Square.

Clayton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Clayton’s Town Square.

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Towns like Townsend

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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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