Chipman's Mill was located near Laurel, Delaware, and is now the name of a Delaware State Park which encompasses the mill pond, including a boat ramp for fishing (now the primary activity). Chipman's Mill functioned into the late 1940s.

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7 on the National Register · #18 in DEHistoric places →

Know Laurel

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Laurel

Town in Delaware, United States

3,865Population

3 sq miArea

26 ftElevation

Laurel is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 3,865 at the time of the 2020 census. Laurel is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. It once hosted the Laurel Blue Hens of the Eastern Shore Baseball League.

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From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Laurel ranks

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#2Cheapest rent in DE #4Most affordable in DE #4Lowest property tax in DE All DE rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code19956

Area code302

Living in Laurel

Housing in Laurel

$314K▲ 1.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Laurel home is worth about $314,000, up 1.2% in a year, 23% below the Delaware typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Laurel

D⁻

Safety Grade D-

Laurel reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 98% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Laurel 14.1

Delaware 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Laurel 24.5

Delaware 15.8

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Laurel

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Most working residents leave Laurel for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Seaford (8%), Georgetown (7%) and Salisbury (7%). Half commute less than 16 miles.

Seaford

Georgetown

Salisbury, MD

Dover

5%Work in townlive and work in Laurel 16 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,035Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Laurel →

Health in Laurel

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 17% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 46% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Delaware

2better than DE·18worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 12 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 2▼ 8 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 5▼ 2 close Mind 5▼ 0 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.1%Fewer adults who have had cancerDE 9.1% · better 25.6%Fewer adults with arthritisDE 28.4% · better 25.6%More adults facing food insecurityDE 13.9% · worse

Care nearby

Tidalhealth NanticokeSeaford · 5.1 mi · ER

Western Sussex Community Health CenterSeaford · 5.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Laurel · CMS · HRSAHealth in Laurel →

Natural hazards in Laurel

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 42% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌀 Hurricanes🥶 Cold waves

3Does Laurel flood?paid flood claims since 1994 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Laurel

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Laurel →

Climate in Laurel

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Laurel has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 8 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

48° / 29°Winter

66° / 44°Spring

86° / 65°Summer

70° / 48°Fall

How much snow does Laurel get?About 8 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 10, with the last in spring around Apr 2.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+2.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Laurel →

Schools in Laurel

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School Grade C

The public schools Laurel’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 73% of Delaware’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Laurel’s schools compare in DE →

DistrictLaurel School DistrictSchools4

Laurel Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades 1–6 · 1,145 students North Laurel Early Learning AcademyElementary · Grades PK–K · 273 students Laurel Middle School C+Middle · Grades 7–8 · 373 students Laurel Senior High School C-High · Grades 9–12 · 753 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within DE. Ratings are from neighbors.