Lewes ( LOO-əss) is an incorporated city on the Delaware Bay in eastern Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2020 census, its population was 3,303. Along with neighboring Rehoboth Beach, Lewes is one of the principal cities of Delaware's rapidly growing Cape Region. The city lies within the Salisbury, Maryland–Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lewes proudly claims to be "The First Town in The First State."

Official town website ↗

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

How Lewes ranks

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#1Lowest depression in DE #1Cheapest rent in DE #1Most remote workers in DE All DE rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code19958

Area code302

Living in Lewes

Housing in Lewes

$587K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Lewes home is worth about $587,000, about the same as a year ago, 45% above the Delaware typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Lewes

B⁻

Safety Grade B-

Lewes reports less crime per resident than 54% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Lewes 3.7

Delaware 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Lewes 8.7

Delaware 15.8

U.S. 15.5

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

Work & commute in Lewes

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Most working residents leave Lewes for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Dover (4%), Rehoboth Beach (4%) and Wilmington (3%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Dover

Rehoboth Beach

Wilmington

Milford

16%Work in townlive and work in Lewes 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 4,992Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Lewes →

Health in Lewes

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 72% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Delaware

18better than DE·7worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 7 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 7▼ 3 close Habits 3▲ 1 close Care 6▲ 1 close Mind 3▲ 2 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

4.9%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityDE 11.6% · better 3.5%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offDE 7.4% · better 16.4%More adults who have had cancerDE 9.1% · worse

Care nearby

Beebe Medical CenterLewes · 0.5 mi · ER

La Red Health Center Main CampusGeorgetown · 15.1 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 Lewes · CMS · HRSAHealth in Lewes →

Natural hazards in Lewes

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 26% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌀 Hurricanes🥶 Cold waves

98Does Lewes flood?paid flood claims since 1981 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Lewes

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

Climate in Lewes

Full climate →

Lewes has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

47° / 31°Winter

63° / 45°Spring

84° / 67°Summer

68° / 51°Fall

How much snow does Lewes get?About 11 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 14, with the last in spring around Mar 29.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 Lewes →

Schools in Lewes

All Lewes schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Lewes’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 76% of Delaware’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#3Best public schoolsof 31 in DE

DistrictCape Henlopen School DistrictSchools2

Lewes Elementary School A+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 620 students Frederick D Thomas Middle SchoolMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 451 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.