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DEDelaware rankings

Top vacation-home towns in Delaware

Ranked by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. 36 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Map of Ocean View 1 Ocean View 45.7% Home value $514,200 Lewes 2 Lewes 32.3% Home value $826,100 Map of Milton 3 Milton 7.4% Home value $407,000
#TownSeasonal homesHome valuePopulation
1 Map of Ocean View Ocean View2,851 people 45.7% $514,200 2,851
2 Lewes Lewes3,505 people 32.3% $826,100 3,505
3 Map of Milton Milton3,567 people 7.4% $407,000 3,567
4 Selbyville3,097 people 7.4% $432,900 3,097
5 Map of Millsboro Millsboro7,424 people 4.6% $332,600 7,424
6 Milford12,803 people 2.6% $296,900 12,803
7 Dover Base Housing2,962 people 1.4% — 2,962
8 Map of New Castle New Castle5,579 people 1.3% $285,100 5,579
9 Georgetown7,660 people 1% $281,400 7,660
10 Newark30,330 people 0.9% $382,500 30,330
11 Map of Laurel Laurel4,152 people 0.9% $230,300 4,152
12 Map of Pike Creek Valley Pike Creek Valley12,431 people 0.8% $340,300 12,431
13 Bear Bear22,370 people 0.7% $304,800 22,370
14 Map of Wilmington Wilmington71,727 people 0.4% $231,400 71,727
15 North Star7,834 people 0.4% $583,700 7,834
16 Dover Dover39,837 people 0.3% $258,900 39,837
17 Middletown Middletown24,661 people 0% $409,600 24,661
18 Glasgow Glasgow15,546 people 0% $373,900 15,546
19 Map of Brookside Brookside15,115 people 0% $279,700 15,115
20 Map of Hockessin Hockessin13,439 people 0% $568,800 13,439
21 Smyrna Smyrna13,165 people 0% $291,400 13,165
22 Claymont Claymont8,786 people 0% $276,600 8,786
23 Seaford8,485 people 0% $224,300 8,485
24 Map of Wilmington Manor Wilmington Manor8,214 people 0% $240,600 8,214
25 Map of Pike Creek Pike Creek7,129 people 0% $422,500 7,129
26 Map of Edgemoor Edgemoor6,349 people 0% $290,400 6,349
27 Elsmere Elsmere6,203 people 0% $225,800 6,203
28 Clayton4,222 people 0% $361,300 4,222
29 Map of Rising Sun-Lebanon Rising Sun-Lebanon4,163 people 0% $389,900 4,163
30 Map of Camden Camden4,106 people 0% $300,100 4,106
31 Harrington3,838 people 0% $221,900 3,838
32 Map of Highland Acres Highland Acres3,752 people 0% $306,400 3,752
33 Map of Greenville Greenville3,713 people 0% $1,062,500 3,713
34 Townsend2,832 people 0% $465,100 2,832
35 Bridgeville2,745 people 0% $400,900 2,745
36 Map of Riverview Riverview2,596 people 0% $319,900 2,596

How this ranking works

We rank every town by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. The town with the highest figure ranks #1. For comparison, the figure for Delaware as a whole is 8.5%.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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