2012 · Townsend, Delaware · Wikimedia Commons
Townsend’s story
141 years in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
- 1885Townsend is settled
- 2012Townsend, Delaware
TownsendDE
A town of 2,832, settled in 1885. Public schools that outperform most of Delaware.
Photo: Smallbones · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
2,832
+32.6% since 2010
Typical home
$500K
+3.1% in a year
Household income
$153K
median
Median age
36.5
years
Jobs based here
281
A commuter town
What makes Townsend stand out
The 3 things Townsend does most differently from other towns.
A−School Grade
Schools
#12 for schools in DE
of 31 towns
School Grade A−.
100 U.S. towns● Townsend
Health
Healthier than 86%
of U.S. towns on CDC estimates
Better than DE on 13 measures, worse on 4.
100 U.S. towns● Townsend
Safety
Safer than 88%
of U.S. towns we grade
Safety Grade A. FBI data, crimes reported to police.
A growing town
Townsend has grown 32.6% since 2010
2,049 people in 2010; 2,832 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Townsend’s report card
SchoolsA−Beats 83% of DE districtsHealthAHealthier than 86% of U.S. townsSafetyALess crime than 88% of U.S. townsOutdoors1 miof trails · 15.9% conservedCommute20 miHalf of commuters travel lessHazards24/100Low risk of storm & flood damageHousing$500K23% above the DE typical homeClimate87°/25°Summer high · winter low · 20″ snow
Now in Townsend
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Townsend is #36 of 36 in DE for “Shortest commute”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Townsend’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →68°
Cloudy
H 0° · L 59°
Local news
All →- Buddy, Skipp Townsend, De'Aundre Bonds Break Down LA Street Politics on THE DROP After ShowBroadwayWorld · Sep 16
- Disturbing Townsend Case Leads to Suicide-Promotion ChargeMyChesCo · Aug 2
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Townsend. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Townsend’s public schools outperform 83% of Delaware districts
The public schools Townsend’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 83% of Delaware’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
A−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Townsend Elementary School | 1–5 | 435 | A− |
| Townsend Early Childhood Center | K | 176 | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within DE on state tests and graduationAll 2 schools →
Health
Healthier than 86% of U.S. towns
Townsend beats the Delaware average on 13 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4.
AHealth Grade
32 measures vs. Delaware
13 better15 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Townsend | DE |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 3.7% | 6.9% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 4.1% | 7.1% |
| More binge drinkers | 18.2% | 14.2% |
Christiana Hospital
19.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
89th
percentile among DE towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 88% of U.S. towns
Townsend reports less crime per resident than 88% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
ASafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Townsend1.7
Delaware3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Townsend2.7
Delaware15.8
U.S.15.5
88th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
97th
percentile among DE towns
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
8
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Outdoors
15.9% of Townsend is conserved land
0.9 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
15.9%conserved
15.9%
conserved · 114 of 715 acres
0.9 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
#16
most conserved land in DE
#17
most walkable in DE
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Townsend Municipal Park | 0.7 mi | 12 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Townsend
Most working residents leave Townsend for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Middletown (14%), Wilmington (8%) and New Castle (4%). Half commute less than 20 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Townsend1%
Middletown14%
Wilmington8%
New Castle4%
Dover4%
20 mi
median commute distance
281
jobs based in Townsend
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 24% of U.S. communities.
24risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
A typical Townsend home is worth about $500K
The typical Townsend home is worth about $500,000, up 3.1% in a year, 23% above the Delaware typical home.
$500KZillow home value
Typical home value
Townsend$500K
Delaware$406K
+3.1%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Townsend has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 20 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
20″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–45°
Spring43–64°
Summer65–85°
Fall47–67°
Nov 1
typical first frost
Apr 7
typical last frost
+1.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Townsend for work
Where Townsend’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
281jobs based in Townsend
1%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Townsend
4 notable people were born in Townsend.
About Townsend
Town in Delaware, United States
Townsend is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. As of the 2020 census, Townsend had a population of 2,717. The center of population of Delaware is located in Townsend.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1885
- Population
- 2,717
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 66 ft
- ZIP code
- 19734
- Area code
- 302
More about Townsend
Still missing for Townsend:upcoming events