The typical owner-occupied home in Sussex County is worth about $382,600, 9% above the Delaware median of $352,000 and 15% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,222 a year in property taxes, about 0.32% of their home's value, lower than the Delaware rate of 0.50%. The median household earns $81,497 a year, so the median home costs 4.7 times the median income (4.1 times for Delaware). 82% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 56% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Sussex County at a glance
| Sussex County | Delaware | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,600 | $352,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,222 | $1,768 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.32% | 0.50% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $81,497 | $84,954 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 82% | 73% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 56% | 64% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,736 | $1,816 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.5% | 20.0% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,238 | $1,401 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 31.6% | 29.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1999 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 29.9% | 13.4% | 10.1% |
| Population | 255,626 | 1,021,191 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Sussex County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Sussex County home of $382,600 with 20% down costs about $2,320 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,958, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $99,448 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 34% of the median Sussex County household income of $81,497; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $314,000.
The median rent here is $1,238 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,082 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $76,520 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $306,080 |
| Principal and interest | $2,059 |
| Property taxes (0.32% a year) | $102 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $159 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,320 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $13,391 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $375,670 |
| Principal and interest | $2,527 |
| Property taxes (0.32% a year) | $102 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $159 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $169 |
| Total per month | $2,958 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Sussex County
What is the median home value in Sussex County?
About $382,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Sussex County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,222 a year, which is about 0.32% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Sussex County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,320 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $99,448 a year.
More about Sussex County
- Mortgage Refinance in Sussex County
- Debt Relief in Sussex County
- Home Equity Loans in Sussex County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data