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Buying a home in Fenwick Island, Delaware

The typical owner-occupied home in Fenwick Island is worth about $1,394,700, 4.0 times the Delaware median of $352,000 and 4.2 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,500 a year in property taxes, about 0.18% of their home's value, lower than the Delaware rate of 0.50%. The median household earns $113,125 a year, so the median home costs 12.3 times the median income (4.1 times for Delaware). 95% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 46% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Fenwick Island at a glance

Fenwick Island Delaware U.S.
Median home value $1,394,700 $352,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,500 $1,768 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.18% 0.50% 0.94%
Median household income $113,125 $84,954 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 95% 73% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 46% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,885 $1,816 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 23.0% 20.0% 21.0%
Median rent $1,438 $1,401 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.5% 29.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1987 1987 1980
Vacant homes 72.0% 13.4% 10.1%
Population 401 1,021,191 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Fenwick Island

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Fenwick Island home of $1,394,700 with 20% down costs about $8,296 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $10,844, 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 $355,548 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 88% of the median Fenwick Island household income of $113,125; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $444,000.

The median rent here is $1,438 a month, so owning the median home costs about $6,858 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$278,940
Loan amount$1,115,760
Principal and interest$7,506
Property taxes (0.18% a year)$209
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$581
PMI$0
Total per month$8,296

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$48,814
Loan amount$1,369,438
Principal and interest$9,212
Property taxes (0.18% a year)$209
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$581
FHA mortgage insurance$841
Total per month$10,844

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Questions about home buying in Fenwick Island

What is the median home value in Fenwick Island?

About $1,394,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Fenwick Island?

Homeowners pay a median $2,500 a year, which is about 0.18% 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 Fenwick Island?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $8,296 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $355,548 a year.

More about Fenwick Island

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