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Buying a home in Lewes, Delaware

The typical owner-occupied home in Lewes is worth about $826,100, 2.3 times the Delaware median of $352,000 and 2.5 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,027 a year in property taxes, about 0.25% of their home's value, lower than the Delaware rate of 0.50%. The median household earns $96,393 a year, so the median home costs 8.6 times the median income (4.1 times for Delaware). 87% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 47% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Lewes at a glance

Lewes Delaware U.S.
Median home value $826,100 $352,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,027 $1,768 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.25% 0.50% 0.94%
Median household income $96,393 $84,954 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 87% 73% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 47% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,257 $1,816 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.2% 20.0% 21.0%
Median rent $381 $1,401 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 34.0% 29.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1991 1987 1980
Vacant homes 42.6% 13.4% 10.1%
Population 3,505 1,021,191 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Lewes

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lewes home of $826,100 with 20% down costs about $4,962 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $6,471, 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 $212,661 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 62% of the median Lewes household income of $96,393; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $374,000.

The median rent here is $381 a month, so owning the median home costs about $4,581 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$165,220
Loan amount$660,880
Principal and interest$4,446
Property taxes (0.25% a year)$172
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$344
PMI$0
Total per month$4,962

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$28,914
Loan amount$811,137
Principal and interest$5,457
Property taxes (0.25% a year)$172
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$344
FHA mortgage insurance$498
Total per month$6,471

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Questions about home buying in Lewes

What is the median home value in Lewes?

About $826,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Lewes?

Homeowners pay a median $2,027 a year, which is about 0.25% 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 Lewes?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,962 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $212,661 a year.

More about Lewes

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