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Sussex County attracts retirees, boosting demand despite high prices
Sussex County added 40,000 people since 2020, and HousingWire Data shows 3.7 months of supply and 168 average days on market.
Delaware’s Sussex County is seeing a surge in retiree migration, with the area adding 40,000 people since 2020, according to HousingWire, citing HousingWire Data and a Bloomberg report on the trend. Bloomberg reported that desirability of beach towns is driving an influx of baby boomers, and that the region offers potential economic advantages for newcomers, including lower home prices and no state sales tax. The same coverage said the senior influx is also straining local capacity, with complaints that roads, hospitals, and retail options are struggling to keep up with growth.
HousingWire Data’s look at Delaware county-level housing conditions shows Sussex County is closest to “buyer-friendly” dynamics, with 3.7 months of supply and 168 average days on market, even as the median list price sits at $575,000. The analysis also put Sussex’s weekly median new listing price at $487,000 for homes that entered the market during the week ending Aug. 21.
In contrast, HousingWire Data found New Castle County remains a seller’s market, while Kent County offers a slight advantage to sellers. The Market Action Index (MAI) ranges from 29.5 in Sussex County to 49.8 in New Castle County, with scores above 30 indicating seller-friendly conditions.