Your life in Kent County, Delaware

What stands out

Three things set Kent County apart from the other 3,142 counties: home internet speed is in the top 2% of American counties (317 Mbps), the overdose death rate is in the top 7% of American counties (37 per 100,000), and the property tax rate is in the bottom 10% of American counties (0.47%).

Where you are

You live in Kent County, Delaware. 182,400 people live here with you. The population grew 1.1% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +1,788).

Delaware has no sales tax, low property taxes and a graduated income tax that tops out at 6.6%. More than a million business entities are incorporated in the state because of its Court of Chancery. Sussex County beaches draw retirees from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland; the state does not tax Social Security and exempts up to $12,500 of pension and retirement income for residents 60 and over.

Money

The typical household here brings in $69,278 a year, higher than 73% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $57,464. 6% of workers work from home.

Delaware takes 5.1% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,556 a year.

Home

The median home costs $372K, pricier than 82% of American counties, about 3.3 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,158 a month. Property tax is 0.47% of home value, roughly $1,291 a year on that median home, lower than 90% of American counties. 70% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 57% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 37 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 76.0 years, longer than 51% of American counties. There are 365 active physicians in the county, about 20.0 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.0 of 5 stars. 7.8% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.23 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 73% of American counties. 89% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 6 points. 65% of eligible voters turned out. Under Delaware law you need local approval to carry a concealed handgun, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 56°F, highs near 66 and lows near 47, warmer than 53% of American counties. About 39 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 85 out of 100, riskier than 85% of American counties; the county has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 317 Mbps down, faster than 98% of American counties. There are 13 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.6 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 breweries, 9 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Delaware tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.