Sign on Bethany Beach boardwalk showing distances to other cities. ZIP code 19930 covers Bethany … [+] Beach and ranks as the third most expensive ZIP code in Delaware.
Delaware is very famous for having no sales tax and promoting a very pro-business environment through favorable legislation. Countless corporations have their legal headquarters in Delaware even if they largely reside and operate outside the state. Thus, despite its small size, Delaware is a hub for economic activity, as well as generating wealth.
As part of an ongoing series, we’ve been analyzing ever state in the country in terms of what the most expensive ZIP codes are. Here, we’re investigating the most expensive ones in Delaware. Like so many other coastal states, Delaware possesses a line of beautiful beach towns, running from its southern border with Maryland, up to the mouth of the Delaware River in the north. But there are lesser well-known areas of the state that are surprisingly expensive.
Read on to find out the most expensive ZIP codes in Delaware in 2024, based on the latest data from Zillow’s home value index.
The Most Expensive ZIP Codes in Delaware
Harnessing data from Zillow’s home value index, as well as the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, we analyzed thousands of ZIP codes across the U.S. as part of a general survey. From there, we focused our attention on Delaware. The Zillow home value index tracks (as of September 2024) the home values of 59 ZIP codes in Delaware; it’s not many, but that’s expected for such a small state. As part of our analysis, we took into consideration the latest monthly home values Zillow has — September 2024 — as well as the average of 12 months of median home values from October 2023 to September 2024. While home values have grown immensely across America since the pandemic-induced buying frenzy, home value appreciation in Delaware stands out. One of the most expensive ZIP codes in Delaware witnessed home values surge by 84.8% over the last five years.
Check out the top three most expensive ZIP codes below.
The Top 5 Most Expensive ZIP Codes in Delaware
Delaware has some beautiful beaches along its long Atlantic coast, and — like in many other states — several of the most expensive ZIP codes in the state can be found here. The No. 1 most expensive ZIP code in Delaware is 19944. This is centered on the beach community of Fenwick Isle, near the southern border with Maryland. ZIP code 19944’s income distribution is similar to other beach towns, such as having a mean household income that’s far higher than its median: $187,646 mean income versus $100,357 median. This often occurs because local incomes aren’t as high as owners of second homes, plus the 31.4% of households earning $200,000 or more a year pull the mean income upward. The median home value witnessed excellent growth, rising by 54.7%, from $779,650 in September 2019, up to nearly $1.206 million in September 2024. The year-over-year might be even more impressive, with a growth rate of 7.8%.
The second most expensive ZIP code in Delaware — 19807 — is centered on a bedroom community northwest of Wilmington called Greenville. This area has many a nice home, plus some nice golf courses. This ZIP code runs right from the Wilmington border out to Delaware’s round border with Pennsylvania. Incomes here are much higher than in the No. 1 most expensive ZIP code. The median household income in ZIP code 19807 is $143,443, while the average household income is far, far higher, at $233,357. The median home value in ZIP code 19807 has risen considerably over the last five years. From a median of $693,903 in September 2019, home values increased by more than two-fifths, reaching a new peak of $976,245 by September 2024.
The third most expensive ZIP code takes us back to the beach. ZIP code 19930 covers Bethany Beach, a well-frequented vacation spot. A sizable minority of households — 29.9% — earn $200,000 or more per year. The median household income is less than this, $116,736, but the average household income reflects this high-earning minority, at $187,289. The median home value five years ago was $634,590 in September 2019. A year later, it hasn’t budged much, with ZIP code 19930 having a median home value of $655,976. But come September 2021 — amidst the pandemic-induced buying spree of the time — the median home value had risen to $883,702. And in September 2022, it reached nearly $1.013 million. As of September 2024, it’s down to $907,971.
