160 years in pictures
Census counts: 216 in 1910, 487 in 2020. The archive holds 10 old photos and papers going back to 1906 and 6 maps from 1918 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1866Ellendale is settled
Each edition grades its towns against each other only.

Among 38 Delaware towns, just 1 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Ellendale. Teddy's Tavern and Ellendale State Forest Picnic Facility is on the National Register of Historic Places. Ellendale has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Ellendale beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 216 in 1910, 487 in 2020. The archive holds 10 old photos and papers going back to 1906 and 6 maps from 1918 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ellendale, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Ellendale.
Most working residents leave Ellendale for work: only 1% work in town. Jobs based in Ellendale grew to 71 in 2023, 61 more than in 2013. At 28 minutes, Ellendale’s average trip to work is against 25 minutes in Delaware’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns.
| Ellendale | Delaware towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.5% | 5.1% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 8.2% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 69% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Ellendale has chilly winters and warm summers. At 88°F, Ellendale’s July high is close to Delaware’s towns (87°F) and above U.S. towns (85°F).
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The typical Ellendale home is worth about $351,000, up 1.3% in a year, 13% below the Delaware typical home. 80% of Ellendale households own their home.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
2 crimes were reported in Ellendale in 2025: 2 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Ellendale is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Ellendale beats the Delaware average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 18% of adults smoke cigarettes in Ellendale.
| Ellendale | Delaware towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 13% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 27% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 37% | 35% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 14% | 14% |
| What stands out | Ellendale | DE |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.8% | 9.1% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 20.9% | 13.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Ellendale; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Ellendale residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Delaware.
Where Ellendale’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Delaware, United States
Ellendale is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 487 at the 2020 census, an increase of 27.8% since the 2010 census, and a 48.9% increase since the year 2000. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. Ellendale is the "Gateway to Delaware's Resort Beaches" because it is the town located on U.S. Route 113, the resort area's westernmost border, and Delaware Route 16, the resort area's northernmost border with the eastern border being the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean and the southern border being the state line with Maryland.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Ellendale has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.