#1Townsend
New Castle County · 2,985 peopleStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: walkability C+
B−CostASafetyA−SchoolsAHealthAJobsC+WalkA−Hazards
Townsend, #1 on this list · Photo: Smallbones · CC BY-SA 3.0Delaware rankings · 2026
Best small towns in Delaware
Townsend ranks first of Delaware’s 26 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A+: jobs & income (A) and safety (A) are its strongest grades; walkability (C+) is its lowest. 6 of the 26 (23%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
#1A+
#2Lewes
Sussex County · 3,826 peopleStrongest: walkability A, schools A−·lowest: safety B−
BCostB−SafetyA−SchoolsB+HealthBJobsAWalkBHazards
#3Claymont
unincorporated, New Castle County · 8,786 peopleStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living B
BCost–SafetyBSchoolsB+HealthB+JobsAWalkAHazards
Where they are: Seven of the top 10 are in New Castle County.
All 26 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 37 Delaware towns.
26 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
1TownsendNew Castle County · 2,985 people73.4top 2.7%A+Strongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: walkability C+
2LewesSussex County · 3,826 people68.2top 9.7%AStrongest: walkability A, schools A−·lowest: safety B−
3Claymontunincorporated, New Castle County · 8,786 people68.2top 9.8%AStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living B
4Pike Creekunincorporated, New Castle County · 7,129 people64.0top 19.0%A−Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: cost of living C
6Greenvilleunincorporated, New Castle County · 3,713 people62.5top 22.7%A−Strongest: health A+, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D
7Wilmington Manorunincorporated, New Castle County · 8,214 people62.0top 23.8%A−Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A·lowest: schools C
8North Starunincorporated, New Castle County · 7,834 people61.5top 25.5%B+Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C
9ClaytonKent County · 4,527 people61.0top 27.0%B+Strongest: jobs & income A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living C+
10MiltonSussex County · 3,860 people58.8top 32.4%B+Strongest: schools A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C+
11Edgemoorunincorporated, New Castle County · 6,349 people58.1top 34.5%B+Strongest: walkability A+, hazard risk B+·lowest: jobs & income C+
12Highland Acresunincorporated, Kent County · 3,752 people58.0top 34.6%B+Strongest: walkability A, jobs & income B+·lowest: health C
13Rising Sun-Lebanonunincorporated, Kent County · 4,163 people57.9top 34.9%B+Strongest: jobs & income A−, schools B+·lowest: cost of living C
16SelbyvilleSussex County · 3,381 people54.8top 43.3%BStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: safety C
17New CastleNew Castle County · 5,726 people52.8top 48.9%B−Strongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D
18Ocean ViewSussex County · 3,107 people52.1bottom 49.2%B−Strongest: safety A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C−
19HarringtonKent County · 3,974 people51.4bottom 47.3%B−Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B+·lowest: safety C−
21Riverviewunincorporated, Kent County · 2,596 people48.6bottom 39.8%C+Strongest: hazard risk A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability D
22ElsmereNew Castle County · 6,196 people47.8bottom 37.3%C+Strongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk C
23Dover Base Housingunincorporated, Kent County · 2,962 people47.4bottom 36.4%C+Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
25CheswoldKent County · 2,653 people46.5bottom 34.1%CStrongest: hazard risk B+, walkability B+·lowest: health D
26MillsboroSussex County · 7,890 people45.7bottom 32.0%CStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: safety C−
27CamdenKent County · 4,176 people45.2bottom 30.7%CStrongest: hazard risk A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: safety D
30BridgevilleSussex County · 2,997 people40.5bottom 20.1%C−Strongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income C
34SeafordSussex County · 9,165 people32.7bottom 7.8%DStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: safety D−
35LaurelSussex County · 4,557 people32.5bottom 7.6%DStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B+·lowest: safety D−
36GeorgetownSussex County · 8,291 people31.5bottom 6.4%DStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability B+·lowest: safety D−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Delaware. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in Delaware?
Among 26 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Townsend (New Castle County) ranks first, with an A+; jobs & income (A) and safety (A) are its strongest grades; walkability (C+) is its lowest. Lewes and Claymont follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Delaware. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (26 in Delaware). 17 smaller places have subject grades only; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Delaware page.
Go deeper
All Delaware rankings →More Delaware lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live37 towns · #1 TownsendMost affordable towns37 towns · #1 Wilmington ManorSafest towns22 towns · #1 TownsendTowns with the best schools37 towns · #1 Lewes and MiltonHealthiest towns37 towns · #1 North StarBest towns for jobs & income37 towns · #1 Pike CreekMost walkable towns37 towns · #1 WilmingtonTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk37 towns · #1 Wilmington ManorBest towns for the outdoors37 towns · #1 LewesMost historic towns37 towns · #1 New CastleTowns with the most civic life22 towns · #1 LewesTowns with the least snow37 towns · #1 LaurelDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns37 towns · #1 BearDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters34 towns · #1 Ocean ViewDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers34 towns · #1 SeafordDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers34 towns · #1 Ocean ViewDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes37 towns · #1 HockessinDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes36 towns · #1 HarringtonDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns21 towns · #1 MilfordDescribed, no letters
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