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City · 8,485 residents · Sussex County, Delaware

Seaford , Delaware

In Seaford, a typical home is worth $224,300 and typical rent is $1,176 a month. Compared with all of Sussex County, the typical home value is 41% lower, typical household income is 34% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 32 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $224,300

    41% below the county

    36% below Delaware

    • Seaford
    • Sussex
    • Delaware

  • Typical rent

    $1,176a month

    5% below the county

    16% below Delaware

    • Seaford
    • Sussex
    • Delaware

  • Typical household income

    $54,016a year

    34% below the county

    36% below Delaware

    • Seaford
    • Sussex
    • Delaware

  • Households that own their home

    50%

    32 points below the county

    23 points below Delaware

    • Seaford
    • Sussex
    • Delaware

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$317,388
1.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Seaford is in Sussex County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Sussex County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Seaford apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Seaford has the lowest typical home value of the 21 cities in Delaware with more than 5,000 people: $224,300.

  2. 50% of households in Seaford own their home, against 82% in Sussex County.

  3. The typical household income in Seaford is $54,016, 34% less than in Sussex County as a whole ($81,497).

  4. Seaford has the 2nd lowest typical rent of the 20 cities in Delaware with more than 5,000 people ($1,176).

  5. 13% of households in Seaford have no internet at home (7% in Sussex County).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Seaford

What homes there are in Seaford, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Seaford, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Sussex County, 7.

Year built

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,433 a month

Sussex County: $1,736 a month

Without a mortgage

$449 a month

Sussex County: $535 a month

Owners with a mortgage

73%

Sussex County: 56%

In Seaford, 73% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,433 a month, against $1,736 in Sussex County. Without one it drops to $449.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Seaford rose 32%; in Sussex County, it rose 48%.

Rents in Seaford rose faster than in Sussex County: 37% since 2015–2019, against 20%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSeafordSussex CountyDelawareUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.6%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.3%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.5%2.1%3.4%
People per household 2.332.382.482.53
Drive alone 73%75%72%69%
Carpool 17%8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate13%15%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Seaford has 2.33 people on average, about the same as in Sussex County (2.38).

In Seaford, 17% of workers share a car to get to work; in Sussex County, 8%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Seaford?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Seaford, worth $224,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 40% of the typical household income in Seaford, which is $54,016 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $76,284 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Sussex County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Seaford. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,851 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,780

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$220,237
Total interest
$316,869
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,788 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,260 a month

  • Tight

    $1,260 to $1,620 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,620 a month

    Your payment · 40%

Compared with the typical household income in Seaford ($54,016 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,780
Principal & interest$1,492
Property tax$95
Home insurance$94
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$99

You need at least $7,851 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Seaford and Sussex County

Seaford is in Sussex County, Delaware. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Seaford's own numbers

Typical home value
$224,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,176
Typical yearly household income
$54,016
Households that own their home
50%
Effective property tax rate
0.51%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Sussex County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,498
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+57%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
15%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Sussex County.

Everything about Sussex County

Buying

Buying a home in Seaford

A typical home in Seaford is worth $224,300: 41% below the county and 36% below Delaware. With the typical household income in Seaford ($54,016 a year), a typical home costs 4.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Seaford 4.2 years
  • Sussex 4.7 years
  • Delaware 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Sussex County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Sussex County rose 85% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Sussex County.

Period County Delaware U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.3% +3.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +57% +51% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +85% +74% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Seaford next to Sussex County, Delaware and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Seaford $224,300
  • Sussex $382,600
  • Delaware $352,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Seaford $1,176
  • Sussex $1,238
  • Delaware $1,401
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Seaford $54,016
  • Sussex $81,497
  • Delaware $84,954
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Seaford next to Sussex County and Delaware
Measure Seaford Sussex County Delaware U.S.
Typical home value $224,300 $382,600 $352,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,176 $1,238 $1,401 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $54,016 $81,497 $84,954 $80,734
Households that own their home 50% 82% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,151 $1,222 $1,768 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.51% 0.32% 0.5% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 53% 53% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Sussex County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Seaford

For a typical $224,300 home in Seaford, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Seaford's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,780a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,851
    Cash to close
    $14,580
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $99

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,739a month

    Down payment
    $11,215
    Cash to close
    $17,944
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $107

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,404a month

    Down payment
    $44,860
    Cash to close
    $51,589
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,612a month

    Down payment
    $33,645
    Cash to close
    $40,374
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Seaford and for Sussex County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Seaford

0.51%of the home’s value each year

$1,151 a year for the typical owner in Seaford.

  • Seaford 0.51%
  • Sussex 0.32%
  • Delaware 0.5%

What Delaware publishes School property tax credit for owners 65 and older (Delaware Department of Finance)

Exemptions and deadlines in Delaware

Flood risk in Sussex County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Sussex County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
15%
17,440
Of those, with NFIP insurance
61%
County Delaware U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 15% 5.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 61% 58% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Seaford

Typical rent in Seaford is $1,176 a month: 5% below the county. In Seaford, 53% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Sussex County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,498 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.81 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Sussex County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,140 $21.92 $45,600
1 bedroom $1,147 $22.06 $45,880
2 bedrooms $1,498 $28.81 $59,920
3 bedrooms $1,843 $35.44 $73,720
4 bedrooms $2,222 $42.73 $88,880

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Seaford

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Seaford is in ZIP code 19973.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,370: $128 less than the fair market rent for Sussex County ($1,498).

  • 19973 $1,370$1,690

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Seaford when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Seaford

HUD lists 18 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Seaford. These are the largest.

  • Seaford Meadows Apartment 13 Seaford Meadows Dr, Seaford 19973 120 low-income homes · For families (302) 629-6416
  • Seaford Meadows Preservation Apartments 122 Seaford Mdws, Seaford 19973 121 homes, 117 low-income · 1 bd: 40 · 2 bd: 43 · 3 bd: 38 · In service since 2006
  • Chandler Heights 81 Kimbrough Ct, Seaford 19973 88 low-income homes · For families (302) 629-6522
  • Woodland Mills I 900 Woodland Mills Dr, Seaford 19973 66 homes, 65 low-income · In service since 1997
  • Yorktowne Woods 101 Independence Dr, Seaford 19973 35 low-income homes · In service since 2001

See all 85 buildings in Sussex County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Seaford

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Sussex County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Seaford

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Seaford or Sussex County. The ones below are statewide in Delaware: they work in Seaford the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Delaware

  • Home Sweet Home

    Statewide in Delaware

    Delaware state authority second loan of $12,000 at 0%, forgiven 10% for each year you live in the home (all of it after 10 years), for homes up to $285,000; the agency announced it as a temporary program. Offered by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Keys4You Home Loan

    Statewide in Delaware

    Delaware state authority 0% second mortgage equal to 4% of your mortgage, for the down payment and closing costs, with no monthly payments until you sell, refinance or stop living in the home; with the Welcome Home (first-time buyers) or Open Door (any buyer) mortgages. Offered by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Take5 Home Loan

    Statewide in Delaware

    Delaware state authority 0% second mortgage equal to 5% of your mortgage, for the down payment and closing costs, with no monthly payments until you sell, refinance or stop living in the home; only with the Welcome Home mortgage for first-time buyers. Offered by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Seaford

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Seaford, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Telamon Corporation - Seaford Branch

    4 E Laurel St, Georgetown · 12 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (410) 546-4604

  • First State Community Action Agency, Inc

    308 N Railroad Ave, Georgetown · 13 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    (302) 856-7761

  • Neighborgood Partners - Georgetown

    110 S. Bedford Street, Georgetown · 13 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Creole.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (302) 855-1370

Every agency in Sussex County All counseling agencies in Delaware

Help in Spanish near Seaford

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Seaford

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Sussex County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Delaware Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Sussex County

These cities are also in Sussex County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Sussex County Housing in Delaware

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Seaford, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Sussex County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Seaford.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Seaford

Short answers with the numbers for Seaford and all of Sussex County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Seaford?

The typical home value in Seaford is $224,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Sussex County it is $382,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Seaford?

Typical rent in Seaford is $1,176 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Sussex County is $1,498.

What is the FHA loan limit in Seaford?

Seaford uses the FHA limit for all of Sussex County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Seaford?

The typical homeowner in Seaford pays $1,151 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.51% of the home’s value; in Sussex County, the rate is 0.32%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Seaford?

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Sussex County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).