City profile · Delaware · Census ACS 2023

Fenwick Island, DE

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fenwick Island - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

383
Residents
$120,625
Median income
$1,337,500
Median home
$1,399
Median rent (state)

Fenwick Island - the verdict

Nationally, Fenwick Island sits in the 87th percentile for household income and the 25th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

87th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
54th
percentile, median rent
25th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fenwick Island, DE

Fenwick Island is a small town in Delaware, home to 383 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Fenwick Island households earn a median of $120,625 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Fenwick Island are valued around $1,337,500, and the median resident age is 68.6 years. 57.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 37.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2319.6 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Delaware tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Delaware scores 99.8 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,399 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Delaware run around $243, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 94.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

383 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Delaware

Median Household Income

$120,625 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

99.8 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Delaware average

How does Fenwick Island compare to other US cities?

Where Fenwick Island sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 87% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 54% pricier than other cities
Safety 25% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Delaware and the picture shifts: Fenwick Island ranks #17 of 31 Delaware cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Fenwick Island against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Delaware only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Delaware-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Fenwick Island near the bottom of Delaware's cities

Among the 79 Delaware cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Fenwick Island ranks #54 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fenwick Island only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#10 of 77
87th percentile in Delaware
Median Gross Rent
#54 of 79
0th percentile in Delaware
Median Home Value
#2 of 77
97th percentile in Delaware
Poverty Rate
#71 of 79
0th percentile in Delaware
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#12 of 79
85th percentile in Delaware

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Delaware only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

87thIncome percentile
25thSafety percentile

87th percentile nationally for median household income · 25th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fenwick Island's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fenwick Island's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 45 Avg. percentile National median
Fenwick Island's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Fenwick Island's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,337,500 1st percentile more affordable than 1% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Fenwick Island $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fenwick Island, DE Fenwick Island, DE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fenwick Island, DE-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fenwick Island, DE median $120,625/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fenwick Island, DE's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fenwick Island, DE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 57.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 37.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
383
Median Income
$120,625
Median Home Value
$1,337,500
Median Age
68.6
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
37.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
57.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2319.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
257.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2061.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
320 residents340 residents360 residents380 residents400 residents420 residents 202020212022202320242025 344 residents 398 residents ▲ +15.7%
Fenwick Island's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
66.9%
Carpool
0.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.0%
Work from Home
27.3%

Based on 139 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Delaware - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$243
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Delaware state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Delaware state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fenwick Island sits in

Cost of Living Index
99.8
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,399/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Delaware

Odessa
392 people
Kenton
362 people
Bethel
431 people
Slaughter Beach
431 people
Dewey Beach
328 people
Houston
456 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fenwick Island's 383 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cameron, IL
383 people
Tippecanoe, IN
383 people
Lockridge, IA
383 people
Ryan, IA
383 people
Williamsburg, KS
383 people
Round Lake, MN
383 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fenwick Island's $120,625 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Tazlina, AK
$120,625 median income
Trilla, IL
$120,625 median income
Vernon Hills, IL
$120,625 median income
Big Lake, IN
$120,625 median income
High Forest, MN
$120,625 median income
Denton, MO
$120,643 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fenwick Island, DE Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fenwick Island, DE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% White 98.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fenwick Island compares to nearby Delaware cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fenwick Island (this city) 383 $120,625
Odessa 392 $86,875
Kenton 362 $52,589
Bethel 431 $91,111
Census ACS 5-year FIPS DE FBI UCR OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fenwick Island, DE?

What is the population of Fenwick Island, DE? +

Fenwick Island, DE counts 383 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fenwick Island, DE? +

In Fenwick Island, the typical household earns $120,625 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fenwick Island? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fenwick Island; the closest available measure is the Delaware state average, a cost of living index of 99.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Delaware vary by metro area.

Is Fenwick Island, DE safe? +

Fenwick Island has a total crime rate of 2319.6 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Fenwick Island, DE? +

Fenwick Island's median home value sits at $1,337,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.