What are the schools like in Lewes, DE?

Lewes is served primarily by Cape Henlopen School District. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Lewes?

The median household income in Lewes, DE is $87,458 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.0%.

What is the weather like in Lewes, DE?

Lewes has an average high temperature of 46.2°F in January and 87.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.5 inches.

Lewes, DE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lewes, DE affordable or expensive?

Lewes's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lewes is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $778,800 and the median rent is $1,354 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lewes, DE?

Lewes has a violent crime rate of 162.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 540.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lewes, DE a Good Place to Live?

Lewes is a small town of 3,339 in Delaware, with a median household income of $87,458 and a 1.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Lewes stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Lewes is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lewes city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.1

Lewes's overall cost of living index is 95.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lewes costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lewes, DE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$778,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,354	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	85.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$87,458	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lewes's violent crime rate is 162.0 per 100,000 residents — 57% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

162.0 /100k

Property Crime

540.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Lewes is served primarily by Cape Henlopen School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lewes, DE	National Avg
School District	Cape Henlopen School District	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	63.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lewes sees average highs of 46.2°F in January and 87.7°F in July, with 47.3 inches of annual precipitation and 10.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lewes, DE
Average High — January	46.2°F
Average High — July	87.7°F
Annual Precipitation	47.3"
Annual Snowfall	10.5"

Demographics

Metric	Lewes, DE	National Avg
Population	3,339	—
Median Age	66.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	5.9%	22.2%
65 and over	56.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Henlopen Acres, DE 5 mi Rehoboth Beach, DE 5 mi Dewey Beach, DE 7 mi Milton, DE 9 mi Long Neck, DE 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Lewes

Lewes, DE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

19958

Lewes vs Other Cities

Lewes, DE vs Henlopen Acres, DE Lewes, DE vs Rehoboth Beach, DE Lewes, DE vs Dewey Beach, DE Lewes, DE vs Milton, DE Lewes, DE vs Long Neck, DE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lewes, DE affordable or expensive?

Lewes's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lewes roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $778,800 and median rent is $1,354/month.

What is the crime rate in Lewes, DE?

Lewes's violent crime rate is 162.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 540.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lewes?

Public schools in Lewes are operated by Cape Henlopen School District. The district has 5 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 63.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lewes, DE a good place to live?

Lewes, DE has a population of 3,339, a median household income of $87,458, and an unemployment rate of 1.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lewes?

Lewes averages 46.2°F in January and 87.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.3 inches with about 10.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lewes?

Lewes, DE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 19958.

What is the population of Lewes?

The population of Lewes, Delaware is 3,339 with a median age of 66.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lewes?

Key numbers for living in Lewes: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $778,800, median household income $87,458, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lewes side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.