Delaware
Which county in Delaware is the best to retire in? Plus, how it compares with others
Greenville home designed and built by top architect and engineer
At 1006 Westover Road, Greenville, the 9,125-square-foot Tudor-style mansion includes six bedrooms, five bathrooms and two powder rooms
It’s no secret that Delaware is regarded as a retirement haven.
From quiet suburbs to quaint coastal neighborhoods, there’s plenty to choose from when it comes to how you want to spend your Golden Years. Many Delaware towns have been touted as some of the best places in the nation to retire in, but there’s one county that is better than the rest.
Best Delaware county to retire in
SmartAsset, a financial technology company, gathered data on the three regional factors – tax-friendliness, medical care, and social opportunities –that affect the quality of life for retirees.
This information was used to calculate the amount of sales taxes paid and the amount of disposable income left over. Resources like the number of doctor’s offices, recreation centers and retirement centers per 1,000 residents in each location and the number of seniors in each city were calculated. Each location was then ranked based on these three factors, with the highest ranking being the best place to retire.
The best county for retirement in Delaware is Sussex County, according to the data.
Sussex received an overall score of 76.87. The tax burden is listed as 9.9%, with 1.23 medical centers, 0.53 recreation centers and 0.03 retirement communities per 1,000 people. The percentage of seniors in Sussex County is 27.9%.
Kent County is the second best for retirement in Delaware with an overall score of 68.64. Kent ties with Sussex at 9.9% for tax burden and 0.03 for retirement communities per 1,000 people. Kent has fewer medical centers per 1,000 people than Sussex, at 1.05, and more recreation centers per 1,000 people than Sussex, at 0.76. Kent’s population is 17.1% seniors.
New Castle County ranks the lowest in the state for retirement with a score of 67.32. New Castle has the highest tax burden at 10.1%; the second-highest number of medical centers per 1,000 people at 1.21; the second-highest number of recreation centers per 1,000 people at 0.56; and the highest number of retirement communities per 1,000 people at 0.04. In New Castle County, seniors are 15.6% of the population.
Overall, these findings leave Delaware with a tax burden of 10%; 1.16 medical centers per 1,000 people; 0.54 recreation centers per 1,000 people; 0.03 retirement communities per 1,000 people; and a population including 20.2% seniors.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
Is Jersey Mike’s the new fast‑food king? How it beat Chick‑fil‑A
Jersey Mike’s beats Chick-fil-A for top customer satisfaction in ACSI study; praised for fresh, made-to-order subs.
Plans for one of the nation’s most popular fast-food chains to open a location in the city of Delaware are moving forward.
Chick-fil-A is planning a new 5,033-square-foot restaurant with a double drive-through lane on a nearly 2-acre site on Delaware’s east side.
The development plans are headed to Delaware City Council after the city’s Planning Commission approved them July 1.
This location would be the first Chick-fil-A in the city of Delaware, but not in the county. The chain has a location in Lewis Center and three in the Polaris area, according to the company’s website.
The popular chicken restaurant, a Chipotle location and other to-be-announced restaurants and retail are part of a new Trailhead Crossing development planned on the eastern edge of Delaware near Sunbury Road (State Route 36) and Sky View Lane, documents indicate. City council approved rezoning the site in February.
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The restaurant will include 92 indoor seats, an outdoor patio with 20 seats and 68 parking spots, planning documents show.
An internal access drive connecting to Sky View Lane from the west and Biltmore Drive from the north will be built within the site and will connect to all the lots within the Trailhead Crossing development. The access from Sky View Lane will be right-in/right-out only. The site will not have access directly from Sunbury Road, city documents state.
Chris Tebbe, an engineer with the Dublin-based firm Tebbe Civil Engineering, didn’t know an exact opening date for the restaurant, but said once plans are approved by the City Council, crews will be working on the location this year into next year.
Delaware County and eastern Columbus suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 10:19PM
ASTON, Pa. (WPVI) — Summer camps are in full swing, and on Wednesday the Action Cam was in Aston, where kids are getting some hands-on learning at Delaware County Technical School.
Middle school students are exploring career pathways as they build, cook, design and create in state-of-the-art classrooms.
They are doing everything from carpentry to cosmetology.
By the end of camp, the kids will create STEAM-based projects that they can take home.
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Across the State Trained AmeriCorps VISTA members will be on-site at 21 Delaware Libraries providing walk-in assistance for digital literacy
DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Libraries today announced the launch of a 10-week summer program aiming to support Delawareans on digital literacy.
The AmeriCorps Digital Literacy Specialists assist the public with computer and technology questions, including completing online applications, navigating websites, and building basic digital skills. As patrons become more comfortable, specialists can introduce them to the many free computer training programs and learning resources available through Delaware Libraries including in-person classes. This project is an initiative of the Division’s Social Innovation Team.
“Libraries are proud to expand their digital literacy specialist supports this summer with a presence in 21 Delaware Libraries,” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian of Delaware. “The digital landscape is ever evolving, and the Delaware Libraries stands at the ready to help Delawareans navigate AI, software skills, social media concepts, and more.”
There is no appointment needed for a meeting or to ask a question to a Specialist.
The Specialists are trained to support many concepts, including:
- Essential Software Skills
- Personalized Assistance
- Workplace Technology
- AI – Understanding & Help
- Basic Computer Skills & Classes
- Social Media Help
- Navigate Internet, Avoid Scams
- Using Tech in Daily Life, Device Help
- Learning Express, Northstar Certification
- And Much More!
Visit DelawareLibraries.org/Digital to view a full schedule of Specialists. For more services visit DelawareLibraries.org/GetConnected!
Delaware Libraries offer specialty library cards for every age group, including a My First Delaware Library Card for birth to age 5, a Super Library Card for children ages 6–12; a Teen Delaware Library Card for ages 13-17 and Delaware Library cards for everyone.
Sign up for a Delaware Library Card today! It’s Easy! It’s Free! It’s Online!
Instructions in Spanish are also available. (En el sitio web de las bibliotecas de Delaware se pueden encontrar instrucciones en español para obtener una tarjeta de biblioteca gratuita de Delaware)
Programming celebrating the Delaware Libraries’ 125th anniversary will continue throughout the year.
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