It’s that time of year again, HomeSnacks has ranked the best places for families in Delaware; and this year, The First State’s most family friendly places really brought their A-game. But, before we let you in on Delaware’s top ten best places for families, we should tell you a little bit about how we determined the state’s most family friendly places for 2026.
First, we consulted the US Census on places in Delaware with more than 2,000 residents. We looked at several factors including crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We then entered it into our snackability formula and ended up with 22 family friendly Delaware places that any family would be lucky to call home. Are we at all surprised that some of Delaware’s best places to raise a family are also Delaware’s safest? Not at all. These two qualities usually go hand-in-hand. And in true Delaware fashion, the most family friendly places in this state are super safe, schools are top notch, unemployment is low, and there are a ton of safe activities for everyone.
And speaking of education, we know that Delaware is pretty tiny–it’s one of the least populated states in the country, and surprisingly, this state has 33 Blue Ribbon schools: five of which have been recognized nationally. Not to mention, universities, like the University of Delaware in Newark offer competitive degrees in engineering, business, and medicine. And, folks, educating the future of Delaware is a good thing because The Small Wonder has a lot to offer.
More importantly, if you’re looking for safe, family friendly cities and neighborhoods, amazing schools, large green spaces, and just overall good family friendly fun, keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Delaware For 2026
- Lewes
- Townsend
- New Castle
- Clayton
- Bridgeville
- Harrington
- Newark
- Smyrna
- Selbyville
- Ocean View
There might be some surprises on this list, but when you look at the unbiased data, it’s hard to argue against the numbers. We’ve had more than ten million people read our published articles and we’ve been featured in hundreds of media outlets for our best of the best rankings. So, yes, we know what we’re talking about.
So, what is the best place to raise a family in Delaware? Well according to the US Census Lewes is the best of the best if you care about a good education, low crime, and a high quality of life. And we’re pretty sure that you do.
To see how your favorite places in Delaware compared, take a look at the list below; and if you don’t see it there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Delaware and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Delaware
- Cheapest Places To Live In Delaware
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Delaware For 2026
/10
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Population: 2,832
Median Income: $153,000
Average Home Price: $497,294
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 55
Closest Major City: Baltimore
Households with kids: 48.5%
More on Townsend: Movers
/10
Population: 5,579
Median Income: $89,205
Average Home Price: $280,916
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 56
Closest Major City: Philadelphia
Households with kids: 22.3%
More on New Castle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
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Population: 2,745
Median Income: $64,879
Average Home Price: $356,953
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 37
Closest Major City: Baltimore
Households with kids: 22.4%
More on Bridgeville: Crime | Movers
/10
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Population: 30,330
Median Income: $76,912
Average Home Price: $364,095
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 41
Closest Major City: Philadelphia
Households with kids: 19.0%
More on Newark: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,165
Median Income: $67,048
Average Home Price: $400,874
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 61
Closest Major City: Baltimore
Households with kids: 40.5%
More on Smyrna: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 3,097
Median Income: $75,592
Average Home Price: $531,432
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 49
Closest Major City: Baltimore
Households with kids: 23.4%
More on Selbyville: Crime | Movers
/10
Population: 2,851
Median Income: $91,500
Average Home Price: $532,880
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Baltimore
Households with kids: 7.7%
More on Ocean View: Crime | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Delaware anyways?
To give you the places in Delaware that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Delaware, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 2,000 people. For Delaware, that meant a total of 22 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Delaware.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Delaware
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Delaware ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Delaware are Lewes, Townsend, New Castle, Clayton, Bridgeville, Harrington, Newark, Smyrna, Selbyville, and Ocean View.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Delaware according to the data:
- Seaford
- Laurel
- Milford
For more Delaware reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Delaware
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewes, DE | 3,505 | $96,393 | $588,290 | 52 |
| 2 | Townsend, DE | 2,832 | $153,000 | $497,294 | 36 |
| 3 | New Castle, DE | 5,579 | $89,205 | $280,916 | 51 |
| 4 | Clayton, DE | 4,222 | $107,307 | $405,885 | 40 |
| 5 | Bridgeville, DE | 2,745 | $64,879 | $356,953 | 55 |
| 6 | Harrington, DE | 3,838 | $72,679 | $275,983 | 33 |
| 7 | Newark, DE | 30,330 | $76,912 | $364,095 | 45 |
| 8 | Smyrna, DE | 13,165 | $67,048 | $400,874 | 42 |
| 9 | Selbyville, DE | 3,097 | $75,592 | $531,432 | 44 |
| 10 | Ocean View, DE | 2,851 | $91,500 | $532,880 | 39 |