Is being in an area of Delaware that’s growing quickly a good thing or a bad thing?
Depends on who you ask.
Some want bigger, more exciting cities like Wilmington and Dover, while others want peace and quiet like in New Castle and Elsmere, thank you very much.
But today, we’re going to put opinions aside and look at the cold, hard facts — since 2010, which cities in Delaware have grown the fastest.
After getting knee-deep in the Census’s American Community Survey using Saturday Night Science, we emerged with this set of cities in the First State that have people climbing over each other to get in.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
What’s the fastest growing city in Delaware for 2024? Based on the most recent ACS data, Millsboro ranks as the fastest-growing city in Delaware. If you happen to be a resident of Millsboro, you’re probably not surprised to find it on our list.
If you’re surprised — and you’re wondering why these places are a big deal — keep reading. We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 places in Delaware grow like weeds.
For more Delaware state reading:
- Best Places To Live In The United States
- Fastest Growing States In The United States
- Best Places To Live In Delaware
- Cheapest Places To Live In Delaware
- Most Dangerous Cities In Delaware
The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In Delaware For 2024
1. Millsboro
/10
2. Middl
/10
Population: 23,573
Population 2010: 16,648
Percent Growth 41.6%
Absolute Growth: 6,925
More on Middl: Data | Real Estate
3. Smyrna
/10
Population: 12,870
Population 2010: 9,330
Percent Growth 37.9%
Absolute Growth: 3,540
More on Smyrna: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
4. Claymont
/10
Population: 10,191
Population 2010: 7,511
Percent Growth 35.7%
Absolute Growth: 2,680
More on Claymont: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
5. Milford
/10
Population: 11,714
Population 2010: 9,180
Percent Growth 27.6%
Absolute Growth: 2,534
More on Milford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
6. Bear
/10
Population: 23,070
Population 2010: 18,748
Percent Growth 23.1%
Absolute Growth: 4,322
More on Bear: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
7. Edgemoor
/10
Population: 6,485
Population 2010: 5,378
Percent Growth 20.6%
Absolute Growth: 1,107
More on Edgemoor: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
8. Georg
/10
Population: 7,247
Population 2010: 6,154
Percent Growth 17.8%
Absolute Growth: 1,093
More on Georg: Data | Real Estate
9. Seaford
/10
Population: 8,055
Population 2010: 6,945
Percent Growth 16.0%
Absolute Growth: 1,110
More on Seaford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
10. Dover
/10
Population: 38,879
Population 2010: 35,474
Percent Growth 9.6%
Absolute Growth: 3,405
More on Dover: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Measured The Fastest Growing Cities In the First State for 2024
To figure out which cities are growing the most, we used Saturday Night Science to look at the growth rates for cities since the beginning of the decade, according to the American Community Survey put out by the census every year. Specifically:
- Current Population
- Population in 2010
- Growth rate from 2010 to Current (The latest available data which came out in Dec 2022)
We ranked all 21 Delaware cities with a population over 5,000 people from highest growth rate to lowest.
The city with the highest growth rate during this time was crowned the fastest-growing city in the First State.
And for those of you who are a little rusty with their statistics, you can calculate the growth rate by the following formula:
[Current Population – Population 2010] / [Population 2010]
The data has been updated for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the fastest growing cities in Delaware.
Here’s a graph of the cities in Delaware with the most significant percent increase in population:
Summary: These Places Grew Up So Fast In Delaware, You Know?
So there you have it, the fastest growing cities in Delaware are led by Millsboro which has been growing at a blistering pace this decade relative to other cities and towns around the state.
The fastest-growing cities in Delaware are Millsboro, Middl, Smyrna, Claymont, Milford, Bear, Edgemoor, Georg, Seaford, and Dover.
It’ll be interesting to see if these places can keep growing at the same rate over the next couple of years. We’ll be here to let you know!
These places have been growing (or shrinking) the slowest (fastest):
- Pike Creek
- Glasgow
- Newark
For more Delaware reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Delaware
- Safest Places In Delaware
- Worst Places To Live In Delaware
Fastest Growing Places In Delaware For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | Population 2010 | Growth | Absolute Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millsboro | 6,876 | 3,640 | 88.9% | 3,236 |
| 2 | Middl | 23,573 | 16,648 | 41.6% | 6,925 |
| 3 | Smyrna | 12,870 | 9,330 | 37.9% | 3,540 |
| 4 | Claymont | 10,191 | 7,511 | 35.7% | 2,680 |
| 5 | Milford | 11,714 | 9,180 | 27.6% | 2,534 |
| 6 | Bear | 23,070 | 18,748 | 23.1% | 4,322 |
| 7 | Edgemoor | 6,485 | 5,378 | 20.6% | 1,107 |
| 8 | Georg | 7,247 | 6,154 | 17.8% | 1,093 |
| 9 | Seaford | 8,055 | 6,945 | 16.0% | 1,110 |
| 10 | Dover | 38,879 | 35,474 | 9.6% | 3,405 |