Swedish settlers arrived in Delaware Valley in 1638 and established a colony and by the latter part of the century, had built Old Swedes Church. Also named Holy Trinity Church, it is one of the oldest houses of worship still in use in the US today. 

 There are more horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay than anywhere else in the world. Native American Indians caught the crabs for food, and to use as a fertilizer on the land to produce better crops which continued well into the 1960s.

 The counties of the state that’s named after the Delaware River that runs nearby were also established by the European settlers. Extending to around 2,500 square miles, Delaware became an official state of the US in 1787. Industry flourished over the years and during WWII, concrete observation towers were built along the coast to protect Delaware Bay and the coastal towns. Today, eleven towers remain.

Delaware is home to 1,012,615 people, according to the 2020 census; while it is the second smallest state, it is also the most densely populated with an average of 484 people per square mile. The largest proportion of the population is white (68.76%); there are 22.18% Black/African Americans and 3.87% Asians. The median age in Delaware is 39.6 years and the average individual income is $62,319

If you are buying a house in Delaware, New Castle is the largest of the counties and is home to the assumed capital of the state, Wilmington. There are 559,335 people in New Castle with a median income per household of $68,211 and a median age of 51 years.

New Castle is a popular suburb in Delaware where families and retirees enjoy the calm, peaceful neighborhoods with friendly people nearby. There are a variety of scenic walking or cycling routes.

The second largest county is Sussex, which is home to 237,378 people, as of the 2020 census. With a mainly white (72.3%) population, the median income per household is $63,162, slightly less than in New Castle, and a median age of 49.6 years.  

Residents of Sussex love the access to beautiful sandy beaches and views over plenty of farmland. Housing in Sussex is affordable, most of which is owned with only around 20% of property in Sussex rented. The county is also home to excellent schools, including highly rated Beacon Middle School and Rehoboth Elementary School.

The smallest of the three counties in Delaware is Kent with a population of 181,851 people from mainly white (57.6%), black (25.1%) and Hispanic (7.6%) backgrounds. The median income per household in Kent is $60,910 and the median age is 37.7 years.

The least populated of Delaware’s counties, the stunning natural scenery makes it a favorite with its residents. It is affordable to buy land or a house in Kent county, and is home to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

Whether you’re a first time house buyer or a serial real estate investor, Delaware is definitely a place to spend on buying a house or purchasing land. The one thing you have to consider as an investor though is that there is low demand for rentals. Most residents of Delaware own their homes. However, invest in the right places, like Rehoboth Beach, which is also popular with tourists and you could be benefiting from healthy returns in the holiday rentals market.

 If you’re looking for a great place to bring up a family or retire, that has a thriving job market, growing economy, affordable housing, low taxes and plenty of things to do and see, you won’t go far wrong in Delaware.