Delaware · 11 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in Delaware, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
- Fastest
- +24.5%
- Growing
- 10
- Shrinking
- 1
The 11 fastest-growing
Milford grew fastest, from 11,310 in July 2020 to 14,079 in July 2024, +24.5%. It is the 5th largest of the 11 places ranked. 10 places grew and 1 shrank or held flat; the median change was +3.3%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in Milford, +2,769 people. At the other end, Newark changed by -0.3%. Growth is measured between the July 2020 and July 2024 estimates for places with 5,000 or more residents in 2024, so fast growth from a small base can outrank larger absolute gains.
- 01Milford+24.5%
- 02Millsboro+13.3%
- 03Georgetown+12.6%
- 04Seaford+12.2%
- 05Middletown+9.8%
- 06Wilmington+3.3%
- 07New Castle+3.1%
- 08Smyrna+2.8%
- 09Dover+2.0%
- 10Elsmere+0.2%
- 11Newark-0.3%
Dots: the 11 places in the chart. Orange pin: Milford, ranked first.
All 11 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milford | 14,079 | +24.5% | Sussex County +1 |
| 2 | Millsboro | 7,864 | +13.3% | Sussex County |
| 3 | Georgetown | 8,098 | +12.6% | Sussex County |
| 4 | Seaford | 8,952 | +12.2% | Sussex County |
| 5 | Middletown | 25,686 | +9.8% | New Castle County |
| 6 | Wilmington | 73,176 | +3.3% | New Castle County |
| 7 | New Castle | 5,715 | +3.1% | New Castle County |
| 8 | Smyrna | 13,326 | +2.8% | Kent County +1 |
| 9 | Dover | 40,191 | +2.0% | Kent County |
| 10 | Elsmere | 6,234 | +0.2% | New Castle County |
| 11 | Newark | 30,506 | -0.3% | New Castle County |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in Delaware?
Milford, up 24.5% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 14,079 residents.
Which Delaware city added the most people?
Milford, which gained 2,769 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many Delaware cities are shrinking?
1 of 11 places of 5,000+ had the same or fewer residents in July 2024 than in July 2020.
Why use places of 5,000 or more?
Small towns can swing by double-digit percentages from a few new homes, and Census estimates for them carry more uncertainty. The 5,000 floor keeps the ranking to places where a percentage means something.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.