Sussex County, Delaware

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.3 | 263,509 people · 3rd most distressed in Delaware
American Default Research

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Sussex County, DE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.3 — 1878th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Delaware, it ranks 3rd of 3 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Sussex County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 61.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 61.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 89
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 81
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 13
Rent-to-Income Ratio 54
Employment & Wages 55.8
Unemployment Rate 83
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 82
Business Formation Rate 3
Income & Poverty 39.2
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 50
Child Poverty Rate 46
Community Vulnerability 38.1
Uninsured Rate 39
Disability Rate 37
Debt & Delinquency 36.8
Debt in Collections 32
Medical Debt 26
Student Loan Delinquency 34
Auto Loan Delinquency 54
Credit Card Delinquency 33
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 42

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Sussex County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Sussex County
Sussex County, DE 46.3 Normal —
Dorchester County, MD 62.7 Elevated +16.4
Kent County, DE 61.4 Elevated +15.1
Wicomico County, MD 59.3 Elevated +13.0
Caroline County, MD 59.2 Elevated +12.9
Cape May County, NJ 51.2 Elevated +4.9
Worcester County, MD 47.8 Normal +1.5

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Sussex County
Essex County, MA 46.4 Normal +0.1
Stark County, OH 46.4 Normal +0.1
Knox County, TN 46.5 Normal +0.2
Montgomery County, TX 46.1 Normal -0.2
Charleston County, SC 46.5 Normal +0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Sussex County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Sussex County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Sussex County.

FIRST STATE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, INC
Georgetown
302-856-7761
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
NEIGHBORGOOD PARTNERS - GEORGETOWN
GEORGETOWN
302-855-1370 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase
TELAMON CORPORATION - SEAFORD BRANCH
Seaford
410-546-4604 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Delaware →

Find an Attorney

Delaware State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Delaware State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 302-658-5279

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Sussex County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) 302-575-0660
Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS) 302-478-8680
Legal Services Corporation of Delaware 302-575-0408

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Delaware →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Sussex County, Delaware?

    Sussex County has a County Distress Index score of 46.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,878th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in Delaware out of 3 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sussex County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sussex County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 61.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Sussex County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sussex County (46.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Dorchester County, MD (62.7); Kent County, DE (61.4); Wicomico County, MD (59.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of Sussex County?

    Sussex County, Delaware has a population of approximately 263,509 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.