Shh! Don't let anyone else know

The secret has been out for a long time now. Every time a major travel or lifestyle magazine publishes a list of the best places to retire, Sussex County (usually Lewes or Rehoboth Beach) always appears at or near the top of the list.

Let's face it, we know the reasons why people retire here, with low property taxes and no sales tax at the top of the list. New residents have told me on several occasions that their monthly property tax bill in New Jersey or Pennsylvania is equal to what they pay in a year in Sussex County.

And people are drawn to the water like some primeval rite of passage. In fact, 40% of the U.S. population lives along the coasts that include only 10% of the country's land mass, excluding Alaska.

Many retirees are selling their homes, taking the proceeds and purchasing homes in Sussex, and many have lots of cash to use for down payments or outright cash sales.

A Wall Street Journal article let the cat out of the bag in 2010 when it proclaimed Sussex County as one of the most popular retirement destinations in the Northeast.

Parade magazine recently published a list from a United Van Lines study (odd, I know) that picked Delaware and Montana as the No. 1 retirement destinations in 2020. I know it says Delaware, but we all know it's really Sussex County.

According to the study, “Many newcomers are East Coasters who find bliss in the Sussex County sand, charm, parks and low-key lifestyle. A big target: the Delaware beaches – anchored by Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, where President Biden has a home. And the state’s famous tax friendliness isn’t just for corporations. Social Security income isn’t taxed, there’s no sales tax and property taxes are low.”

The study shows that 41% of people move here to retire, 25% for family reasons, 24% for jobs, 13% for the lifestyle and 4% for health (families could give more than one reason).

Travel+Leisure

Another you-better-retire-here story appeared in a recent website post from Travel+Leisure magazine that reported on a Bank Rate survey ranking that Delaware is the second-best state to retire after Iowa, noting that it “combines high-quality healthcare and a light tax burden.”

Additionally, it found, Delaware offers a rich history, plenty of quaint small towns and communities full of character, beautiful nature, and proximity to urban areas such as Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Unsurprisingly, Delaware’s ocean coastline attracts the most interest from retirees. Once again, it's Sussex County where they are retiring. It's not just the ocean either, because Delaware Bay communities are also popular retiree destinations.

Bill Cullin, a local Realtor and broker, was quoted in the story, “Lewes and Rehoboth are the topmost popular places at the beach in Delaware. To the west of these two towns are several new or newer planned communities that offer all of the amenities – and they are all within a few miles of the beach.”

While the rate of the population over 65 is 30% in Sussex County, in Lewes the median age is 66 years, with 54% of the population aged 65 and over.

“Visitors are drawn to Rehoboth Beach for its cosmopolitan feel, the multitude of great restaurants, shopping and the Boardwalk. Rehoboth is also close to the outlets and movie theaters,” Cullin said. “And with a median age of 64 years, the town has a large retirement community with an active social life.”

One of the downsides is that housing in and around Lewes and Rehoboth Beach is not even close to cheap, with the median home value in Lewes at more than $573,000 and more than $757,000 in Rehoboth Beach. And the closer you get to the sand, the more you will pay for housing. The prices and soaring mortgage rates don’t seem to deter retirees.

And as land for housing development in the beach area is starting to become scarce, builders are heading west toward Georgetown, Milton, Millsboro and Long Neck.

Retirees looking for more affordable housing in the $300,000 range can find it in these areas. Milton is another fast-growing town that is attractive to retirees because of the ambience of the historic town and its proximity to beaches.

Cullin said communities in those inland areas within 30 to 35 miles of the beaches are offering amenities that retirees want, such as pools, pickleball courts, nice clubhouses, lawn care and organized community activities.

And don't forget about golf courses. Within a 50-mile radius, there are more golf courses than you could play in a lifetime.

There are many age-restricted communities in the county, including the newly approved Raley Farm with 646 lots on 351 acres near Georgetown and Millsboro. Also on the list are Heritage Shores in Bridgeville, Independence between Lewes and Long Neck, Truitt Homestead in Rehoboth Beach, Four Seasons at Belle Terre near Lewes, Village of Cinderberry in Georgetown and many others.

Reasons to move here

In a DelawareBeaches.com posting: “Sussex County is a beacon for retirees. Its blend of coastal charm, rich history and relaxed living makes it an ideal retirement destination. Sussex County is a mosaic of unique towns, each offering its flavor of retirement life. Whether you seek historical charm, beachfront living or lakeside tranquility, there’s a place for every retiree in this picturesque county. Before making a decision, consider visiting these towns to get a firsthand experience of their offerings.”

They listed the following benefits to retiring here: high-quality healthcare is both well-regarded and easily accessible. Many towns, even small ones, have hospital systems, specialty offices and more.

When you move to Delaware, you can expect lower taxes on income, sales and property purchases.

Seniors often want to forget about yard work as they get older. In Delaware, you won’t be shoveling feet of snow, or boarding up your house to keep it safe from tornadoes and hurricanes, because of the mild weather.

However, the “mild weather” theme has been changing over the years, with more coastal storms and flooding in many low-lying areas in the county.

Sussex County also has extremely active senior centers, which are sometimes now called activity centers. They provide meals, special events, exercise classes, trip options and much, much more.

Trend will continue

Contrary to what you have read here, not every newcomer is a retiree. Families with children are moving here as well. The proof of that is the growth of the Cape Henlopen and Indian River school districts, and the issues administrators are having keeping up with the pace of growth.

The population of the state's fastest-growing county backs up the onslaught of retirees with a rate of more than 20% between 2001-21 to nearly 240,000, or about 2% per year.

Nearly all of our friends and acquaintances (family not included) are come-heres who either moved here to retire or moved to a second home here when they retired. And more and more people are moving into their second homes and live here year-round. That's one reason why traffic seems to always be heavy.

There doesn't seem to be any end to retirees relocating in the county. The increase is double-edged, with the benefits of great restaurants, more stores, more live music and events, and an influx of volunteers, but there are also some downsides including more and more traffic throughout the year.

As long as publications and websites promote how great the area is for retirees, it will only continue.