PlainZIP

Fenwick Island, DE · standard

ZIP Code 19944

Sussex County, Delaware — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

620
189/sq mi
$121,250
Median income
$1,189,300
Median home value
53.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Fenwick Island pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 9%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 1%
home value, US ZIPs
189
people per sq mi
92%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 19944 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 19944 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 3.3 square miles in Fenwick Island, Sussex County, Delaware. The area is home to 620 residents, producing a population density of 189 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 19944 against Delaware and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 19944 sits at $121,250 (35% above the Delaware average), while per-capita income is $96,184. The poverty rate stands at 1.9% and the unemployment rate at 3.3%. On housing, the median home value is $1,189,300 (215% above the state average) with median rent at $1,393 per month, and 91.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 19944 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 53.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 69.8, and the average commute is —. We also surface 6 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Sussex County, so you can benchmark 19944 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 19944

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 19944.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 19944, Fenwick Island, DE · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

620

Population

3.3

Area (sq mi)

189

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 19944?

69.8

Median Age

53.5%

Male

46.5%

Female

0.6%

Foreign-Born

White 86.9%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.4%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$121,250

Median Household Income

+35% vs state

$96,184

Per Capita Income

1.9%

Poverty Rate

3.3%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 19944 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$121,250 Top 9% higher than 91% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). This entry sits in this band. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 64.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 53.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

1,609

Total Housing Units

297

Occupied Units

1,312

Vacant Units

2.14

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 91.9%
Renter 8.1%

$1,189,300

Median Home Value

+215% vs state

$1,393

Median Rent

1985

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+13.4%

YoY Change (2021)

307

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+207%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 19944 have increased 13.4% over the past year (2021). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +207% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2017 +16.7% 266
2018 -22.4% 206
2019 -7.7% 190
2020 +42.0% 270
2021 +13.4% 307

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2021. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 80 business establishments in ZIP 19944, employing approximately 599 people with a combined annual payroll of $27,914,000.

80

Businesses

599

Employees

$27.9M

Annual Payroll

5

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 26 32.5%
Retail trade 23 28.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 10 12.5%
Other services (except public administration) 7 8.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 3 3.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 19944 vs 19930 →

ZIP 19944 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 19944 ranks #6 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 19944 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 19944 ranks #3 of 7 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
19930 Bethany Beach, DE 2,768 5.2 mi
19975 Selbyville, DE 8,253 6.5 mi
19970 Ocean View, DE 6,170 6.3 mi
19967 Millville, DE 354 5.7 mi
21842 Ocean City, MD 11,089 7.4 mi
21813 Bishopville, MD 2,852 6.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Sussex County

19966 standard
Millsboro, DE
Pop: 24,601
19973 standard
Seaford, DE
Pop: 23,838
19958 standard
Lewes, DE
Pop: 19,650
19963 standard
Milford, DE
Pop: 19,206
19947 standard
Georgetown, DE
Pop: 18,799
19956 standard
Laurel, DE
Pop: 15,500

Related Areas

Sussex County Fenwick Island, DE Delaware

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 19944 in? ▼
ZIP code 19944 (Fenwick Island) is located in Sussex County, Delaware. Sussex County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/sussex-de.
What is the population of ZIP code 19944? ▼
ZIP code 19944 in Fenwick Island, DE has a population of 620 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 19944? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 19944 is $121,250, which is 59% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 19944? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 19944 is $1,189,300, which is 328% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 19944? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 19944 is White at 86.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 19944? ▼
ZIP code 19944 has 80 business establishments employing approximately 599 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 19944? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 19944 are: Accommodation and food services (26), Retail trade (23), Real estate and rental and leasing (10). There are 5 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 19944? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 19944 increased by 13.4% in 2021. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 207%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 19944? ▼
In ZIP code 19944, 64.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 53.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 19944? ▼
In ZIP code 19944, approximately 91.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 8.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 19944? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 19944 is 1.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Fenwick Island, DE

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.