Appreciation Velocity — Delaware Cities
Cities of Delaware ranked by 1Y / 3Y / 5Y home-price appreciation.
Public Record
Top 10 — 3Y appreciation (Citys)
#1 · Delmar, DE
+494.7%
#2 · Harbeson, DE
+180.5%
#3 · Seaford, DE
+167.5%
#4 · Georgetown, DE
+148.8%
#5 · Clayton, DE
+140.5%
#6 · Hartly, DE
+132.4%
#7 · Millsboro, DE
+121.5%
#8 · Dewey Beach, DE
+112.1%
#9 · Harrington, DE
+110.9%
#10 · Dagsboro, DE
+107.4%
City ranking — 3Y appreciation (highest first)
| # | City | State | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Current median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delmar, DE | DE | +41.5% | +494.7% | +138.2% | +132.0% | $520.1K |
| 2 | Harbeson, DE | DE | -19.8% | +180.5% | +29.0% | +38.4% | $614.2K |
| 3 | Seaford, DE | DE | +41.5% | +167.5% | +73.6% | +121.7% | $439K |
| 4 | Georgetown, DE | DE | -32.0% | +148.8% | +40.6% | +96.2% | $341.9K |
| 5 | Clayton, DE | DE | +24.2% | +140.5% | +54.9% | +130.7% | $420K |
| 6 | Hartly, DE | DE | +2.8% | +132.4% | +139.9% | +66.9% | $336.7K |
| 7 | Millsboro, DE | DE | -30.0% | +121.5% | +32.7% | +77.4% | $419.7K |
| 8 | Dewey Beach, DE | DE | +95.1% | +112.1% | +102.6% | +256.9% | $1.75M |
| 9 | Harrington, DE | DE | -26.8% | +110.9% | +37.1% | +64.3% | $260K |
| 10 | Dagsboro, DE | DE | +17.6% | +107.4% | +73.2% | +194.3% | $520.7K |
| 11 | Lincoln, DE | DE | +71.0% | +91.0% | +142.8% | +175.2% | $594.6K |
| 12 | Wilmington, DE | DE | -15.0% | +89.7% | +69.9% | +56.9% | $361.8K |
| 13 | Bethany Beach, DE | DE | +42.3% | +87.5% | +85.8% | +256.9% | $1.59M |
| 14 | Selbyville, DE | DE | +43.3% | +84.4% | +115.3% | +118.9% | $864.3K |
| 15 | Townsend, DE | DE | +15.5% | +77.3% | +60.6% | -15.2% | $481.5K |
| 16 | Frederica, DE | DE | -23.3% | +76.3% | +55.5% | +143.4% | $484.9K |
| 17 | Felton, DE | DE | -3.1% | +76.0% | -57.6% | +110.9% | $378.9K |
| 18 | Newark, DE | DE | +11.2% | +73.3% | -29.8% | +64.7% | $402.3K |
| 19 | Lewes, DE | DE | -40.0% | +70.2% | +121.9% | -6.0% | $728.4K |
| 20 | Camden Wyoming, DE | DE | +53.9% | +56.6% | +68.9% | +121.9% | $480K |
| 21 | Hockessin, DE | DE | -0.4% | +51.4% | +39.3% | +62.5% | $633.5K |
| 22 | Laurel, DE | DE | +13.9% | +51.4% | +78.0% | +141.0% | $322.1K |
| 23 | Greenwood, DE | DE | +5.2% | +44.0% | +88.6% | +20.6% | $305K |
| 24 | Dover, DE | DE | -3.9% | +38.6% | -52.9% | +0.9% | $277.5K |
| 25 | Smyrna, DE | DE | -15.8% | +34.4% | +19.5% | +43.3% | $356.8K |
| 26 | Bear, DE | DE | +11.0% | +25.4% | +24.4% | +74.4% | $439.6K |
| 27 | Milton, DE | DE | -36.2% | +20.8% | +93.7% | +23.0% | $545.7K |
| 28 | Rehoboth Beach, DE | DE | -42.8% | +20.3% | -5.4% | +81.2% | $801.1K |
| 29 | Milford, DE | DE | +12.8% | +19.4% | +62.5% | +142.1% | $461.5K |
| 30 | Fenwick Island, DE | DE | +39.2% | +15.3% | +150.5% | +195.6% | $2.1M |
| 31 | Millville, DE | DE | +11.1% | -7.3% | +69.3% | +69.7% | $550K |
| 32 | Middletown, DE | DE | -6.5% | -8.6% | +42.4% | +55.5% | $480K |
| 33 | Ocean View, DE | DE | -47.2% | -13.1% | -42.8% | -16.6% | $310K |
| 34 | Frankford, DE | DE | -12.8% | -24.0% | +29.0% | +150.5% | $514.3K |
| 35 | Ellendale, DE | DE | -48.6% | -24.7% | -15.2% | — | $180K |
| 36 | New Castle, DE | DE | -40.1% | -34.1% | -66.4% | +9.4% | $193.5K |
| 37 | Magnolia, DE | DE | -44.2% | -37.6% | -49.5% | -30.1% | $210.8K |
How to read these numbers
Velocity vs. level
A market with 25% one-year appreciation is moving fast — but a market with steady 6% over ten years has compounded much further. Use 10Y as the long-run signal, 1Y as the momentum signal.
Mean-reversion risk
Markets that posted huge 1Y and 3Y gains often cool over the next cycle. Compare 1Y to 5Y: if 1Y is far above 5Y, the trend is accelerating; if far below, it is decelerating — often the more important signal.
Sample sanity
We require a minimum current median price (default $50K) to filter out tiny ZIPs with noisy data. Raise that threshold for serious investment markets; lower it to find emerging niches. Source: public record.