Sussex County, Delaware
25 ZIP codes · Avg score 83/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Within Sussex County's 25 tracked ZIP codes, safety indicators remain above the national average with few health-based violations on record.
How Sussex County Compares
How Sussex County Compares
Sussex County scores 2 points above the Delaware state average (81/100) and 15 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Sussex County, Delaware
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.8 (asthma 10.6%, diabetes 14.2%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,865, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.307% avg pipe failure probability, 8% of ZIPs at high risk
38.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Sussex County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 15 total (15 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,865
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
153,739 housing units in Sussex County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Sussex County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Sussex County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Sussex County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Sussex County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artesian Southern Sussex Regional | 18,015 | 10 |
| 2 | Bridgeville Water Department | 6,000 | 9 |
| 3 | Home Town Village of Cool Branch | 654 | 8 |
| 4 | Bethany Bay Pump District | 51,000 | 6 |
| 5 | Clearbrooke Estates Pump District | 768 | 6 |
84 total water systems serve Sussex County.
All ZIP Codes in Sussex County
25 ZIP codes tracked in Sussex County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19933 | Bridgeville | 95 | A | 0 | $231K |
| 2 | 19940 | Delmar | 95 | A | 0 | $226K |
| 3 | 19941 | Ellendale | 94 | A | 2 | $226K |
| 4 | 19967 | Millville | 94 | A | 3 (1 health) | $450K |
| 5 | 19947 | Georgetown | 93 | A | 4 | $294K |
| 6 | 19960 | Lincoln | 91 | A | 3 (1 health) | $276K |
| 7 | 19807 | Wilmington | 90 | A | 1 | $895K |
| 8 | 19945 | Frankford | 90 | A | 0 | $410K |
| 9 | 19950 | Greenwood | 89 | A | 3 (1 health) | $273K |
| 10 | 19956 | Laurel | 89 | A | 2 | $234K |
| 11 | 19969 | Nassau | 88 | A | 0 | — |
| 12 | 19951 | Harbeson | 87 | A | 0 | $428K |
| 13 | 19963 | Milford | 85 | A | 0 | $291K |
| 14 | 19970 | Ocean View | 84 | B | 2 | $490K |
| 15 | 19973 | Seaford | 84 | B | 2 | $254K |
| 16 | 19939 | Dagsboro | 83 | B | 1 | $365K |
| 17 | 19966 | Millsboro | 80 | B | 1 | $282K |
| 18 | 19968 | Milton | 80 | B | 0 | $419K |
| 19 | 19944 | Fenwick Island | 79 | B | 3 | $1160K |
| 20 | 19975 | Selbyville | 79 | B | 3 | $430K |
| 21 | 19930 | Bethany Beach | 75 | B | 0 | $798K |
| 22 | 19931 | Bethel | 73 | B | 0 | $276K |
| 23 | 19954 | Houston | 66 | C | 0 | $284K |
| 24 | 19958 | Lewes | 55 | C | 1 | $489K |
| 25 | 19971 | Rehoboth Bch | 55 | C | 0 | $561K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Sussex County
Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 1 ZIP code
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Sussex County, Delaware
Overview
Sussex County in Delaware covers 25 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (83/100).
14 of 25 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Delaware water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.