Communities
Why Move to Sussex County, DE?
Sussex County, Delaware is the largest county of three counties in Delaware. It is also one of the more diverse counties in the state. In Sussex County, you can find Farms, Subdivision Communities, Retirement Communities, Small Towns and Resort and Vacation Living all within a few minutes of each other.
Georgetown, DE is the geographic center of Sussex County making it an ideal place for the County Seat. The County Seat was moved from Lewes to Georgetown in the late 1700s to make voting in the county easier since it was a requirement for all voters to go to the county seat to vote at the time.
What brings people to Sussex County?
Our largest attractions are our beaches. We call them beaches here not “the shore” like in New Jersey. Rehoboth Beach and its sprawling Boardwalk are the top Summer Attractions in southern Delaware.
Our resort area is a very big draw due to its proximity to major metropolitan areas. A summer getaway is a mere 2 to 3-hour drive from major cities on the East Coast like:
- Washington, DC
- Baltimore, MD
- Wilmington, DE
- Philadelphia, PA
Southern Delaware has more to offer than the beach, sand, and Boardwalk. We have a variety of outdoor attractions such as nature trails, fishing, and boating. Families will enjoy our variety of attractions like mini golf, go-carts, water parks, and Funland Boardwalk Amusement Park. Don’t forget your golf clubs because we have plenty of golfing too. Learn more about what to do in Sussex County from Southern Delaware Tourism.
Another big draw to the area is our low tax rates. One of the reasons shopping is so popular at our Tanger Outlets is the NO SALES TAX. Delaware is one of only five states in the Nation without sales tax. We’re also the only one on the East Coast that has oceanfront properties.
Additionally, our low property taxes draw many first and second home buyers to the area as opposed to the heavily taxed Jersey Shore and Maryland beaches. In fact, Sussex County taxes property at 50% of the 1974 appraised value.
For more details on property tax, municipal taxes and school board taxes, visit the Delaware online Tax Center. You can also find information on our senior property tax relief requirements.
Small Town Charm
Besides the beaches, Sussex County is known for its small town charm. The area hosts a number of “locals-only” events during the off-season between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Including an annual Halloween parade, the only Return Day Celebration in the US and much more.
Sea Witch Halloween Festival
The Sea Witch Halloween Festival is a crowd favorite drawing thousands of participants and viewers every year. After nearly thirty years, local kids and adults as well as some out-of-towners flock to Rehoboth Ave and the Boardwalk to experience the entertainment.
The festival includes a 5K race, horse show, Halloween-themed beach games, Trick or Treating, Fiddler’s Festival, parade, costume contest, dog parade and dog costume contest, and much more over this weekend-long event.
Return Day Celebration
Return Day is a big draw for Georgetown. Every two years on the Thursday following the November elections, all Political Contestants including winners and losers for Federal, State and local offices take part in a parade through town. Then, they gather at The Circle in Georgetown to hear the Town Crier announce the results and take part in the ceremonial burying of the Hatchet.
This long-standing tradition dates back to colonial times. The celebration is two days after the elections because it would take that long for the results of the election to arrive by horseback when the event first started.
