Home Insurance in Dewey Beach, Delaware
Homes in Dewey Beach carry a median value of $961,300 - 151% higher than the Sussex County median.
The typical home in Dewey Beach was built around 1985. About 12% of homes were built before 1960, about 3 points above Sussex County's 9%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
Housing in Dewey Beach breaks down to 46% single-family homes, 31% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
53% of owner-occupied homes in Dewey Beach carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
The vacancy rate is 87%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 88% of occupied homes in Dewey Beach are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Dewey Beach - 77% - are primarily heated with electricity. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
Sussex County's top FEMA-rated hazard is coastal flooding (Very High), per FEMA's National Risk Index. Sussex County had 21,528 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Sussex County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
In Delaware, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,196 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $961,300 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1985 |
| Owner-occupied share | 88% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 53% |
| Top county hazard | Coastal Flooding (Very High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Sussex County | 21,528 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,196 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)