How much does it cost to rent in Lewes, DE?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Lewes, DE is $2,339. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Lewes cheaper than other Delaware cities?

Lewes is one of the pricier cities in Delaware, ranking #3 out of 10 cities tracked at $2,339/mo.

When was Lewes rent data last updated?

Lewes rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Lewes, DE?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Lewes, DE at $1,800 per month, which is 23% below the $2,339 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · DE

Lewes

Name: Average Rent Prices in Lewes, DE
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 3,505·3rd most expensive in Delaware·Rental market data updated monthly for Lewes, DE

Median rent (all units)

$2,339/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.8%

Month-over-Month

+7.8%

vs US Median

+$377

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Lewes · $2,339

More expensive than 74% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

29% of income

AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,339/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$94,000/yr

Local median income

$96,393/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Lewes's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,330

1 BR

$1,370

2 BR

$1,800

3 BR

$2,270

4 BR+

$2,830

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,800/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,339 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$28,068/yr

At $2,339/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 1.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.8% YoY, +7.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Lewes, DE is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 67.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

3,505

Median income

$96,393

Median age

67.2

Renters

12.9%

Age distribution

15.6%

59.3%

Under 186.4%

18–347.3%

35–5411.4%

55–6415.6%

65+59.3%

Gender

49.4%

50.6%

Male49.4%

Female50.6%

Race & ethnicity

92.9%

White92.9%

Black3.6%

Hispanic0.8%

Asian0.5%

Other2.2%

Education (25+)

12.8%

15.6%

67.8%

No HS diploma3.8%

HS diploma12.8%

Some college15.6%

Bachelor's+67.8%

Housing tenure

87.1%

12.9%

Owner87.1%

Renter12.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Lewes, DE has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,045 → $2,339

up 14.4%

Income

$78,125 → $96,393

up 23.4%

Population

3,257 → 3,505

up 7.6%

Renter share

17.1% → 12.9%

-4.2 pts

Bachelor's+

58.5% → 67.8%

+9.3 pts

Median age

65.7 → 67.2

+1.5 yrs

The median rent in Lewes, DE stood at $2,045 in 2023 and currently runs about $2,339, reflecting a 14.4% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $78,125 to $96,393 between 2021 and 2024, a 23.4% shift. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 7.6% since 2021, moving from about 3,257 residents to roughly 3,505. Renters now make up 12.9% of households, compared with 17.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 67.8% of adults here, versus 58.5% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Lewes, DE reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Lewes

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View Lewes rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lewes on your salary?

At $2,339/mo, how Lewes rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 29.1% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 41% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 35.6% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 19.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 15.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 43.8% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 48.5% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 39.4% income

stretched

By apartment size

Lewes rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Lewes. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lewes

About renting in Lewes, DE

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Lewes is $2,339/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,330/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,800/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,370/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,270/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($96,393/yr), Lewes ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Lewes an affordable city for renters?

Lewes is considered affordable for renters. At $2,339/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($96,393/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Lewes falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Lewes?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $94,000/year (~$45/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,339/mo in Lewes. The local median household income is $96,393/yr, meaning the typical Lewes household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Lewes?

Rent in Lewes has increased 1.8% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Lewes rent compare to other cities in Delaware?

Lewes is one of the pricier cities in Delaware for rent, ranking #3 out of 10 tracked cities at $2,339/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lewes?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Lewes ($2,339/mo): Wildwood ($1,900/mo), Ocean City ($1,925/mo), Milford ($2,021/mo).

What percentage of Lewes residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 12.9% of Lewes households are renters, while 87.1% are owner-occupied. Lewes leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.