Real Estate Investing in Milford, Delaware (19963)

Sussex County • Population: 22,544 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 19963 (Milford, DE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 12.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Milford, DE (19963)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $352,474
Avg Monthly Rent $2,225
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,572
% Renters 35.6%

Market Analysis: 19963 Milford

ZIP 19963 in Milford, DE carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $352K and rents of $2,225/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $2,225/mo on a $352K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 19963 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 19963 sits on the difficult end of the DE spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 19963 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Milford averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 19963 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.49% as of Jun 25 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Milford:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,225/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Salisbury, MD-DE Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
66 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.3%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of June 20, 2026 — updated weekly from Salisbury, MD-DE metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 19963

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$94,230/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $259,395 $1,350 3.7% +9.0% $129,698
3BR $343,683 $1,880 3.9% +8.2% $114,561
4BR $423,291 $2,080 3.5% +8.2% $105,823
5BR $471,148 +8.1% $94,230

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$367K$325K$283K$242K$200K$158KMay 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,311$2,204$2,097$1,990$1,883$1,777Sep 2025Jan 2026May 2026

📊 How Does 19963 Compare?

Metric 19963 Milford Salisbury, MD-DE Delaware
Home Value $352,474 $352,474 N/A $397,840
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $2,225 $2,225 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.9% 4.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 19963? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 36% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 19963 (Milford, DE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $352,474
Monthly Rent $2,225
Price-to-Rent 13.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.6%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 10.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
12.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19963

Population: 22,544

💰 Median Household Income
$62,572
This area
$62,572
State
$82,016
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.6%
This area
35.6%
State
21.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-26.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.6%
This area
27.6%
State
2.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.4 years
This area
43.4 years
State
-1.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.0%
This area
12.0%
State
13.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.1%
Black/African American 16.4%
Other/Mixed 10.6%
Hispanic/Latino 7.6%
Asian 1.9%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.2%
This area
8.2%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 19963

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
16.3:1 Avg Class Size
$15,512 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Banneker (Benjamin) Elementary School

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,512 Per Student
A Very Good

Ross (Lulu M.) Elementary School

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
689 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,512 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mispillion Elementary

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
572 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,512 Per Student
B Good

Milford Central Academy

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,058 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,512 Per Student
B Good

Milford Senior High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,315 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,512 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby
B
Polytech Adult Education
631 students · 13.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What strategy should investors use in Milford, DE?

In Milford, DE the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $352K prices and $2,225/mo rents suits that approach.

How strong is the working-renter base in Milford, DE?

Tenant quality in Milford, DE ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $2,225/mo.

Is real estate in Milford, DE a good investment right now?

Investors tracking Milford, DE will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $352K median home values and $2,225/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting consistent returns.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Milford, DE?

Expect elevated vacancy in Milford, DE. Rents at $2,225/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Can I house hack in Milford, DE?

The house hack math a challenging in Milford, DE. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $2,225/mo rents and $352K home values.

See what 19963 really looks like for investors

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