Real Estate Investing in Milton, Delaware (19968)

Sussex County • Population: 14,791 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 19968 (Milton, DE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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: 15.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Milton, DE (19968)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $485,917
Avg Monthly Rent $1,800
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $77,454
% Renters 11.3%

Market Analysis: 19968 Milton

ZIP 19968 in Milton, DE carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $486K and rents of $1,800/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $486K asset, 19968 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 19968 among DE's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

On balance, 14,791 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Milton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,800/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 19968

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$134,259/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $367,943 $1,550 3.0% +8.1% $183,972
3BR $473,936 $1,950 3.0% +8.0% $157,979
4BR $584,208 $2,410 3.0% +7.3% $146,052
5BR $671,293 +7.7% $134,259

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$508K$449K$390K$331K$272K$213KMay 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 19968 Compare?

Metric 19968 Milton Salisbury, MD-DE Delaware
Home Value $485,917 $485,917 N/A $397,840
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,800 $1,800 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 19968? Click to expand

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

📊 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.
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Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 19968 (Milton, DE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $485,917
Monthly Rent $1,800
Price-to-Rent 22.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
15.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19968

Population: 14,791

💰 Median Household Income
$77,454
This area
$77,454
State
$82,016
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.3%
This area
11.3%
State
21.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-26.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
38.5%
This area
38.5%
State
2.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
52.2 years
This area
52.2 years
State
-1.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.6%
This area
15.6%
State
13.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.6%
Black/African American 6.5%
Other/Mixed 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.3%
Asian 2.4%
👶 Under 18
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.6%
This area
29.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
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 19968

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.4:1 Avg Class Size
$25,178 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

H. O. Brittingham Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
497 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$25,178 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mariner Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
682 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,178 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Milton Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
565 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,178 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
C
Margaret H Rollins School of Nursing at Beebe Medical Center
43 students · 7.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are eviction rules reasonable in Milton, DE?

Milton, DE operates under DE law, which is balanced overall for landlords. Expect reliable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How strong is tenant demand in Milton, DE?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Milton, DE. The rental market absorbs $1,800/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How do home values compare in Milton, DE?

The median home value in Milton, DE is roughly $486K. That puts it reasonable relative to the DE statewide average.

How should investors approach Milton, DE?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Milton, DE. With home values at $486K and rents near $1,800/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.

What kind of market is Milton, DE for investors?

Milton, DE scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $486K and rents near $1,800/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

See what 19968 really looks like for investors

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