Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Delaware has seen a blend of population rises and falls across its cities and towns.
Roughly 43 out of 51 municipalities with over 1,000 residents have experienced growth over the last five years, while a little more than a handful have seen populations go down over the same period, according to World Population Review.
Overall, the state’s population has grown by roughly 21% since 2006 – in large part fueled by migration and retirees – and with that growth comes new challenges.
Explore the First State locales that have seen the biggest population shifts since the pandemic, as the state must consider how to adapt.
An in-depth look: Five years after COVID-19 lockdowns, how Delaware has shifted, changed through these eyes
Top 10 Delaware localities facing population change
The slowest-growing municipalities in Delaware from 2020 to 2025 include:
Woodside East, -1.38% drop from 2,167 to 1,923 residents
Rodney Village, -1.26% drop from 1,165 to 1,258 residents
Pike Creek, -1.13% drop from 6,987 to 6,744 residents
Riverview, -0.67% drop from 2,557 to 2,224 residents
Dover Base Housing, -0.5% drop from 3,620 to 3,215 residents
Newark, -0.48% drop from 30,599 to 29,882 residents
Elsmere, -0.36% drop from 6,224 to 6,112 residents
Brookside, -0.01% growth from 13,741 to 14,325 residents
New Castle, 0.05% growth from 5,540 to 5,555 residents
Pike Creek Valley, 0.17% growth from 11,346 to 11,511 residents
Visitors enjoy the crowded Rehoboth Beach in this file photo. Overall, the state’s population has grown by roughly 21% since 2006 – in large part fueled by migration and retirees.
In contrast, the fastest-growing municipalities in Delaware include:
St. Georges, 7.17% growth from 1,045 to 1,630 residents
Milford, 4.73% growth from 11,310 to 14,608 residents
Cheswold, 4.57% growth from 1,934 to 2,472 residents
Camden, 3.55% growth from 3,727 to 4,495 residents
Ocean View, 3.04% growth from 2,662 to 3,120 residents
Millville, 3.03% growth from 1,857 to 2,177 residents
Clayton, 3% growth from 3,990 to 4,671 residents
Millsboro, 2.94% growth from 6,943 to 8,099 residents
Milton, 2.93% growth from 3,342 to 3,897 residents
Blades, 2.93% growth from 1,179 to 1,372 residents
Where does Delaware go from here?
A recent report from the state Chamber of Commerce found several different shifts are affecting Delaware’s ascent.
In addition to migration and age-related influx, the study also found Delaware is currently facing a dwindling labor pool, a declining birth rate and limited housing supply, with many calling for “data-driven action.”
To maintain socioeconomic strength and competition, the chamber recommended First State leaders focus on five key areas: workforce development, infrastructure and other business climate improvements, as well as acknowledging housing shortages and standard of living concerns.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Which Delaware cities saw sharpest population change post-pandemic?