The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 19953 sells for about $377,000, or $215 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.4% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 48 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,157 a month.
ZIP 19953 — Hartly
The Hartly housing market remains stable with moderate price appreciation and low inventory levels. Demand is supported by its affordability relative to the broader region, though buyers remain sensitive to interest rate fluctuations.
This ZIP is well-suited for families and commuters seeking a more affordable, rural lifestyle while remaining within a reasonable driving distance of Dover's employment and service centers.
Median prices moved up 2.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 48 days on market with 3.5 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
18% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.2% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 13.8% · poverty 6.2% — a mixed stability profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 19953, Kent County DE
Crime rates in Hartly are generally lower than the national average, reflecting its rural character within Kent County.
Schools serving the area are part of the Caesar Rodney School District, which maintains a generally positive reputation for academic performance.
The area is subject to standard regional flood risks associated with Delaware's low-lying geography; insurance premiums are stable but reflect regional weather patterns.
Economic momentum is driven by proximity to Dover's employment hubs, including the Dover Air Force Base and state government offices.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Delaware) — Agricultural Lands Preservation and Farmland Assessment Act Exemption: Qualifying land is valued based on its agricultural use productivity capability rather than fair market value, substantially reducing the taxable assessed baseline. State (Delaware) — Senior School Property Tax Credit and Elderly/Disability Exemption Framework: Provides a partial credit/exemption against property taxes. Under the Senior School Property Tax Credit (14 Del. C. § 1919), qualifying seniors receive a tax credit up to 50% of the school property tax up to a statutory dollar cap (e.g., $500 max). At the county level (e.g. State (Delaware) — County Assessment Ratio and Ad Valorem Property Taxation Structure: Delaware levies property taxes at county, municipal, and school district levels (the state itself levies no state-level property tax).
Commutes are primarily car-dependent, with residents typically driving to Dover or other regional employment centers via local state routes.
The area offers access to rural outdoor activities, local parks, and proximity to the amenities and shopping districts of nearby Dover.
The rental market is characterized by low vacancy pressure and steady demand from commuters, with limited short-term rental activity.
The economy is anchored by the public sector, healthcare, and the military presence at Dover Air Force Base.
Transportation is dominated by private vehicle use; there is minimal public transit infrastructure within the ZIP.
Development is largely focused on low-density residential growth and infrastructure maintenance for local roads.
Kent County utilizes a periodic assessment system to determine property values for tax purposes.
Parcels are subject to school district taxes and local municipal levies where applicable.
Property insurance markets are stable, though homeowners should account for potential flood insurance requirements in specific zones.
Delaware continues to see net positive domestic migration, driven by retirees and families relocating from higher-cost states.
Delaware is a judicial foreclosure state, requiring court intervention for the foreclosure process.
Sellers are required to provide a comprehensive property condition disclosure statement to buyers.
Data retrieved from Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Killens Pond State Park4.614.3 mi
- Killens Pond Water Park4.314.3 mi
- Chuck E. Cheese48.5 mi
- Xbos4.110.6 mi
- Bally's Dover Casino Resort4.28.7 mi
- Dover Motor Speedway4.58.9 mi
- Harrington Raceway & Casino4.218 mi
- Delaware State Fair4.318.4 mi
- 301 Devils Playground Haunted Attraction4.614.4 mi
- Dover Motor Speedway4.58.9 mi
- Spence's Bazaar4.58.8 mi
- Air Mobility Command Museum4.912.8 mi
- Harvest Ridge Winery4.75.8 mi
- Brecknock County Park4.78.6 mi
- Legislative Hall-Delaware's State Capitol4.49.2 mi
- Air Mobility Command Museum4.912.8 mi
- Biggs Museum of American Art4.69 mi
- John Dickinson Plantation4.513.5 mi
- The Old State House4.59 mi
- Brecknock County Park4.78.6 mi
- Silver Lake Park4.49.1 mi
- Big Oak County Park4.710.2 mi
- Schutte Park4.57.3 mi
- Wyoming Park4.67.4 mi
- Skipjack Cove Marina4.318.1 mi
- Georgetown Yacht Haven4.117.4 mi
- Sassafras Harbor Marina4.417.7 mi
- Sassafras Harbor Cafe4.317.8 mi
- Maple Dale Country Club4.46.4 mi
- Jonathan's Landing Public Golf & Event Venue4.312.4 mi
- Garrisons Lake Golf Club3.68.6 mi
- Dover Mall3.98.5 mi
- Fifer's Farm Store & Kitchen4.76.8 mi
- Byler's Store in Dover4.74.8 mi
- Spence's Bazaar4.58.8 mi
- Kohl's4.29.3 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Local community park providing green space and recreational facilities.
Major retail and dining hub located a short drive away.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.