Cost to Own
United States › Delaware › Sussex County › Lincoln Population 1,639 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $583 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Sussex County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Lincoln, Delaware

A $261,000 home here costs

$2,006

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $86,000 a year.

P&I 71%Tax 3%Insurance 3%Utilities 12%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,423. The real number is $583 higher every month, 41% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Sussex County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lincoln from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,639 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Sussex County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Lincoln median: $261,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
DE average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $208,800 borrowed $1,423
Property tax0.282% effective rate for Lincoln itself $61
Homeowners insuranceDelaware averages $988/yr (NAIC), or 0.301% of home value $65
Electricity18.7¢/kWh, Delaware residential average, EIA $170
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $218
Total monthly $2,006

Lincoln against Sussex County and Delaware

MeasureLincolnSussex County
Median home value$261,400$353,300
Median property tax$736$1,171
Effective tax rate0.282%0.331%
Median gross rent—$1,221
Population1,639247,799

The weather behind that power bill

Lincoln sits in Sussex County, which averages a high of 87.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 28.6°F in its coldest, with 43.88" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,396 cooling and 4,070 heating degree days, which is what sets the $170 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Sussex County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Sussex County

Full Sussex County cost breakdown · Every county in Delaware

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Lincoln averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Lincoln every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Lincoln I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Lincoln?

A $261,000 home in Lincoln, Delaware costs approximately $2,006 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,423 principal and interest, $61 property tax, $65 homeowners insurance, $238 utilities and $218 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Lincoln?

Lincoln has an effective property tax rate of 0.282%, based on a median home value of $261,400 and median real estate taxes of $736. That is lower than the Sussex County average of 0.331%.

What is the average home price in Lincoln?

The median owner-occupied home value in Lincoln, Delaware is $261,400, against $353,300 across Sussex County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lincoln?

Rent data is not published for Lincoln at this level of detail.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Lincoln?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lincoln, Delaware at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $86,000 a year. That covers the full $2,006 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lincoln, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Delaware.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology