In the News: Southern Delaware, Worth Talking About

For people living in the area between Southern New Jersey and Washington DC, a popular weekend and retirement destination lies near the Delaware shore. A three-hour drive from both Philadelphia and Washington DC, the Rehoboth Beach area has been a magnet for retirees over the past several years. The beaches feature dolphins throughout the summer months, a mile-long boardwalk and more than 70 restaurants.

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Beaches, waterways, and outdoor recreation have helped make Sussex County one of the most popular retirement destinations in the Northeast. It doesn’t hurt that the area is more affordable than surrounding states (Delaware has no sales tax) and that several major cities (Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia) are within a two-hour drive.

The First State is one of the tax-friendliest states for retirees. It has no sales tax. Its income-tax rates are modest, ranging from a low of 2.2% to a high of 6.95% for income over $60,000. Social Security benefits are exempt, and taxpayers 60 and older can exclude $12,500 per person of investment and qualified pension income, including out-of-state government pensions, from state income taxes. Real estate is subject to county, school district and municipal property taxes, but homeowners 65 and older can get a credit equal to half of the school property taxes, up to $500.

If you lived here and had the urge to walk on the beach, you could grab an ice cream at King’s downtown, reach the water just as you finish a double scoop, and then walk south all the way to Maryland. That’s about 25 miles of sand between the toes.

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Southern Living magazine recently named Milton, Delaware among the 17 Best Small-Town Getaways in the nation.