Most Dangerous & Safest Counties in Delaware

Delaware has 3 counties with crime data. The county with the highest homicide rate is New Castle County at 8.9 per 100K , while the safest is Sussex County at 3.5 per 100K .

1 of 3 counties (33%) have a homicide rate above the national average of 8 per 100K. All rates are per 100,000 residents and come from County Health Rankings, which compiles data from the CDC, FBI, and other federal sources.

Metric

Delaware — Homicide Rate by County

Source: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates. All values are estimates subject to margin of error.

3.45 3.45 6 6 8.9 8.9

No data

Delaware — Firearm Fatalities by County

Source: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates. All values are estimates subject to margin of error.

10.18 10.18 13.02 13.02 13.27 13.27

No data

Delaware — Drug Overdose Deaths by County

Source: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates. All values are estimates subject to margin of error.

46.69 46.69 47.38 47.38 52.32 52.32

No data

Delaware — Suicide Rate by County

Source: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates. All values are estimates subject to margin of error.

11.29 11.29 11.56 11.56 14.01 14.01

No data

Delaware — Motor Vehicle Deaths by County

Source: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates. All values are estimates subject to margin of error.

11.23 11.23 15.35 15.35 16.35 16.35

No data

Most Dangerous Counties in Delaware

Top 10 counties ranked by homicide rate.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K +11.3%	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K
2	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K -25.0%	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K
3	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K -56.9%	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K

Safest Counties in Delaware

Bottom 10 counties ranked by homicide rate.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
3	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K -56.9%	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K
2	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K -25.0%	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K
1	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K +11.3%	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K

All 3 Counties Ranked

Every county in Delaware ranked by homicide rate. Click any county for its full profile.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K +11.3%	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K
2	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K -25.0%	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K
3	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K -56.9%	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K

Most Dangerous Counties in Delaware

Top 10 counties ranked by firearm fatalities.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K -25.8%	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K
2	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K -27.2%	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K
3	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K -43.1%	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K

Safest Counties in Delaware

Bottom 10 counties ranked by firearm fatalities.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
3	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K -43.1%	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K
2	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K -27.2%	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K
1	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K -25.8%	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K

All 3 Counties Ranked

Every county in Delaware ranked by firearm fatalities. Click any county for its full profile.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K -25.8%	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K
2	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K -27.2%	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K
3	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K -43.1%	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K

Most Dangerous Counties in Delaware

Top 10 counties ranked by drug overdose deaths.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K +61.5%	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K
2	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K +46.2%	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K
3	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K +44.1%	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K

Safest Counties in Delaware

Bottom 10 counties ranked by drug overdose deaths.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
3	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K +44.1%	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K
2	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K +46.2%	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K
1	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K +61.5%	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K

All 3 Counties Ranked

Every county in Delaware ranked by drug overdose deaths. Click any county for its full profile.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K +61.5%	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K
2	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K +46.2%	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K
3	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K +44.1%	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K

Most Dangerous Counties in Delaware

Top 10 counties ranked by suicide rate.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K -0.2%	16.4 per 100K
2	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K -17.7%	11.2 per 100K
3	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K -19.6%	15.3 per 100K

Safest Counties in Delaware

Bottom 10 counties ranked by suicide rate.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
3	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K -19.6%	15.3 per 100K
2	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K -17.7%	11.2 per 100K
1	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K -0.2%	16.4 per 100K

All 3 Counties Ranked

Every county in Delaware ranked by suicide rate. Click any county for its full profile.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K -0.2%	16.4 per 100K
2	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K -17.7%	11.2 per 100K
3	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K -19.6%	15.3 per 100K

Most Dangerous Counties in Delaware

Top 10 counties ranked by motor vehicle deaths.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K -19.2%
2	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K -24.2%
3	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K -44.5%

Safest Counties in Delaware

Bottom 10 counties ranked by motor vehicle deaths.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
3	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K -44.5%
2	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K -24.2%
1	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K -19.2%

All 3 Counties Ranked

Every county in Delaware ranked by motor vehicle deaths. Click any county for its full profile.

#	County	Pop.	Homicides	Firearms	Overdoses	Suicides	Vehicle Deaths
1	Kent County	187.6K	6.0 per 100K	13.0 per 100K	46.7 per 100K	14.0 per 100K	16.4 per 100K -19.2%
2	Sussex County	255.6K	3.5 per 100K	10.2 per 100K	47.4 per 100K	11.3 per 100K	15.3 per 100K -24.2%
3	New Castle County	578.0K	8.9 per 100K	13.3 per 100K	52.3 per 100K	11.6 per 100K	11.2 per 100K -44.5%

About This Data

All figures are estimates from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CDC, FBI, NCHS), published by the U.S. Census Bureau. Values are subject to sampling variability and margin of error.

Rankings are within Delaware only and may differ from national rankings. For more information, see our methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most dangerous county in Delaware?

The county with the highest homicide rate in Delaware is New Castle County, at 8.9 per 100,000 residents. This is 11% above the national rate of 8 per 100K.

What is the safest county in Delaware?

The county with the lowest homicide rate in Delaware is Sussex County, at 3.5 per 100,000 residents.

How does Delaware's crime rate compare to the national average?

1 of 3 counties in Delaware (33%) have a homicide rate above the national average of 8 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Delaware has the most firearm fatalities?

New Castle County has the highest firearm fatality rate in Delaware at 13.3 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Delaware has the most drug overdose deaths?

New Castle County has the highest drug overdose death rate in Delaware at 52.3 per 100,000 residents.