Home » Best Places » Delaware active adult retirement communities » Bethany Beach

Bethany Beach : Delaware

What it's Like to Retire in Bethany Beach

Bethany Beach is a very small and affluent beach town located between Rohobeth Beach and Ocean City (MD) in southern Delaware. The population is just under 1,000 although it swells to 15,000 during the summer holidays. Bethany Beach was founded by the Christian Missionary Society as a summer resort and Chatauqua-type summer resort. It was dry until recently and even now the number of bars and hours of sale for alcohol are tightly regulated. The town has considerable resources, including a short boardwalk and restaurants. This area is popular both as a resort and as a retirement destination. It opened up when the Chesapeake Bay Bridge first opened in 1952. Bethany Beach and nearby towns Lewes, South Bethany, Dewey, Rehoboth Beach, Fenwick Island comprise most of the Delaware shore resort area. Bethany Beach, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island are popularly known as "The Quiet Resorts". Delaware is a desirable place to retire due to its tax-friendly status.

Photo of boardwalk courtesy of and per license of Wikipedia and Kit Conn.

Where to Retire in Bethany Beach and Home Prices

There are several active adult communities in Bethany Beach and nearby towns (see Active Communties link at top right).
Zillow reports the median listing price to be $449,450, in mid-2016. Millville and Ocean View are 2 neighboring communities just inland.

What is special about Bethany Beach

This is a beautiful and quiet beach town. Delaware Seashore State Park is immediately to the north of the town, a six mile-long barrier island. There is no state sales tax and property taxes are quite low. See our mini Delaware Retirement Guide for more.

What is not special about Bethany Beach

Bethany Beach has been hit by a number of big storms including Hurricane Gloria in 1985 and a Nor'easter in 1962 that caused a lot of damage. Real estate prices are extraordinarily high.

Who will like retirement in Bethany Beach

People looking for a quiet retirement on the Delaware shore might enjoy Bethany Beach and its surrounding towns. Nearby Rehoboth has a reputation as being very gay-friendly.

Local economy is driven by

Tourism and retirees drive the Bethany Beach economy.

Climate and Physical Environment

Bethany Beach is in extreme southern Delaware on the Atlantic Ocean. The average July high temperature is 86 and the average January low is 28. The wettest month is August (5").

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Nature and the outdoors are a big part of Bethany Beach's culture. For more traditional culture a trip to Rehoboth Beach or Wilmington might be in order.

Crime

Crime in Bethany Beach is very high, although none of it is violent, largely inflated by thefts and burglaries.

Medical facilities

The nearest acute care hospitals are about 16 miles away in towns like Lewes and Berlin.

Transportation

There is a trolley that runs during the summer months. When compared to other communities Bethany Beach is below average in walkability.

Valuable Links

Town of Bethany Beach

Wikipedia for Bethany Beach

What people are saying about Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach
My sister owns a second home in Bethany Beach. Very family-oriented, and less than a three hour drive from the Washington DC area (assuming no traffic). Crowded during the summer, but a good selection of restaurants, nice beach, and a wonderful book store (I've done several book signings there) - Bethany Beach Books. Good place to consider for a second home, especially if it's within driving distance. Jan Cullinane, co-author, The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Rodale)
Posted by jancullinane on January 27, 2010

To comment you must be a registered member of Topretirements.com

Login Here

Username:
Password:
Remember me on this computer.

Create Your Free Membership Account

Suggest a community we want to know about your top retirement spots

Please note that all contributions to Topretirements may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then don't submit it here. By submitting content and/or photographs here you agree to give Topretirements.com the rights to use them in any manner without cost or attribution.You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Project:Copyrights for details). DO NOT SUBMIT COPYRIGHTED WORK WITHOUT PERMISSION!

Showcase Listing

Millville By The Sea

Just four miles from Bethany Beach, Millville by the Sea strikes the kind of balance you might spend your whole life looking for, a new-home community that reflects both your hard work and craving for adventure. ....

Bethany Beach Active Communities

Facts about BETHANY BEACH

State: DE
Environment: Coastal,Small Town,Resort Community,
City Population: Less than 10,000
Median age of Population: 45-64
Avg Jan Temperature: 21-40
Avg July Temperature: 81+
Median HH Income: 60,001-80,000
Average Home Price (MLS): $300,001-$500,000
Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house: Less than 2000
Total Crime Index: 111-120 (high)
Cost of Living Index: 121+ (very high)
Culture Index: 81-90 (low)
State Sales Tax: No
State Income Tax: Yes
Name of the Guide: boomer1

Can you add to or correct these Facts? Or do you have a photo of this community we could use? If so, please click on Edit these facts

Add Your City Photo here

Vote on the Ratings for Bethany Beach

Update Your Ratings

1. Overall Retirement Ratings Discuss

Currently 1.75>/5
1
2
3
4
5

1. Rating: 1.8/5 ( 4 votes cast)

2. Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury Discuss

Currently 3.00>/5
1
2
3
4
5

2. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)

3. Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive Discuss

Currently 2.50>/5
1
2
3
4
5

3. Rating: 2.5/5 ( 2 votes cast)

4. Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan Discuss

Currently 1.50>/5
1
2
3
4
5

4. Rating: 1.5/5 ( 2 votes cast)

5.Recreation:
None to Summer camp Discuss

Currently 4.50>/5
1
2
3
4
5

5. Rating: 4.5/5 ( 2 votes cast)

6. Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub Discuss

Currently 1.50>/5
1
2
3
4
5

6. Rating: 1.5/5 ( 2 votes cast)

7. Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox Discuss

Currently 3.00>/5
1
2
3
4
5

7. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)

8. Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent Discuss

Currently 2.00>/5
1
2
3
4
5

8. Rating: 2.0/5 ( 3 votes cast)

9. Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal Discuss

Currently 3.33>/5
1
2
3
4
5

9. Rating: 3.3/5 ( 3 votes cast)

10. Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green Discuss

Currently 3.00>/5
1
2
3
4
5

10. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)

Find the best retirement communities, active adult communities, and places to retire