Rehoboth Beach : Delaware

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware is a beach community located on the pastoral Delmarva Peninsula (a portmanteau comprised of parts of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia). Because this peninsula requires some effort to get here, it is less discovered than other resorts on the middle Atlantic coast such as Ocean City. This hospitable town, billed as “The Nation’s Summer Capital”, was chosen by the AARP as a “Best Places to Retire”. The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk was named by Reader’s Digest as Best of America. It is increasingly popular as a retirement community for active adults because of its small town character, reasonable prices, and fabulous beaches. The year-round population of less than 2,000 swells to over 75,000 in summer.

Rehoboth began in 1873 as a place for Methodist Camp Meetings. While it still has plenty of small town charm and safety, it has also become known as an artistic community that is popular with gays and lesbians. It offers small town specialty shopping as well as factory outlets and malls typical of resorts. Recreational opportunities from golf to sailing abound. Although the official crime rate is reported as high, much of that is low-grade property crime seen in popular resorts. Delaware has an very appealing tax situation with low property taxes and no sales tax.

For profiles on over 900 cities and towns go to reviews of the best retirement communities.   Photos of Rehoboth courtesy of Andrew Brady.

The area near Rehoboth Beach is filled with active adult and 55+ communities (see link at top left), although some retirees choose to live near the beach or in town.
Real estate prices reflect the desirability of living near the ocean. Prices of active adult communities in communities such as Georgetown, Lewes, and Bridgeville might be less, particularly in the inland communities. The Median home value in Rehoboth Beach was $604,383 in late 2021 up 22.4% over the past year, according to Zillow.

Active adults should check out communities such as the ones listed in our Directory (see Rehoboth Beach communities link at top right). Active adults in retirement who live here like being in or near a low-key beach resort with small town feel. Some residents only live here in season. The average age is quite high at 59 years of age. Gays and lesbians are welcomed here.

Rehoboth is near the midpoint of the Delmarva Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean. It is across the Delaware Bay from Cape May, New Jersey. This is a sandy, coastal plain where the temperatures are milder than just a short distance inland. View Google Map for Rehoboth Beach