$266,902Average Value$132Average Price per Sq Ft13Homes For Sale
Watermen have lived on Deal Island for centuries
Deal Island was established as an oystering and crabbing community on the Tangier Sound in the 17th century. Today, generational watermen still work on this Somerset County peninsula, home to several marinas, boat launches and one of America’s oldest skipjack fleets. “Most people who live here work on the water because that’s what their families have done for hundreds of years,” says Bob Shores, a lifelong Deal Island local and a volunteer at the Skipjack Heritage Museum. Though flooding is causing Deal Island to slowly sink, a few newcomers still move to the community for its quiet and secluded setting within a protected marshland. “Retirees are the main people who buy houses here,” Shores says. “They want a slow lifestyle, and Deal Island has that. We wake up, watch the sunrise, get on the boat and that’s about it.”
Some houses sit on the water
Telescope-style houses, bungalows and Queen Annes built between the 1850s and the early 1900s sit along Deal Island’s winding roads. Mid-20th-century ranch-style houses and cottages are also common. Properties on the peninsula’s rocky shoreline often have boat slips or docks. The median single-family home price is around $183,000, which is significantly less than the national median. Home prices can range from $25,000 for a fixer-upper located more inland up to $650,000 for a large waterfront home on significant acreage. Deal Island’s CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score.
Deal Island experiences flooding
Every house on Deal Island is in a FEMA-designated high-risk flood zone, and flood insurance is mandatory for homeowners here. Rising sea levels and tropical storms are slowly deteriorating the area’s marshland, with experts estimating the entire peninsula will be underwater by 2100. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other environmental groups are working to prevent this by building bulkheads and restoring the shoreline for better drainage. Severe weather also increases mosquito activity in the area. "You have to drench yourself with bug spray after a big rainstorm, or you'll be covered in bites,” Shores says.
Deal Island has boat storage spots and acres of protected marshland
Commercial fishermen often moor workboats at Wenona Harbor on the peninsula’s southernmost tip. The late 19th-century skipjacks here are still used for oyster dredging. Scott’s Cove Marina is the area’s largest boat storage facility, with 50 slips available to rent at annual rates. Brackish water gently washes against the small beach next to the Deal Island Boat Launch, which also has a fishing dock. Boaters can head west toward Bloodsworth Island, a former Navy bombing range that’s technically closed to the public, but Shores says it's still a busy fishing spot. “Just about everyone I know anchors their boat near the shoreline without getting caught,” he says . “You can catch huge redfish over there.” Only kayaks and canoes can cruise through the Deal Island Wildlife Management Area’s shallow channels, which are popular for trout fishing and crabbing. The 13,000-acre property also has unmarked trails where locals can hike, bike and duck hunt.
There’s an elementary school on Deal Island
Somerset County Public Schools serves the area. Kids can go to Deal Island Elementary, which earns a B from Niche. While the elementary school is located on the island, both middle- and high-school students must venture east to the mainland to attend classes. Students can continue to Somerset Intermediate for sixth and seventh grade before going to eighth through 12th grade at Washington High. Both schools get C grades. The high school offers dual enrollment classes with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, about 15 miles east.
Deal Island Road is the only way drivers can get off the peninsula
Though locals often ride bikes to marinas, Deal Island is a car-dependent community. State Route 363, locally called Deal Island Road, is the only way to get to the mainland. Marshland surrounds the two-lane street, which is occasionally affected by flooding. “Two to three times a year, we get such a bad storm that the road is completely underwater, and we have no way to drive off the peninsula for a few days,” Shores says. The nearest hospital and regional airport are in Salisbury, about 28 miles northeast.
The closest stores and restaurants are in Princess Anne
A bar, general store and seafood market used to be on Deal Island, but each one has closed within the last 5 years. “Barely 1,000 people live here, so it’s hard for businesses to stay open,” Shores says. But locals will find a post office and several longstanding houses of worship here. St. John's United Methodist Church’s Gothic and Greek Revival-style buildings date back to the mid-1800s. The closest grocery stores and restaurants are in Princess Anne, which is about 16 miles east and only accessible by Deal Island Road. “Everybody gets a big haul of groceries whenever they go to the store, just in case the road floods,” Shores says.
A heritage museum and skipjack race honor the area’s past
Deal Island’s history is preserved at the Skipjack Heritage Museum, filled with model boats and photos of former sea captains. “Most of our visitors are people who want to learn about their ancestors who worked on the island centuries ago,” Shores says. People also visit Deal Island for the Skipjack Race & Festival every Labor Day. “Our sleepy little community gets about as busy as a tourist beach that weekend,” Shores says. The local Methodist reverend blesses the skipjacks before watermen set sail around the peninsula and try to reach the Deal Island Boat Launch first to win a cash prize. After the race, the launch’s parking lot hosts a festival with food vendors, face painters and live music. Other events held throughout the weekend include a car show, a 5K run and a beauty pageant.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Bonnie Flinn,
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Transit
Airport
Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional
51 min drive
Deal Island Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Deal Island, MD sell after 109 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Deal Island, MD over the last 12 months is $170,000, down 17% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to your Dream Coastal Vacation home with tons of AirBnb potential! This fully renovated 3-bedroom, 2-bath home offers breathtaking WATERVIEWS from every angle and sits on over half an acre at the end of the peninsula—where peace, privacy, and panoramic vistas await. Enjoy a reversed floor plan with bedrooms on the first level and an open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area upstairs,
Fantastic Building Lot just over a half acre with views of the Bay and Deeded Water Access. Nice dry land to build your dream home on and enjoy beautiful sunsets!
Welcome to your charming coastal country retreat on 1.21 acres in the heart of Deal Island! This cozy farmhouse has the potential to easily create a primary suite downstairs. This home features an inviting eat-in kitchen, spacious living room, and an adorable sunroom perfect for relaxing. Upstairs you’ll find two bedrooms, a full tub-shower, plus a den/office space, while the main level
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Bonnie Flinn,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,167
Median Age
56
Population under 18
16.1%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
34.6%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$53,589
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$64,459
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
75.8%
College Graduates
12%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.7%
% Population in Labor Force
47.1%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
2''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
25/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
4/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
