Deal Island
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.
Written By
Meghan Baker
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Tim Arnett
Tim Arnett
ERA Martin Associates
(667) 303-1431
90 Total Sales
1 in Deal Island
$206,000 Price
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Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
ERA Martin Associates
(443) 991-8401
34 Total Sales
1 in Deal Island
$140,000 Price
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Nicole Schreibstein Abbott
Nicole Schreibstein Abbott
Northrop Realty
(240) 690-5770
51 Total Sales
8 in Deal Island
$20K - $250K Price Range
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Johnice Comer
Johnice Comer
Compass
(240) 557-8973
111 Total Sales
1 in Deal Island
$550,000 Price
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John Terrell
John Terrell
ERA Martin Associates
(302) 209-8189
97 Total Sales
3 in Deal Island
$130K - $250K Price Range
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Robert Payne
Robert Payne
RE/MAX Advantage Realty
(667) 281-1824
209 Total Sales
6 in Deal Island
$70K - $625K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Deal Island | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 1 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 | 4 |
| Larceny | 1 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 1 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Deal Island Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Deal Island, MD sell after 122 days on the market compared to the national average of 51 days. The median sale price for homes in Deal Island, MD over the last 12 months is $185,000, down 21% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$192,500
Median Sale Price
$185,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$192,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
21
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-21%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$133
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
593
Number of Homes for Sale
9
Median Year Built
1963
Months of Supply
5.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,445
Significantly below the national average
1,927
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
15,245
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
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.
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