On the banks of the Nanticoke River, Seaford was once a bustling company town, home to the Dupont Nylon Plant. The factory attracted thousands of workers from across southern Delaware and produced millions of stockings, carpets and other nylon-based goods between the 1930s and ‘70s. However, by the ‘80s, global competition caused mass layoffs, and downsizing continued when the plant was sold to Invista in 2004. Today, the town is slowly bouncing back from this economic slump by revitalizing former DuPont-owned properties, like the Nylon Capital Shopping Center and Hooper’s Landing Golf Course. It’s also become a vital Sussex County employment hub, with around 8,700 residents. “Most people move here because of the job opportunities,” says Julie Gritton, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Premier, who has sold several homes in the area. “There are three industrial parks, and [TidalHealth Nanticoke] hospital is one of the biggest employers in the county.”
It’s hard to escape the industrial nature of Seaford and the hands-on lifestyle embraced by those who live here.
The Market Street Bridge in Seaford shuttles both cars and pedestrians across the Nanticoke River.
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Some Seaford homes are in a flood zone
Seaford has a lot of ranch styles, Cape Cod cottages and Colonial Revival houses from the 1950s and ‘60s. New Traditional houses from the ‘80s and ‘90s and contemporary-style homes built within the last five years are also common. The median single-family home price here is $330,000, which is less than the national median. Seaford experiences all four seasons, with humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Severe rainstorms can cause the Nanticoke River to overflow, so homeowners near the waterway are required to have flood insurance.
According to FBI data, Seaford has consistently higher property and violent crime rates compared to national and state figures.
Most homes in Seaford are modest, single-family homes with lots of charms such as these Cape Cods on Robinson Circle.
Some homes in Seaford are located close to the banks of the Nanticoke River which allows for boaters to have private docks but increases the risk of flooding.
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Employers include industrial plants and TidalHealth Nanticoke
Seaford’s several industrial parks are home to distribution centers for companies like FedEx, Craig Technologies and Perdue AgriBusiness. TidalHealth Nanticoke is another major employer, providing around 1,200 jobs.
“If people don’t work in a warehouse or the hospital, they can easily commute to places like Dover and Salisbury in under an hour,” Gritton says. Dover is a 37-mile drive north on U.S. Route 13. A 21-mile drive south on the same highway leads to Salisbury, home of the Salisbury Regional Airport. Local traffic may stop at streets intersecting with the Delmarva Central Railroad and at drawbridges over the Nanticoke River. The Woodland Ferry can carry six cars to and from Bethel across the Nanticoke River. Delaware Authority Regional Transit buses in the area offer rides across Seaford and other Sussex County towns.
TidalHealth Nanticoke is a major healthcare provider for people in and around Seaford.
Many jobs in Seaford are located in its industrial parks, many of which are located on or close to the Nanticoke River.
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A revitalized DuPont shopping center and quaint downtown district
The Nylon Capital Shopping Center was once Seaford’s primary commercial hub, but most of it was left shuttered when the DuPont plant sold. In 2024, Seaford and the state began funding a revitalization effort that will open a TidalHealth Clinic, a Delaware Technical Community College campus and more stores in the strip mall. The project is supposed to be complete by the summer of 2026, but the Sussex Plaza Shopping Center has big-box grocery stores and other chain retailers until then.
With just a few locally owned restaurants, a coffee shop and a museum about the town’s history, downtown Seaford is a quiet town center. “The only time there are people there is on the weekdays during lunch break. They’ve got a few good restaurants for such a small town,” Gritton says. The Ross Mansion and Plantation is another museum in town. The land and Italianate-style mansion once belonged to Delaware Governor William Henry Harrison Ross. It’s now open for guided tours and hosts the AFRAM Festival, which celebrates African American culture with live music, a pageant and a car show every August.
The Nylon Capital Shopping Center is under redevelopment and will be revived as a central feature of Seaford with its new Delaware Technical Community College campus and a medical clinic by 2026.
High Street is considered the downtown of Seaford but with it’s small-town feel, it never gets too busy.
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Seaford has one middle school and one high school
Students here are served by the Seaford School District, which receives a C grade from Niche. The district educates around 3,400 students with a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio. It has four elementary schools, and every public school student attends Seaford Middle School and Seaford High School.
Seaford Senior High School has 879 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1.
Seaford Middle School has 828 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
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A public golf course and Nanticoke River recreation
Once a private golf course for DuPont employees, the 18-hole Hooper’s Landing Golf Course is now public, and the original clubhouse has become the Nanticoke Senior Center, offering workout classes and happy hours.
Benches and a floating dock for fishing and kayak launching line the 450-foot-long Nanticoke Riverwalk. The city received a $3 million grant to improve the walkway by making it longer and building a neighboring park, both of which are set to be completed by 2026.
The biggest park in Seaford is Jay’s Nest & Sports Complex, where a wooden playground sits adjacent to football fields, softball diamonds and soccer fields. The park is also home to the Seaford District Library, which hosts regular line dancing classes and story times. Several Delaware Bay beaches are less than 40 miles east, including Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach.
Hooper’s Landing Golf Course is open to the public and features and 18-hole course as well as a driving range.
Whether walking, fishing, or bike riding, the Seaford Riverwalk at Seaford Riverwalk Park is a pleasant experience that shouldn’t be missed.
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Written By
Meghan Baker
Photography Contributed By
Joe Pulcinella
Video By
Matthew Bloch
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
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