income of $21,875 versus $17,614 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,831. About 7.2% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.3% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over. , the Ellendale region's population (for the entire zip code) was 2,522 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 13.1%. The median home cost in the Ellendale region is $185,000. Home appreciation the last year has been -2.5%. Compared to the rest of the country, Ellendale's cost of living is 14.4% lower than the U.S. average. The public schools serving the Ellendale region spend $7,073 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 18 students per teacher in the Ellendale region. The unemployment rate in the Ellendale region is 2.7% (U.S. avg. is 4.6%). Recent job growth is positive as Ellendale region jobs have shown an increase of 0.6%. The chart below shows the cost of living for the Ellendale regions versus the average cost of living for the rest of the United States. Town government Ellendale's government is a five-person town council with each member elected to a two-year term and no term limits. The town council meets the first Tuesday in each month. In 2022 the Ellendale Town Council is led by President Aaron Moore, Vice President Tamara M. Skis, Treasurer Lisa Workman, Secretary Kim Koukaras, and Tax Collector Kimberly Hughes. Town planning and zoning is done by the five person Planning Commission with appeals of decisions and requests for exemptions going before the three person Board of Adjustment. There is also a Code Enforcement Officer for the town. Public safety The Ellendale Police Department is a small police force led by Chief Bruce Von Goerres that is responsible for policing in the town limits. The Ellendale Fire Co. is a forty plus member volunteer fire, rescue, and EMS agency led by Fire Chief Andy Hamilton. The fire company is the primary provider of these services to the town of Ellendale and the surrounding areas with a local district of approximately . Crime Ellendale is one of the safest municipalities in the state of Delaware based on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2014 Uniform Crime Reports, with only four total crimes reported in the town, the fewest of any of the 35 Delaware municipalities