With a median income of $84,954 and median rent of $1,401, Delaware budgets vary widely by town. Borrow only what fixes the problem, line up written offers on APR and total cost, and check every lender with the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner or NMLS Consumer Access.
On this page
- Delaware by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Delaware borrowers
- Largest places in Delaware
- Mid-size Delaware communities
- Counties with the most residents
- How Delaware earns a living
- More context for Delaware budgets
- Checking a lender in Delaware
- Can Delaware residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Delaware
- Frequently asked questions
Delaware by the numbers
The table compares Delaware with the United States on sixteen measures that shape household budgets, and ranks it against the other states and the District of Columbia. All figures are American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 five-year estimates.
| Measure | Delaware | Nation | Rank of 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $84,954 | $80,734 | 17th |
| Homeownership rate | 73% | 65% | 5th |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 26% | 28% | 28th |
| Home value to income ratio | 4.1x | 4.1x | 17th |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer | 15% | 17% | 17th |
| Working from home | 15% | 15% | 22nd |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36% | 36% | 20th |
| Age, median | 41.6 | 38.9 | 6th |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.449 | 0.483 | 44th |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 18% | 21% | 41st |
| Share of households at $100,000+ | 42% | 41% | 17th |
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 12.5% | 38th |
| Unemployment rate (ACS) | 5.1% | 5.2% | 20th |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $1,401 | $1,413 | 20th |
| Rent-burdened renters (30%+) | 50% | 51% | 21st |
| Home value, median | $352,000 | $332,700 | 22nd |
What the numbers mean for Delaware borrowers
About 18% of households in Delaware take in less than $35,000 a year and 42% take in $100,000 or more; nationally the shares are 21% and 41%. Households at the lower end often do better with a smaller loan, or with a hardship plan from the creditor they already owe.
Homeownership stands at 73% in Delaware and the median owner-occupied home is worth $352,000, which ranks 22nd among the 51 jurisdictions. 26% of mortgaged owners are housing-cost burdened, versus 28% nationally.
15% of the Delaware workforce works from home, while 15% face a one-way trip of 45 minutes or longer. Remote and self-employed workers should expect lenders to ask for bank statements or tax returns in place of a simple pay stub.
The median Delaware resident is 41.6. Four-year degrees: 36% of adults. Income inequality (Gini): 0.449, 44th of 51.
Largest places in Delaware
Big-city snapshot for Delaware, ranked by population; a linked name means a full local guide is available.
| Community | County | Population | Median household income | Median gross rent | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | New Castle County | 71,727 | $58,671 | $1,224 | $231,400 |
| Dover | Kent County | 39,837 | $60,199 | $1,344 | $258,900 |
| Newark | New Castle County | 30,330 | $76,912 | $1,654 | $382,500 |
| Middletown | New Castle County | 24,661 | $112,831 | $1,583 | $409,600 |
| Bear | New Castle County | 22,370 | $91,687 | $1,771 | $304,800 |
| Glasgow | New Castle County | 15,546 | $113,982 | $2,039 | $373,900 |
| Brookside | New Castle County | 15,115 | $78,328 | $1,444 | $279,700 |
| Hockessin | New Castle County | 13,439 | $171,204 | $3,501 | $568,800 |
| Smyrna | Kent County, New Castle County | 13,165 | $67,048 | $1,534 | $291,400 |
| Milford | Kent County, Sussex County | 12,803 | $59,464 | $1,260 | $296,900 |
| Pike Creek Valley | New Castle County | 12,431 | $102,434 | $1,751 | $340,300 |
| Claymont | New Castle County | 8,786 | $74,712 | $1,306 | $276,600 |
Size first: 1 Delaware places pass 50,000 residents and 11 pass 10,000. Income next: among those over 20,000, Wilmington sits lowest at $58,671 and Middletown highest at $112,831. Rents differ just as much, from a median $1,224 a month in Wilmington to $1,771 in Bear.
Mid-size Delaware communities
Continuing down the population list from Seaford to Dover Base Housing.
| City or town | Population | Median income | Rent (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaford | 8,485 | $54,016 | $1,176 |
| Wilmington Manor | 8,214 | $78,078 | $1,155 |
| North Star | 7,834 | $150,733 | n/a |
| Georgetown | 7,660 | $49,719 | $1,410 |
| Millsboro | 7,424 | $78,707 | $1,277 |
| Pike Creek | 7,129 | $139,635 | $2,262 |
| Edgemoor | 6,349 | $59,424 | $1,438 |
| Elsmere | 6,203 | $67,944 | $1,339 |
| New Castle | 5,579 | $89,205 | $1,739 |
| Clayton | 4,222 | $107,307 | $1,621 |
| Rising Sun-Lebanon | 4,163 | $113,529 | $1,755 |
| Laurel | 4,152 | $48,644 | $1,056 |
| Camden | 4,106 | $63,267 | $1,836 |
| Harrington | 3,838 | $72,679 | $1,277 |
| Highland Acres | 3,752 | $102,356 | $1,583 |
| Greenville | 3,713 | $142,844 | $1,620 |
| Milton | 3,567 | $80,875 | $1,310 |
| Lewes | 3,505 | $96,393 | $381 |
| Selbyville | 3,097 | $75,592 | $1,152 |
| Dover Base Housing | 2,962 | $82,161 | $2,139 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Camden (35%) and least in Lewes (5%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Of 3 counties in Delaware, these 3 have the most people.
| County | Residents | Median income | Median rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | 577,961 | $91,166 | $1,448 | $352,200 |
| Sussex County | 255,626 | $81,497 | $1,238 | $382,600 |
| Kent County | 187,604 | $74,477 | $1,354 | $316,600 |
Across all 3 counties, median household income ranges from $74,477 in Kent County to $91,166 in New Castle County. That spread is a reminder to size a payment to your own budget, not to a state average.
How Delaware earns a living
Four industries employ the largest shares of working Delaware residents; the national shares are shown for comparison.
| Industry | Share of Delaware workers | U.S. share | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 25% | 24% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 11% | 13% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11% | 11% | +0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9% | 7% | +2.6 pts |
The industry where Delaware stands out most from the U.S. is finance, insurance and real estate: 9% of employed residents, versus 7% for the nation. Whatever the sector, bring proof of income that covers at least the last two months.
More context for Delaware budgets
Typical household income: $84,954 in Delaware, against $80,734 nationwide (17th highest of 51). Medians describe the middle household, not yours, so test any payment against your own take-home pay.
Housing for renters: median rent of $1,401 (20th of 51), with 50% of renting households putting 30 percent or more of income toward it. When rent rises at renewal, a fixed loan payment can collide with it, so leave room for the next increase.
Over 2020 to 2024, 5.1% of the Delaware labor force was unemployed on average in the ACS, against 5.2% nationally; the poverty rate was 10.4%. If your job is seasonal or hourly, lenders may ask for more months of statements to see a steady pattern.
Checking a lender in Delaware
Before you share details with any lender, confirm it may lend in Delaware. The Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner is the state banking agency listed in the Conference of State Bank Supervisors directory.
- An upfront fee to "secure" a loan is a warning sign the FTC describes here.
- File any complaint with the state agency, or with the CFPB.
- Ask for the lender's license number and look it up on NMLS Consumer Access.
Can Delaware residents use the questionnaire?
Not every state has a lending partner yet. Choose Delaware on the location step and the questionnaire will tell you right away whether matching is open; if it is not, you can leave an email for the waitlist.
Local guides in Delaware
Open a local guide for a closer look at your own city (1 in Delaware):
Frequently asked questions
Which agency licenses lenders in Delaware?
In Delaware, the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner is the banking agency named by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. Many lenders' state licenses also appear on NMLS Consumer Access, and the CFPB takes complaints nationwide.
How much does a typical Delaware household earn?
$84,954 a year in the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, 17th among the 50 states and DC; the national median is $80,734.
What is the median rent in Delaware?
Median gross rent is $1,401 a month, and 50% of renter households spend 30 percent or more of income on rent (ACS 2020 to 2024). Nationally the figures are $1,413 and 51%.
How many Delaware residents live below the poverty line?
10.4% in the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, compared with 12.5% nationally. Households under strain should look at free options, such as hardship plans and nonprofit counseling, before a loan.