Renting

Data from November 2026

Renting in Delaware

The typical rent in Delaware is $1,401 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,727 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $33.21 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.

How much rent can I afford? Where to get help

A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Typical rent: $1,401; per month, Average 2020–2024; About the same as the U.S.
Fair market rent, 2 BR: $1,727; HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average; From $1,498 to $1,860 depending on the county.
Wage needed: $33.21; per hour, 2 bedrooms; About $69,080 a year to stay under 30% of income.
Burdened households: 50%; spend 30% or more on rent; Nationwide, 51%.

Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site) Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)

Fair market rent

What HUD sets by size

HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Delaware, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).

Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.

Fair market rent by size in Delaware, Fiscal year 2027: lowest and highest value among its counties

Studio

Wage: $21.92–$27.65 an hour

Lowest: $1,140 Highest: $1,438
1 bedroom

Wage: $22.06–$29.96 an hour

Lowest: $1,147 Highest: $1,558
2 bedrooms

Wage: $28.81–$35.77 an hour

Lowest: $1,498 Highest: $1,860
3 bedrooms

Wage: $35.44–$43.15 an hour

Lowest: $1,843 Highest: $2,244
4 bedrooms

Wage: $42.73–$49.81 an hour

Lowest: $2,222 Highest: $2,590

Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Delaware, 50% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

50%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

108,655 renter households in Delaware

Spend half or more of their income 24%
Spend 30% or more, but less than half 26%
Spend less than 30% 50%

By place

Every county, with its figure

The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Delaware. Highest fair market rent first.

Fair market rent, typical rent, wage needed and rent burden by county in Delaware

New Castle County	$1,860	$1,448	$35.77	48%
Kent County	$1,629	$1,354	$31.33	53%
Sussex County	$1,498	$1,238	$28.81	53%

Place Fair rent, 2 BRWage/hour
New Castle $1,860$35.77
Kent $1,629$31.33
Sussex $1,498$28.81

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)

Your rights as a tenant in Delaware

What Delaware law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

How much can they charge for a deposit?: Up to 1 month of rent; 25 Del. C. §5514(a)(2)-(4)
How much notice before a rent increase?: 60 days; 25 Del. C. §5107(a), (d)

Only a court order can remove you25 Del. C. §5313
Protection from retaliation25 Del. C. §5516(a)-(c)
Repair and deduct from the rent25 Del. C. §5307(a)

Help

Where to ask for help with rent in Delaware

Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.

6 public housing agencies

They run Section 8 vouchers and public housing.
See the agencies
12 counseling agencies

HUD-approved; 6 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tenant rights

Deposits, notices, repairs and evictions under Delaware law.
See your rights

A Hispanic family shares a meal at the dinner table.

Tool

How much rent can you afford?

Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.

How much rent can I afford?

Frequently asked questions

Which county in Delaware is the most expensive to rent in?

By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is New Castle County ($1,860, about $35.77 an hour) and the cheapest Sussex County ($1,498, about $28.81 an hour).

How many households in Delaware spend too much on rent?

50% of renter households in Delaware spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 24% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.

What is fair market rent?

A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Delaware, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,498 to $1,860 depending on the county.

Where do I ask for help paying rent in Delaware?

6 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Delaware; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.