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City · 71,727 residents · New Castle County, Delaware

Wilmington , Delaware

In Wilmington, a typical home is worth $231,400 and typical rent is $1,224 a month. Compared with all of New Castle County, typical household income is 36% lower, the typical home value is 34% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 21 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $231,400

    34% below the county

    34% below Delaware

    • Wilmington
    • New Castle
    • Delaware

  • Typical rent

    $1,224a month

    15% below the county

    13% below Delaware

    • Wilmington
    • New Castle
    • Delaware

  • Typical household income

    $58,671a year

    36% below the county

    31% below Delaware

    • Wilmington
    • New Castle
    • Delaware

  • Households that own their home

    48%

    21 points below the county

    25 points below Delaware

    • Wilmington
    • New Castle
    • Delaware

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$327,252
1.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,757 a month
3.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Wilmington is in New Castle County. The FHA loan limit ($630,200 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of New Castle County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Wilmington apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 48% of households in Wilmington own their home, against 69% in New Castle County.

  2. The typical household income in Wilmington is $58,671, 36% less than in New Castle County as a whole ($91,166).

  3. The typical home in Wilmington is worth $231,400, 34% less than in New Castle County as a whole ($352,200).

  4. The typical rent in Wilmington is $1,224 a month, 15% less than in New Castle County as a whole ($1,448).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Wilmington

What homes there are in Wilmington, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Wilmington; the largest group, attached houses (townhouses), adds up to 54%, against 21% in New Castle County.

Year built

In Wilmington, half of the homes were built before 1946; in New Castle County, before 1975.

There are fewer big homes in Wilmington than in New Castle County: 53% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 68%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Wilmington sit under the FHA limit for New Castle County ($630,200): about 93%.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for New Castle County is $1,860; about 85% of rents in Wilmington are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,579 a month

New Castle County: $1,882 a month

Without a mortgage

$538 a month

New Castle County: $616 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

New Castle County: 67%

Owning costs less in Wilmington: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,579 a month; in New Castle County, $1,882. Without one, $538.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Wilmington rose 38% since 2015–2019, about the same as in New Castle County (35%).

Rents in Wilmington rose at about the same pace as in New Castle County: 22% since 2015–2019, against 25%.

To compare: typical income in Wilmington rose 30%; the home, +38%; the rent, +22%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWilmingtonNew Castle CountyDelawareUnited States
Rental vacancy 4.7%5.0%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.5%2.0%2.1%3.4%
People per household 2.192.512.482.53
Drive alone 61%69%72%69%
Carpool 7%7%8%9%
Public transit 8%3%2%3%
Walk or bike 6%3%2%3%
Work from home 16%18%15%15%
Other means 2%2%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Wilmington look like those in New Castle County: the rental vacancy rate is 4.7%.

In Wilmington, 1.5% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in New Castle County.

Households in Wilmington are smaller: 2.19 people on average; in New Castle County, 2.51.

In Wilmington, 8% of workers get to work by public transit; in New Castle County, 3%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Wilmington?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Wilmington, worth $231,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 39% of the typical household income in Wilmington, which is $58,671 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $81,178 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of New Castle County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Wilmington. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,099 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,894

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$227,209
Total interest
$326,900
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,908 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,369 a month

  • Tight

    $1,369 to $1,760 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,760 a month

    Your payment · 39%

Compared with the typical household income in Wilmington ($58,671 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,894
Principal & interest$1,539
Property tax$156
Home insurance$96
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$102

You need at least $8,099 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Wilmington and New Castle County

Wilmington is in New Castle County, Delaware. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Wilmington's own numbers

Typical home value
$231,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,224
Typical yearly household income
$58,671
Households that own their home
48%
Effective property tax rate
0.81%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of New Castle County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$630,200
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,860
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of New Castle County.

Everything about New Castle County

Buying

Buying a home in Wilmington

A typical home in Wilmington is worth $231,400: 34% below the county and 34% below Delaware. With the typical household income in Wilmington ($58,671 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Wilmington 3.9 years
  • New Castle 3.9 years
  • Delaware 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in New Castle County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in New Castle County rose 72% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of New Castle County.

Period County Delaware U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.8% +3.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +50% +51% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +72% +74% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Wilmington next to New Castle County, Delaware and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Wilmington $231,400
  • New Castle $352,200
  • Delaware $352,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Wilmington $1,224
  • New Castle $1,448
  • Delaware $1,401
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Wilmington $58,671
  • New Castle $91,166
  • Delaware $84,954
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Wilmington next to New Castle County and Delaware
Measure Wilmington New Castle County Delaware U.S.
Typical home value $231,400 $352,200 $352,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,224 $1,448 $1,401 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $58,671 $91,166 $84,954 $80,734
Households that own their home 48% 69% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,864 $2,499 $1,768 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.81% 0.71% 0.5% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 52% 48% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below New Castle County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Wilmington

For a typical $231,400 home in Wilmington, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wilmington's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,894a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,099
    Cash to close
    $15,041
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $102

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,852a month

    Down payment
    $11,570
    Cash to close
    $18,512
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $110

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,507a month

    Down payment
    $46,280
    Cash to close
    $53,222
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,721a month

    Down payment
    $34,710
    Cash to close
    $41,652
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Wilmington and for New Castle County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Wilmington

0.81%of the home’s value each year

$1,864 a year for the typical owner in Wilmington.

  • Wilmington 0.81%
  • New Castle 0.71%
  • Delaware 0.5%

What Delaware publishes School property tax credit for owners 65 and older (Delaware Department of Finance)

Exemptions and deadlines in Delaware

Flood risk in New Castle County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of New Castle County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.1%
2,006
Of those, with NFIP insurance
45%
County Delaware U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.1% 5.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 45% 58% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Wilmington

Typical rent in Wilmington is $1,224 a month: 15% below the county. In Wilmington, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of New Castle County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,860 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $35.77 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of New Castle County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,438 $27.65 $57,520
1 bedroom $1,558 $29.96 $62,320
2 bedrooms $1,860 $35.77 $74,400
3 bedrooms $2,216 $42.62 $88,640
4 bedrooms $2,445 $47.02 $97,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Wilmington

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Wilmington has 5 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,580 in 19805 to $1,810 in 19809.

None is above the fair market rent for New Castle County ($1,860).

  • 19801 $1,670$1,990
  • 19802 $1,610$1,920
  • 19805 $1,580$1,880
  • 19806 $1,790$2,130
  • 19809 $1,810$2,160

5 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Wilmington when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Wilmington

HUD lists 84 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Wilmington. These are the largest.

  • Mid City 325 E 5th St, Wilmington 19801 306 low-income homes · Run by Wilmington Housing Authority · Average payment: $385 a month · Average wait: 51 months (302) 429-6701
  • Crestview Apts 2700 N Market St, Wilmington 19802 191 homes, 188 low-income · Run by Wilmington Housing Authority · Average payment: $390 a month · Average wait: 28 months (302) 429-6701
  • Southbridge 718 Townsend Pl, Wilmington 19801 182 homes, 180 low-income · Run by Wilmington Housing Authority · Average payment: $408 a month · Average wait: 61 months (302) 429-6701
  • Luther Towers I & II 1420 N Franklin St, Wilmington 19806 365 homes, 174 low-income · For older adults (302) 654-4491
  • Northeast 1301 E 27th St, Wilmington 19802 173 homes, 170 low-income · Run by Wilmington Housing Authority (302) 429-6701

See all 132 buildings in New Castle County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Wilmington

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 6 HUD-approved agencies with an office in New Castle County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Wilmington

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Wilmington or New Castle County. The ones below are statewide in Delaware: they work in Wilmington the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Delaware

  • Home Sweet Home

    Statewide in Delaware

    Delaware state authority second loan of $12,000 at 0%, forgiven 10% for each year you live in the home (all of it after 10 years), for homes up to $285,000; the agency announced it as a temporary program. Offered by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Keys4You Home Loan

    Statewide in Delaware

    Delaware state authority 0% second mortgage equal to 4% of your mortgage, for the down payment and closing costs, with no monthly payments until you sell, refinance or stop living in the home; with the Welcome Home (first-time buyers) or Open Door (any buyer) mortgages. Offered by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Take5 Home Loan

    Statewide in Delaware

    Delaware state authority 0% second mortgage equal to 5% of your mortgage, for the down payment and closing costs, with no monthly payments until you sell, refinance or stop living in the home; only with the Welcome Home mortgage for first-time buyers. Offered by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Wilmington

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Wilmington, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Neighborhood House, Incorporated

    1218 B St, Wilmington · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (302) 658-5404

  • Housing Opportunities of Northern Delaware, Inc.

    100 W 10th St Ste 1001, Wilmington · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (302) 429-0794

  • YWCA Delaware

    100 W 10th St Ste 515, Wilmington · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (302) 655-0039

Every agency in New Castle County All counseling agencies in Delaware

Help in Spanish near Wilmington

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Wilmington

HUD’s record names them for Wilmington or New Castle County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Wilmington Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (302) 429-6701
  • New Castle County Housing Authority Section 8 vouchers (302) 395-5672

One other authority has an office in New Castle County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in New Castle County

These cities are also in New Castle County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about New Castle County Housing in Delaware
See 2 more cities in New Castle County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Wilmington, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If New Castle County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Wilmington.

All guides
A father and mother walk their son by the hand down the sidewalk.

Questions

Housing questions about Wilmington

Short answers with the numbers for Wilmington and all of New Castle County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Wilmington?

The typical home value in Wilmington is $231,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in New Castle County it is $352,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Wilmington?

Typical rent in Wilmington is $1,224 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in New Castle County is $1,860.

What is the FHA loan limit in Wilmington?

Wilmington uses the FHA limit for all of New Castle County (2026): $630,200 for a one-unit home and $1,211,950 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Wilmington?

The typical homeowner in Wilmington pays $1,864 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.81% of the home’s value; in New Castle County, the rate is 0.71%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Wilmington?

There are 6 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in New Castle County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).