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Living in
Wilmington.
About
Life in Wilmington
Living in Wilmington means being part of a city with genuine history—you're in the footprint of the first Swedish settlement in North America—but one that's firmly oriented toward modern finance and banking rather than tourism. The location is genuinely convenient: 33 miles from Philadelphia with regular SEPTA and Amtrak service, plus I-95 running through the city itself, so your commute to regional jobs averages 23 minutes. The cost of living is reasonable by Northeast standards—median home values around $231,400 and rent near $1,224 monthly—though you'll feel the seasonal weather swings typical of the Mid-Atlantic, with hot, humid summers and cold winters.
Wilmington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.4%
Foreign-Born
9.6%
Broadband Internet
87.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.6% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in Wilmington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wilmington, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (17.2%), and 9.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
15.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
45.5%
of households
Married Couples
21.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% below DE average
Rent, home values, and income in Wilmington
In Wilmington, rent runs 13% below the DE average, and home values are 34% below the DE average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,864
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1946
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $327,252 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.6 pts above DE average
Unemployment in Wilmington
Unemployment in Wilmington is 1.6 percentage points higher than the DE average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Wilmington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.5 min avg
How Wilmington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wilmington, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Wilmington Airport (ILG)
Regional airport · few flights169k passengers boarded in 2025
- 19 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 250% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Wilmington runs 250% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,152.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,900.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Wilmington Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
New Castle County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In New Castle County, which includes Wilmington, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Winter Weather | $93,000 |
| 2024 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.6M |
| 2020 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 13 | Flash Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
New Castle County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in New Castle County, which includes Wilmington, is typically good — 235 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
235
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
New Castle County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wilmington has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.3"
Annual Snowfall
12.0"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
87
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 24°F | 3.67" |
| Feb | 41°F | 25°F | 3.03" |
| Mar | 49°F | 32°F | 4.65" |
| Apr | 61°F | 43°F | 4.06" |
| May | 71°F | 52°F | 3.76" |
| Jun | 79°F | 62°F | 4.71" |
| Jul | 84°F | 67°F | 5.17" |
| Aug | 82°F | 66°F | 4.39" |
| Sep | 75°F | 59°F | 5.13" |
| Oct | 63°F | 47°F | 4.12" |
| Nov | 53°F | 37°F | 3.25" |
| Dec | 43°F | 29°F | 4.37" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wilmington
Wilmington has 3 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
7.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Wilmington VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
St Francis Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Childrens · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Delaware Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · 3.6 mi away · New Castle
Rockford Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 7.6 mi away · Newark
Christiana Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.2 mi away · Newark
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wilmington
Wilmington's student/teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
21
within city limits
Private Schools
14
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Wilmington
Private for-profit · 4-year · 161 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 15% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 19,071 students · in-state tuition $17,660 · 79% graduate · median earnings $83,800 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,951 students · in-state tuition $58,280 · 66% graduate · median earnings $76,782 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 691 students · in-state tuition $17,160 · 67% graduate · median earnings $56,160 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: First State National Historical Park, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wilmington
Wilmington has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being First State National Historical Park (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
First State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awayEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
National Historic Site
25 mi awayGloria Dei Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
25 mi awayIndependence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awayThaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
25 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
26 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayWashington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
43 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wilmington
Wilmington Institute Library
10 East 10th Street, Wilmington
North Wilmington Library
3400 North Market Street, Wilmington
Woodlawn Library
2020 W. 9th Street, Wilmington
Cities Near Wilmington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wilmington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wilmington FAQ
Is Wilmington, Delaware affordable?⌄
Wilmington's median rent is $1,224/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $58,671/year. Median home value is $231,400.
Is Wilmington, Delaware safe?⌄
Wilmington's violent crime rate was 1152 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2901 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wilmington, Delaware?⌄
Wilmington has an unemployment rate of 6.4%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wilmington, Delaware?⌄
The cost of living in Wilmington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,224/month and median household income is $58,671/year. The median home value is $231,400. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wilmington, Delaware?⌄
The average commute in Wilmington is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from