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Moving to
Hockessin.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
Hockessin is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, DE. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
What it's like to live in Hockessin
Hockessin is an unincorporated community in Delaware with household incomes running above the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hockessin deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Hockessin compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hockessin
Based on Hockessin's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$7,002
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $140,040 a year
- 42% of Hockessin renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$113,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $56,880
- Homes cost 3.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingCensus top category
$3,500+/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $3,500+ a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $568,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $568,800 · 42% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in New Castle County is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
New Castle County (county-wide)
Safety
147 violent crimes per 100k, whole jurisdiction
Hockessin doesn't have its own police department, so there's no crime rate for it alone. The figures shown are for the New Castle County Police Department jurisdiction as a whole, which runs below the national average for violent crime and covers many communities. Individual neighborhoods can differ a lot from that overall rate.
Property crime 604/100k · Policed by New Castle County Police Department (county-wide rate) · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 11% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 22% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 84% above US
66% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is First State National Historical Park (8 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hockessin's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. It tends to suit remote workers (22% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Hockessin
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