What it's like to live in Wilmington
Wilmington is a smaller city in Delaware with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, several well-rated hospitals, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Wilmington deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
How Wilmington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Wilmington
Based on Wilmington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,448
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,960 a year
- 50% of Wilmington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$46,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,140
- Homes cost 3.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 13% below US
$1,224/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,224 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $231,400. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $231,400 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 49% above US
6.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 6.4%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 250% above US
1152 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2901/100k · Wilmington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% take public transit; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
21 public schools inside the boundary
There are 21 public schools inside the boundary and 14 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is First State National Historical Park (7 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Wilmington's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,224/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near Wilmington
All Delaware guides →Moving to Pike Creek Valley →
9 mi away · pop. 12,431
Rent $1,751/mo · Income $102,434
Compare with Wilmington →Moving to Hockessin →
10 mi away · pop. 13,439
Rent $3,500+/mo · Income $171,204
Compare with Wilmington →Not sure Wilmington is the one?
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