Delaware State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics

Total population: 1,021,191 Household income: $84,954 Rent: $1,401

Overview

Total population

1,021,191

Rent

$1,401

Year built

1987

Household income

$84,954

Per capita income

$45,375

Poverty rate

10.4%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Delaware

Total population

1,021,191

Adults over 25

723,044

Total households

402,038

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$84,954

Per capita income

$45,375

Poverty rate

10.4%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Rent over 30% of income

46.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,401

Year built

1987

Households that rent

27%

Households that own

73%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

59.9%

Black

21.9%

Asian

4.3%

Two or more races

8.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

11%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

85%

Commute time to work

26 mins

Work from home

15%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

25.5%

High school graduate or GED

28.8%

Some college or associate degree

9.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

35.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Delaware with: Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland United States

Delaware

Total population1,021,191

Rent$1,401

Year built1987

Household income$84,954

Per capita income$45,375

Poverty rate10.4%

Unemployment rate3.7%

Pennsylvania

Total population13,018,639

Rent$1,209

Year built1965

Household income$77,971

Per capita income$44,355

Poverty rate11.7%

Unemployment rate3.6%

New Jersey

Total population9,343,809

Rent$1,720

Year built1970

Household income$103,556

Per capita income$54,253

Poverty rate9.7%

Unemployment rate4.5%

Maryland

Total population6,206,011

Rent$1,705

Year built1979

Household income$103,678

Per capita income$52,979

Poverty rate9.4%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	StateDelaware	StatePennsylvania	StateNew Jersey	StateMaryland	CountyUnited States
Total population	1,021,191	13,018,639	9,343,809	6,206,011	334,922,499
Rent	$1,401	$1,209	$1,720	$1,705	$1,413
Year built	1987	1965	1970	1979	1980
Household income	$84,954	$77,971	$103,556	$103,678	$80,734
Per capita income	$45,375	$44,355	$54,253	$52,979	$44,673
Poverty rate	10.4%	11.7%	9.7%	9.4%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.7%	3.6%	4.5%	3%	4%

Delaware is compared to its neighboring states — Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Delaware

Delaware has about 1,021,191 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in Delaware is $1,401, very close to the United States level of $1,413. Household income in Delaware is $84,954, higher than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 10.4%, lower than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 73% of homes. About 27% of households in Delaware are renters. Around 46.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high housing cost burden statewide. Homes are a mix of older and newer construction, with many built around 1987.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is high, with about 35.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in Delaware is 3.7%, very close to the U.S. rate of 4%.

Delaware — Rent vs Household Income

Delaware — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Delaware (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,401 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Delaware

Annual Household Income: $84,954

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Delaware

Estimated Rate: 10.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Delaware

In Delaware, households that rent: 108,655 (27%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	108,655	27%
Owner-Occupied	293,383	73%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Delaware

In Delaware, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 50,624 (46.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	50,624	46.6%
Other renter households	58,031	53.4%
Total renter households	108,655	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Delaware

Less than High School: 184,694 people (25.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 208,060 people (28.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 71,696 people (9.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 258,594 people (35.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 723,044

📊 Unemployment Rate in Delaware

Estimated Rate: 3.7%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.