What are the schools like in Wilmington, DE?

Wilmington is served primarily by Brandywine School District. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in Wilmington?

The median household income in Wilmington, DE is $54,731 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.6%.

What is the weather like in Wilmington, DE?

Wilmington has an average high temperature of 37.9°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 12.0 inches.

Wilmington, DE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Wilmington, DE affordable or expensive?

Wilmington's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wilmington is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $203,600 and the median rent is $1,157 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wilmington, DE?

Wilmington has a violent crime rate of 1127.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3158.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wilmington, DE a Good Place to Live?

Wilmington is a mid-sized city of 71,034 in Delaware, with a median household income of $54,731 and a 8.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Wilmington stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wilmington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wilmington city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 103.5

Wilmington's overall cost of living index is 103.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wilmington costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Wilmington, DE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$203,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,157	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	45.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,731	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Wilmington's violent crime rate is 1127.0 per 100,000 residents — 197% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1127.0 /100k

Property Crime

3158.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Wilmington is served primarily by Brandywine School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wilmington, DE	National Avg
School District	Brandywine School District	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wilmington sees average highs of 37.9°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 50.3 inches of annual precipitation and 12.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wilmington, DE
Average High — January	37.9°F
Average High — July	84.0°F
Annual Precipitation	50.3"
Annual Snowfall	12.0"

Demographics

Metric	Wilmington, DE	National Avg
Population	71,034	—
Median Age	36.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	34.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	53.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.5%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	21.8%	22.2%
65 and over	14.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Edgemoor, DE 2 mi Bellefonte, DE 3 mi Elsmere, DE 3 mi Penns Grove, NJ 3 mi Carneys Point, NJ 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Wilmington

Wilmington, DE is covered by 6 ZIP codes:

19801 19802 19809 19805 19806 19803

Wilmington vs Other Cities

Wilmington, DE vs Edgemoor, DE Wilmington, DE vs Bellefonte, DE Wilmington, DE vs Elsmere, DE Wilmington, DE vs Penns Grove, NJ Wilmington, DE vs Carneys Point, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wilmington, DE affordable or expensive?

Wilmington's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Wilmington roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $203,600 and median rent is $1,157/month.

What is the crime rate in Wilmington, DE?

Wilmington's violent crime rate is 1127.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3158.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wilmington?

Public schools in Wilmington are operated by Brandywine School District. The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 32.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wilmington, DE a good place to live?

Wilmington, DE has a population of 71,034, a median household income of $54,731, and an unemployment rate of 8.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Wilmington?

Wilmington averages 37.9°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.3 inches with about 12.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 19801, 19802, 19809, 19805, 19806, 19803.

What is the population of Wilmington?

The population of Wilmington, Delaware is 71,034 with a median age of 36.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wilmington?

Key numbers for living in Wilmington: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $203,600, median household income $54,731, crime index 238 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wilmington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.