Population 1,021,191 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Delaware: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Delaware
Household size in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Delaware average 2.58 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.63, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in western Delaware and smallest in southeastern Delaware.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Delaware is 43.0 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.4, in line with the national trend. Delaware is older than at least four in five states.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Delaware (12.3%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Delaware has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five states.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Delaware
Renters in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Delaware own their homes; 27.0% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Just over a third of owners (35.5%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.6 points, mirroring the country. Few states have a lower share of renters: only four of 51.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Just as many homes sit empty in Delaware as nationally: 9.6%. Vacancy has fallen 3.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Delaware is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in southeastern Delaware, the oldest in northern Delaware.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,037 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,109 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,228 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,514 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$477 | +$606 |
Rent in Delaware runs $1,514 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $477 a month from 2006–10, a 46% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.9% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Delaware
Bachelor's degrees in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.2% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Delaware as nationally: 35.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Delaware have finished high school (91.5%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Delaware
| Period | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Delaware is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Delaware compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 2.58 | 43.0 | 12.3% | 27.0% | 9.6% | 1984 | $1,514 | 35.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| Maryland | 2.68 | 40.6 | 11.7% | 32.4% | 7.1% | 1978 | $1,869 | 43.4% | 90.9% | 5.0% |
| District of Columbia | 2.09 | 36.2 | 12.2% | 58.5% | 10.4% | 1963 | $2,078 | 63.4% | 92.7% | 7.0% |
| New Jersey | 2.76 | 40.9 | 11.3% | 36.2% | 6.6% | 1969 | $1,896 | 43.4% | 90.2% | 6.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 2.46 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 30.7% | 9.1% | 1967 | $1,323 | 35.6% | 91.8% | 5.4% |
| Virginia | 2.62 | 40.3 | 10.7% | 32.7% | 8.7% | 1984 | $1,743 | 42.5% | 91.6% | 4.3% |
| New York | 2.65 | 40.8 | 11.6% | 45.7% | 9.7% | 1961 | $1,794 | 39.8% | 87.3% | 6.6% |
| Connecticut | 2.55 | 42.1 | 11.4% | 33.5% | 7.9% | 1967 | $1,702 | 42.3% | 91.2% | 5.6% |
| Rhode Island | 2.49 | 41.6 | 11.7% | 36.4% | 9.2% | 1961 | $1,448 | 37.8% | 89.4% | 5.9% |
| West Virginia | 2.43 | 43.2 | 10.4% | 25.1% | 14.9% | 1976 | $905 | 25.0% | 89.4% | 5.5% |
| Massachusetts | 2.52 | 41.4 | 10.6% | 37.5% | 7.9% | 1963 | $1,860 | 47.2% | 91.0% | 5.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Alaska · Hawaii · Puerto Rico · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · North Dakota
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Delaware. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.