City · Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, city, in New Castle County, Delaware. Wilmington had 73,512 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 70,898 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 71,727 (±50). GEOID 1077580.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
73,512
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 70,898 · ACS 2020-2024: 71,727 ±50
Median household income
$58,671
±$3,302 (90% margin)
Delaware: $84,954
Median home value
$231,400
±$9,451 (90% margin)
Delaware: $352,000
Median gross rent
$1,224
±$46 (90% margin)
Delaware: $1,401
Where is Wilmington and what county is it in?
Wilmington is a city in New Castle County, Delaware. It covers 10.9 square miles of land, 6,507 residents per square mile in 2020.
Wilmington is in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 11 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Wilmington, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 73,512 people lived in Wilmington on July 1, 2025, up 3.7% since 2020, slower than Delaware (+7.1%). The 2020 Census counted 70,898 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 71,727 (±50).
| Measure | Wilmington | New Castle County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 71,727 ±50 | 577,961 | +1,083 |
| Households | 31,655 ±936 | 224,173 | +2,849 |
| Average household size | 2.19 ±0.06 | 2.51 | −0.14 |
| Housing units | 35,514 ±811 | 236,079 | +1,430 |
Wilmington's population since 2000
From 72,664 in 2000 to 73,512 in 2025: up 1.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Wilmington as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Wilmington?
The median resident of Wilmington is 37.0 years old; 21.0% are under 18 and 15.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 51.6%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 29.3%. 9.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wilmington | New Castle County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 ±1.3 | 39.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.0% ±1.2 pts | 21.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.5% ±1.2 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Male | 47.0% ±1.6 pts | 48.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.9% ±1.4 pts | 11.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 29.3% ±1.7 pts | 52.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 51.6% ±2.3 pts | 24.9% | −5.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.5 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±1.0 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.6% ±1.5 pts | 12.8% | +3.6 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.7% ±1.7 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.7% ±1.0 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 16.0% ±1.4 pts | 12.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.7% ±1.3 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.0% ±1.2 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 33.1% ±1.9 pts | 39.7% | +5.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.9% ±1.5 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.3% ±1.8 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.7% ±0.7 pts | 3.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Wilmington earn?
Half of Wilmington's 31,655 households earn less than $58,671 a year (±$3,302), against $91,166 in New Castle County and $84,954 in Delaware. In 2015-2019 it was $55,421 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 21.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wilmington | New Castle County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,671 ±$3,302 | $91,166 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $88,930 ±$4,311 | $120,512 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,332 ±$1,740 | $47,777 | +$3,118 |
| People below the poverty line | 21.4% ±2.4 pts | 10.1% | −4.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 37.3% ±5.9 pts | 13.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 22.0% ±2.0 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.2% ±1.2 pts | 96.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.1% ±1.8 pts | 93.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Wilmington?
Owners occupy 48.0% of Wilmington's occupied homes and renters 52.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $231,400 by its owner (±$9,451). The median renter pays $1,224 a month including utilities, and 41.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wilmington | New Castle County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $231,400 ±$9,451 | $352,200 | +$24,643 |
| Median gross rent | $1,224 ±$46 | $1,448 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.3% ±4.2 pts | 38.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,579 ±$82 | $1,882 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.0% ±2.4 pts | 69.0% | +4.6 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 52.0% ±2.4 pts | 31.0% | – |
| Housing units | 35,514 ±811 | 236,079 | +1,430 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.7% ±1.4 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 9.6% ±1.3 pts | 53.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.5% ±1.0 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 42.7% ±2.4 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 22.5% ±2.2 pts | 7.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Wilmington building?
Builders took permits for 101 new housing units in Wilmington in 2025 (17 in single-family houses), 1.4 per 1,000 residents against 6.1 across Delaware.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Wilmington work and get to work?
61.3% of Wilmington's workers drive alone and 16.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.3%.
| Measure | Wilmington | New Castle County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.0% ±1.9 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.3% ±1.4 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 61.3% ±2.4 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.1% ±1.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 7.7% ±1.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Walked | 5.1% ±1.0 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 16.0% ±1.8 pts | 17.6% | +11.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.5 min ±1.2 | 25.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Wilmington?
25 census tracts lie mostly in Wilmington, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $26,611 (Tract 29) to $159,511 (Tract 13).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2New Castle County | 5,374 | $55,659 |
| Tract 26New Castle County | 4,496 | $48,327 |
| Tract 24New Castle County | 4,053 | $60,895 |
| Tract 13New Castle County | 3,857 | $159,511 |
| Tract 25New Castle County | 3,762 | $74,372 |
| Tract 22New Castle County | 3,520 | $48,420 |
| Tract 3New Castle County | 3,251 | $59,488 |
| Tract 29New Castle County | 3,157 | $26,611 |
| Tract 5New Castle County | 3,103 | $66,048 |
| Tract 6.02New Castle County | 3,012 | $44,893 |
| Tract 30.02New Castle County | 2,964 | $35,938 |
| Tract 11New Castle County | 2,944 | $50,833 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Wilmington) · Census block assignment files
How does Wilmington compare with other places in Delaware?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Wilmington is the 528th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the most populous of 57 in Delaware.
Wilmington ranks 45th of 51 places in Delaware with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 1st | 57 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 24th | 31 |
| Residents per square mile | 2nd | 51 |
| Median household income | 45th | 51 |
| Per capita income | 24th | 51 |
| Median home value | 42nd | 50 |
| Median gross rent | 34th | 47 |
| Poverty rate | 4th | 33 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27th | 50 |
| Median age | 31st | 51 |
| Owner-occupied share | 48th | 50 |
| Work from home | 20th | 38 |
| Travel time to work | 35th | 51 |
Wilmington's figures with every place in Delaware (CSV)
Every place in Delaware, sortable · Compare Wilmington with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Wilmington?
3 of the 57 figures for Wilmington on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Wilmington are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Wilmington.