Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Wilmington, DE

    Is Wilmington a good place to live?

    Watch Wilmington

    Wilmington ranks #1 of 3 Delaware cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (63/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $224,500
    +10.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,187
    per month
    Household income
    $55,269
    median
    Unemployment
    7.6%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Wilmington

    The median home value in Wilmington is $224,500 and median rent is $1,187 a month, against a median household income of $55,269. Homes cost about 4.1× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Wilmington crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Delaware the 2025 rate was 352 violent and 1,582 property crimes per 100,000 people — #19 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Wilmington, DE

    Wilmington has about 71,124 residents, 7.6% unemployment and 18% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Wilmington with

    Wilmington vs DoverWilmington vs Newark

    More: Where to move in Delaware · Best counties in Delaware

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report