Delaware Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Delaware was $1,116 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $1,088 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Delaware median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Delaware rental vacancy rates, Delaware rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Delaware.
Real Gross Rent in Delaware (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Delaware Median Gross Rent | $1,116 | -1.06% | +1.73% |
Delaware Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Delaware peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,128 and is now $12 (1.06%) lower. Average gross rent for Delaware peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,104 and is now $16 (1.45%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Delaware: Median, Average, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Delaware
| Date | US Median | Delaware Median | Delaware Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,116 | $1,088 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,128 | $1,104 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,120 | $1,091 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,097 | $1,094 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,113 | $1,067 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,081 | $1,084 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,052 | $1,005 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,021 | $1,023 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,037 | $1,055 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,064 | $1,041 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,082 | $1,069 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,069 | $1,017 |
| 2005 | $910 | $991 | $963 |
Delaware Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Delaware was 6.57% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Delaware
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Delaware | 6.57% | +0.80% | -1.46% |
Trends in Delaware Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Delaware peaked in 2010 at 13.41%. Since then it has fallen by 6.84% to 6.57%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 5.77%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.80%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Delaware, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Delaware
| Date | US | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 6.57% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.77% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 7.46% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 8.03% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 7.12% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.15% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.35% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.90% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.59% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 13.41% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 12.42% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.42% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.12% |
Delaware Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Delaware, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Delaware, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.08% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Delaware Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Delaware | 19.08% | -1.43% | -1.28% |
Trends in Delaware Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Delaware household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2017 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.73%. Since then it has fallen by 1.65% to 19.08%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Delaware, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Delaware
| Date | US | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.08% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.52% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.73% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.36% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.55% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.58% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.72% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.72% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.59% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 20.46% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 20.03% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 20.00% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.13% |
Renter Fraction in Delaware
You can calculate the renter fraction in Delaware in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Delaware as a fraction of total Delaware households. In 2019 29.70% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Delaware Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Delaware | 29.70% | +0.73% | -0.51% |
Trends in the Delaware Renter Fraction
The Delaware household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 30.21% and is now 0.51% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Delaware, US
History of Delaware Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 29.70% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.97% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 29.05% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 30.21% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.19% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 29.72% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 28.32% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 29.17% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 28.40% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.03% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.38% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 27.50% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 27.64% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
