Wilmington city, Delaware Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Wilmington city is a mid-sized community located in Delaware. The total population is 71,124. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 79 cities and towns in Delaware.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wilmington city is 37.0 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 41.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wilmington city is $55,269. This is 33% lower than the state median of $82,855. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.2%. This is 116% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.7%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.6%. This is 51% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $224,500. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $326,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 46.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% lower than the state average of 72.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wilmington city is Black or African American, making up 51.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 29.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (51.6% vs 21.4%). The Asian population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 4.1%.

Education

33.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 35.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.5%. Notably, 15.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wilmington city, Delaware is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Delaware state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 79 Census-designated places in Delaware. For official data, visit data.census.gov.