Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Wilmington, Delaware
A $225,000 home here costs
$1,868per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $80,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,227. The real number is $641 higher every month, 52% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare New Castle County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Wilmington against New Castle County and Delaware
| Measure | Wilmington | New Castle County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $224,500 | $329,800 |
| Median property tax | $1,905 | $2,444 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.849% | 0.741% |
| Median gross rent | $1,187 | $1,379 |
| Population | 71,124 | 573,030 |
The weather behind that power bill
Wilmington sits in New Castle County, which averages a high of 86.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 25.6°F in its coldest, with 45.33" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,229 cooling and 4,647 heating degree days, which is what sets the $170 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for New Castle County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in New Castle County
Full New Castle County cost breakdown · Every county in Delaware
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Wilmington averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Wilmington every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Wilmington I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Wilmington?
A $225,000 home in Wilmington, Delaware costs approximately $1,868 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,227 principal and interest, $159 property tax, $56 homeowners insurance, $238 utilities and $188 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Wilmington?
Wilmington has an effective property tax rate of 0.849%, based on a median home value of $224,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,905. That is higher than the New Castle County average of 0.741%.
What is the average home price in Wilmington?
The median owner-occupied home value in Wilmington, Delaware is $224,500, against $329,800 across New Castle County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wilmington?
Median gross rent in Wilmington is $1,187 a month, against $1,868 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Wilmington?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Wilmington, Delaware at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $80,000 a year. That covers the full $1,868 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Wilmington, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Delaware.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.