Real Estate Investing in Wilmington, Delaware (19801)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

New Castle County • Population: 16,170 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 19801 (Wilmington, DE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (95/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 28.1% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Wilmington, DE (19801)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $178,645
Avg Monthly Rent $1,789
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $42,453
% Renters 72.0%

Market Analysis: 19801 Wilmington

Investors looking for drama won't find it in 19801. The Wilmington, DE ZIP offers $179K homes, steady $1,789/mo rents, and a a viable market for risk profile.

ZIP 19801 works best as a steady holding rather than a trade. The investment thesis is compounding, not catalysts.

The solid case for 19801 regionally is its consistency — the ZIP has tracked DE trends without outsized volatility in either direction.

The resident base in 19801 has held steady over the past decade. A population of 16,170, a renter share near 72%, and a household-income profile tracking the county median all suggest a a strong candidate for demographic foundation.

The investor who does best in 19801 is the one who underwrote it honestly at the start — 0.0% yield, 0.0% growth, $1,789/mo rent — and then stuck to the plan.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Wilmington:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,789/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 19801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
8.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+14.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$44,732/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $153,799 $1,610 7.5% +14.5% $76,899
3BR $171,659 $1,930 8.1% +13.7% $57,220
4BR $193,508 $2,160 8.0% +12.8% $48,377
5BR $223,662 +11.1% $44,732

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$194K$167K$140K$113K$87K$60KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,986$1,785$1,584$1,383$1,183$982May 2017Dec 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 19801 Compare?

Metric 19801 Wilmington Delaware
Home Value $178,645 $404,416 $397,840
5-Year CAGR 8.4% 5.4% 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,789 $1,955 -
Cap Rate 7.8% 4.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 19801? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,789/mo on homes averaging $178,645 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 5/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

72% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 19801 (Wilmington, DE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving New Castle County

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Swalm Property Management provides property management solutions. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
7.8%
Good
5yr Growth
+8.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $178,645
Monthly Rent $1,789
Price-to-Rent 8.3:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 12.0%
Cap Rate 7.8%
5-Year IRR 16.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 7.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (7.8%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
15.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19801

Population: 16,170

💰 Median Household Income
$42,453
This area
$42,453
State
$82,016
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
72.0%
This area
72.0%
State
21.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
-26.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.1%
This area
24.1%
State
2.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.2 years
This area
34.2 years
State
-1.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.9%
This area
15.9%
State
13.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 69.1%
White 18.4%
Other/Mixed 9.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.1%
Asian 3.5%
👶 Under 18
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
8.8%
This area
8.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
28.1%
This area
28.1%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 19801

A Avg School Grade
7 Schools
13.4:1 Avg Class Size
$22,848 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

The Bancroft School

📚 01 – 09 High School
👥
535 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$30,267 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Stubbs Early Education Center

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
135 Students
👨‍🏫
7.5:1 Class Size
💰
$30,267 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Howard High School of Technology

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
902 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,824 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Kuumba Academy Charter School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
599 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,265 Per Student
A Very Good

Great Oaks Charter School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
145 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,860 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Freire Charter School

📚 08 – 12 High School Charter
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,159 Per Student
B+ Above Average

First State Montessori Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
643 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,293 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Baltz (Austin D.) Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1500 Spruce Avenue, Wilmington
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

duPont (Pierre S.) Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 701 West 34th Street, Wilmington
👥
749 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,794 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Harlan (David W. ) Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 3601 Jefferson Street, Wilmington
👥
343 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,794 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lewis (William C.) Dual Language Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 920 North Van Buren Street, Wilmington
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Shortlidge (Evan G.) Academy

📚 K – 02 Elementary
📍 100 West 18th Street, Wilmington
👥
394 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 391 Off-Campus Students
C
Delaware College of Art and Design
104 students · 1.0 mi
F
Strayer University-Delaware
269 students · 1.1 mi
C
Wilmington University
14,678 students · 3.8 mi
C
Salem Community College
1,094 students · 4.5 mi
C
Goldey-Beacom College
1,074 students · 7.7 mi
C
Dawn Career Institute LLC
385 students · 8.1 mi
D
Academy of Massage and Bodywork
113 students · 9.4 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Delaware
130 students · 10.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are eviction rules reasonable in Wilmington, DE?

Landlord-friendliness in Wilmington, DE is balanced. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Where do rents currently stand in Wilmington, DE?

Rents in Wilmington, DE run near $1,789/mo. Compared with median home prices of $179K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Which real estate strategy fits Wilmington, DE?

Most investors in Wilmington, DE run a steady buy-and-hold investing strategy. It aligns with the 5.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is Wilmington, DE good for house hacking?

House hacking works an attractive in Wilmington, DE. Rents of $1,789/mo against $179K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How expensive is real estate in Wilmington, DE?

Expect median prices around $179K in Wilmington, DE. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been even-keeled.

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How 19801 ranks in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

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