Real Estate Investing in Wilmington, Delaware (19806)

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

New Castle County • Population: 9,934 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 19806 (Wilmington, DE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Wilmington, DE (19806)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $363,263
Avg Monthly Rent $2,028
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,196
% Renters 48.8%

Market Analysis: 19806 Wilmington

The 19806 ZIP covers a section of Wilmington that demands careful diligence. Prices near $363K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 19806 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Looking more closely, 19806 offers a low basis, the region around Wilmington has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Looking more closely, 9,934 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,028/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 19806

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+9.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$133,870/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $160,682 $1,460 6.5% +9.4% $160,682
2BR $267,740 $1,740 4.7% +8.1% $133,870
3BR $409,499 $2,090 3.7% +5.7% $136,500
4BR $564,302 $2,330 3.0% +6.1% $141,075
5BR $705,885 +7.6% $141,177

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$374K$344K$313K$283K$253K$223KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,063$1,961$1,859$1,758$1,656$1,554Dec 2022Oct 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 19806 Compare?

Metric 19806 Wilmington Delaware
Home Value $363,263 $404,416 $397,840
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% 6.7%
Avg Rent $2,028 $1,955 -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 19806? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 49% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 19806 (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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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $363,263
Monthly Rent $2,028
Price-to-Rent 14.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
7.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19806

Population: 9,934

💰 Median Household Income
$80,196
This area
$80,196
State
$82,016
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
48.8%
This area
48.8%
State
21.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-26.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
70.8%
This area
70.8%
State
2.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.1 years
This area
45.1 years
State
-1.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.6%
This area
7.6%
State
13.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 76.1%
Black/African American 15.2%
Other/Mixed 7.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.0%
Asian 1.8%
👶 Under 18
10.0%
This area
10.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.1%
This area
26.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
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 19806

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.4:1 Avg Class Size
$23,101 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Johnson (Joseph E. Jr) Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 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

Shortlidge (Evan G.) Academy

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

The Bayard School

📚 01 – 08 School
📍 200 South duPont Street, Wilmington
👥
545 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$30,267 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
F
Strayer University-Delaware
269 students · 1.5 mi
C
Delaware College of Art and Design
104 students · 1.6 mi
C
Wilmington University
14,678 students · 5.6 mi
C
Salem Community College
1,094 students · 6.6 mi
C
Goldey-Beacom College
1,074 students · 6.9 mi
C
Dawn Career Institute LLC
385 students · 8.9 mi
D
Schilling-Douglas School of Hair Design
166 students · 10.1 mi
C
Neumann University
2,171 students · 10.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Wilmington, DE make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Wilmington, DE reflects its $363K prices and $2,028/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within DE.

What is the typical rental rate in Wilmington, DE?

Investors in Wilmington, DE typically see rents near $2,028/mo per month against $363K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Wilmington, DE?

Wilmington, DE vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

What type of investing works in Wilmington, DE?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Wilmington, DE. With home values at $363K and rents near $2,028/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.

How strong is tenant demand in Wilmington, DE?

Wilmington, DE draws a consistent base of working renters. Demand at the $2,028/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 19806 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 19806 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 19806 ranks in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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