Delaware · GEOID 10001

Kent County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 187,604 · 76,325 housing units

Median household income

$74,477

State $85,641

Median home value

$316,600

State $354,913

Median gross rent

$1,354

State $1,393

Homeownership rate

72.5%

State 73.0%

Renter cost-burden rate

52.5%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

23.3%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.5%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.7%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

6.4%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.25

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Kent County	Delaware
Population	187,604	1,021,191
Population density (per sq. mi.)	320.11	—
Median household income	$74,477	$85,641
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$112,100	—
Households	71,424	—
Average household size	2.57 people	—
Owner-occupied	72.5%	73.0%
Renter-occupied	27.5%	27.0%
Race	58.1% White · 27.0% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Kent County compared with Delaware.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

27.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.8%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	17.5%	$59,744	$1,494	$191,368
1 earner	31.1%	$61,624	$1,541	$198,366
2 earners	39.0%	$116,644	$2,916	$403,169
3+ earners	12.5%	$146,117	$3,653	$512,878

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

71,424

Average size: 2.57 people

Households with children

19,555

27.4% of households

Per-capita income

$36,191

Poverty rate: 9.6%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

72.5% owner-occupied vs. state average 73.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 74.2% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 11.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

33.8% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,993.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $316,600.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,354.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 4,901 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 5.0% · For rent 15.6% · Seasonal 16.4% · Other 52.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

30.9% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 69.1% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.1%

804 units of 76,325 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.4%

2,584 units of 76,325 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$59,582

100% MHI$74,477

120% MHI$89,372

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Kent County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$60,350	$69,000	$86,200
100% AMI	$78,470	$89,680	$112,100
120% AMI	$94,150	$107,600	$134,500

HUD FMR Area: Dover, DE MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

52.5% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (24.3% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

23.3% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Kent County.

Covered employment

52,032

Across 15 sectors

Establishments

5,431

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$60,687

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	10,927	$56,184	$178,116	−$138,484	$1,405
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	9,452	$77,453	$257,287	−$59,313	$1,936
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	8,998	$36,990	$106,670	−$209,930	$925
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	5,208	$55,293	$174,800	−$141,800	$1,382
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	3,603	$70,060	$229,768	−$86,832	$1,752
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	3,333	$57,825	$184,225	−$132,375	$1,446
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	2,972	$55,385	$175,142	−$141,458	$1,385
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	2,875	$83,088	$278,262	−$38,338	$2,077
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	1,856	$95,653	$325,033	+$8,433	$2,391
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	1,650	$45,181	$137,160	−$179,440	$1,130
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	459	$56,971	$181,046	−$135,554	$1,424
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	342	$80,270	$267,773	−$48,827	$2,007
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	291	$118,123	$408,674	+$92,074	$2,953
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	35	$36,188	$103,685	−$212,915	$905
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	31	$29,601	$79,165	−$237,435	$740

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	5,208	$55,293	$174,800	−$141,800	$1,382
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	3,971	$62,855	$202,948	−$113,652	$1,571
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	3,220	$56,949	$180,964	−$135,636	$1,424
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	2,875	$83,088	$278,262	−$38,338	$2,077
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	2,225	$31,184	$85,058	−$231,542	$780
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	1,731	$31,504	$86,249	−$230,351	$788
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,715	$68,611	$224,374	−$92,226	$1,715
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	1,330	$56,641	$179,818	−$136,782	$1,416
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	1,276	$70,539	$231,551	−$85,049	$1,763
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	1,266	$85,120	$285,826	−$30,774	$2,128
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,229	$33,697	$94,412	−$222,188	$842
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	1,219	$56,423	$179,006	−$137,594	$1,411
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,009	$71,005	$233,285	−$83,315	$1,775
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	901	$83,540	$279,945	−$36,655	$2,089
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	883	$69,040	$225,971	−$90,629	$1,726
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	872	$82,372	$275,597	−$41,003	$2,059
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	830	$32,554	$90,158	−$226,442	$814
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	819	$44,897	$136,102	−$180,498	$1,122
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	732	$64,778	$210,106	−$106,494	$1,619
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	669	$98,622	$336,085	+$19,485	$2,466
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	640	$54,233	$170,854	−$145,746	$1,356
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	639	$30,864	$83,867	−$232,733	$772
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	528	$44,067	$133,013	−$183,587	$1,102
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	445	$106,908	$366,928	+$50,328	$2,673
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	357	$54,973	$173,609	−$142,991	$1,374
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	291	$118,123	$408,674	+$92,074	$2,953
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	246	$47,891	$147,247	−$169,353	$1,197
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	240	$62,984	$203,428	−$113,172	$1,575
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	176	$59,161	$189,198	−$127,402	$1,479
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	143	$68,629	$224,441	−$92,159	$1,716
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	139	$157,547	$555,424	+$238,824	$3,939
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	112	$83,539	$279,941	−$36,659	$2,088
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	91	$96,395	$327,795	+$11,195	$2,410
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	90	$106,274	$364,568	+$47,968	$2,657
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	65	$98,379	$335,181	+$18,581	$2,459
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	58	$21,184	$47,835	−$268,765	$530
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	57	$33,559	$93,898	−$222,702	$839
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	45	$138,596	$484,882	+$168,282	$3,465
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	32	$50,854	$158,276	−$158,324	$1,271
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	31	$29,601	$79,165	−$237,435	$740
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	20	$48,120	$148,099	−$168,501	$1,203
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	16	$148,177	$520,546	+$203,946	$3,704
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	8	$25,681	$64,574	−$252,026	$642
NAICS 525 Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles NAICS 525	6	$49,574	$153,512	−$163,088	$1,239
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	3	$28,353	$74,520	−$242,080	$709

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	2,010	260	15%	$15.83	$32,920	$91,520	$823
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	2,090	(170)	(8%)	$15.92	$33,120	$92,264	$828
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	90	(90)	(50%)	$16.45	$34,220	$96,359	$856
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,820	(1,010)	(36%)	$17.37	$36,140	$103,506	$904
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,310	40	3%	$17.85	$37,130	$107,191	$928
Tellers SOC 43-3071	180	(20)	(10%)	$19.07	$39,660	$116,608	$992
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	890	(440)	(33%)	$19.47	$40,490	$119,698	$1,012
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,390	370	36%	$19.52	$40,610	$120,145	$1,015
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	970	(210)	(18%)	$19.90	$41,400	$123,085	$1,035
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	400	50	14%	$22.89	$47,600	$146,164	$1,190
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	410	40	11%	$23.95	$49,820	$154,427	$1,246
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,440	930	182%	$25.92	$53,900	$169,615	$1,348
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	270	(10)	(4%)	$27.62	$57,460	$182,866	$1,437
Electricians SOC 47-2111	340	80	31%	$29.73	$61,840	$199,170	$1,546
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	90	(30)	(25%)	$31.19	$64,870	$210,449	$1,622
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	580	0	0%	—	$69,660	$228,279	$1,742
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,700	550	48%	$46.07	$95,830	$325,692	$2,396

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 10001 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.