Poverty and living standards in Wilmington, Delaware: official figures
21.4% of residents of Wilmington (14,863 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 94th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Delaware: 10.4%).
How many children live in poverty in Wilmington?
37.3% of children under 18 in Wilmington lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (5,525 children), 24th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Delaware: 15.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Wilmington?
By age, the poverty rate in Wilmington was 40.5% for children under 6 and 20.5% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Wilmington live in deep poverty?
7,911 people in Wilmington, 11.4% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 71st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Wilmington are cost-burdened?
52.2% of renting households in Wilmington spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (8,238 households), 379th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Delaware: 49.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Wilmington spend half their income on rent?
25.2% of renting households in Wilmington spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 344th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Wilmington are food insecure?
An estimated 28.1% of adults in Wilmington experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 67th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 22.6% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Wilmington compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Wilmington ranks 94 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Galveston | 21.4% |
| 92 | La Crosse | 21.4% |
| 93 | Normal | 21.4% |
| 94 | Wilmington | 21.4% |
| 95 | Philadelphia | 21.4% |
| 96 | Rockford | 21.3% |
| 97 | Paterson | 21.2% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Wilmington ranks 24 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Lorain | 38.7% |
| 22 | Port Arthur | 38.4% |
| 23 | Fort Pierce | 37.5% |
| 24 | Wilmington | 37.3% |
| 25 | Cincinnati | 36.2% |
| 26 | Springfield | 36.1% |
| 27 | Edinburg | 36.1% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Wilmington ranks 71 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Galveston | 11.6% |
| 69 | Berkeley | 11.6% |
| 70 | Owensboro | 11.4% |
| 71 | Wilmington | 11.4% |
| 72 | Erie | 11.4% |
| 73 | Providence | 11.3% |
| 74 | Jonesboro | 11.2% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Wilmington ranks 445 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 442 | Buffalo | 52.3% |
| 443 | Kokomo | 52.3% |
| 444 | Apple Valley | 52.2% |
| 445 | Wilmington | 52.2% |
| 446 | Tracy | 52.2% |
| 447 | Muncie | 52.2% |
| 448 | Tigard | 52.2% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Wilmington ranks 68 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Tuscaloosa | 28.3% |
| 66 | San Jacinto | 28.2% |
| 67 | Tulare | 28.1% |
| 68 | Wilmington | 28.1% |
| 69 | Montgomery | 28.0% |
| 70 | Dayton | 28.0% |
| 71 | Hesperia | 27.9% |
More on Wilmington: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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