Delaware Income Statistics
Delaware Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Delaware Around averageWealthier than 73% of states in US
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Delaware
- New Castle County (108% of U.S. avg)
- Sussex County (103% of U.S. avg)
- Kent County (97% of U.S. avg)
- Kent County (97% of U.S. avg)
- Sussex County (103% of U.S. avg)
- New Castle County (108% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Delaware | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $85,760 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,988 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 12.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Delaware is about 7% higher than in US. Income has been growing slower in Delaware (4.3%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Delaware earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Delaware grew by 48.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $85,760 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Delaware
| Metric | Delaware | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.525 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $70,377 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $59,319 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Delaware, it is 0.525, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 19% more than women's income in Delaware. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $387,030 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Delaware has narrowed from about 22% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $33 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Delaware | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 26,292 people are unemployed in Delaware.
The average commute time in Delaware is 22 minutes, about the same as in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Delaware has fallen from 7.7% to 5.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.0% in 2023.
Delaware Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Delaware is the 5th largest of the 6 states compared here, 1,017,061 residents against a local median of 8,702,460. Delaware's median household income, at $85,760, runs 17% below the $103,817 typical of the states around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The states themselves spread $32,322 on median household income, so Delaware sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Delaware has the 5th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 1,017,061 | $85,760 #5/6 | 4.3%/yr #4/6 | 5.1% #3/6 | 0.525 #2/6 |
| Maryland | 6,204,886 | $103,916 | 4.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.534 |
| New Jersey | 9,334,304 | $103,817 | 4.4%/yr | 6.3% | 0.544 |
| District of Columbia | 678,314 | $110,571 | 5.3%/yr | 6.3% | 0.501 |
| Pennsylvania | 13,004,688 | $78,249 | 4.4%/yr | 5.2% | 0.537 |
| Virginia | 8,702,460 | $93,527 | 4.3%/yr | 4.1% | 0.544 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Delaware has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Delaware.
How Rich Is Delaware?
Delaware has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $85,760, about 7% higher than the US average of $80,455.
Are incomes growing in Delaware?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Delaware rose 48%, from $57,822 to $85,760. Over the same years, income here lagged behind the U.S. as a whole: +48% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Delaware in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Delaware was $83,479, up 5% from $79,657 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Delaware in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Delaware was $69,348. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $85,760.
What is the Gini coefficient in Delaware?
The Gini coefficient in Delaware is 0.525. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Delaware?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Delaware has narrowed from about 22% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $33 since 2009.
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