Wealth Index
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wilmington | Delaware Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $55,024 | $83,492 | $78,145 |
| Median Personal Income | $58,910 | $63,426 | $61,726 |
| Average income growth | 4.7% | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.8% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wilmington is about 34% lower than in Delaware. Income has been growing faster in Wilmington (4.7%/yr) than in Delaware (4.6%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Wilmington earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Delaware average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2023 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Wilmington, Delaware grew by 39.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching $55,024 in 2023. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Economic Inequality in Wilmington | Gender Pay Gap | Gini Coefficient
| Metric | Wilmington | Delaware Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.587 | 0.546 | 0.570 |
| Male Median Income | $65,065 | $69,033 | $67,746 |
| Female Median Income | $52,146 | $57,805 | $54,793 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.9% | 16.3% | 19.1% |
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 Wilmington, it is 0.587, higher than Delaware's 0.546, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.570, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Wilmington, Delaware. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $452,165 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wilmington, Delaware has widened from about 16% to 20% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,826 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wilmington | Delaware Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.5% | 13.3% | 13.4% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 2,881 people are unemployed in Wilmington, Delaware.
The average commute time in Wilmington is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Delaware.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wilmington, Delaware has fallen from 11.7% to 7.6% in 2023.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wilmington, Delaware has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Delaware, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Wilmington, Delaware.
How Rich Is Wilmington, Delaware?
Wilmington has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $55,024, about 34% lower than the Delaware average of $83,492.
What is the current median household income in Wilmington, Delaware?
As of 2023, the median household income in Wilmington, Delaware is $55,024.
What was the median household income in Wilmington in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wilmington, Delaware was $55,024.
What was the median household income in Wilmington in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wilmington, Delaware was $45,154.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wilmington, Delaware?
The Gini coefficient in Wilmington is 0.587. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.570, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Wilmington, Delaware?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wilmington, Delaware has widened from about 16% to 20% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,826 since 2009.