Real Estate Investing in Wilmington, Delaware (19805)

New Castle County • Population: 40,315 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 19805 (Wilmington, DE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Wilmington, DE (19805)?

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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 $221,719
Avg Monthly Rent $1,573
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,912
% Renters 44.6%

Market Analysis: 19805 Wilmington

This part of New Castle County is not an easy win. The 19805 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 19805 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 19805 and stronger Wilmington ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Demographically, 19805 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategy in 19805 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $222K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.49% as of Jun 25 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Wilmington:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,573/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 19805

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$56,628/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $177,342 $1,550 6.3% +10.4% $88,671
3BR $220,040 $1,860 6.1% +8.5% $73,347
4BR $252,074 $2,070 5.9% +8.2% $63,018
5BR $283,138 +8.2% $56,628

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$232K$205K$177K$150K$122K$95KMay 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,664$1,574$1,483$1,393$1,302$1,212Jul 2022Jun 2024May 2026

📊 How Does 19805 Compare?

Metric 19805 Wilmington Delaware
Home Value $221,719 $405,393 $397,840
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.2% 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,573 $1,881 -
Cap Rate 5.5% 4.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 19805? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 45% 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 19805 (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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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $221,719
Monthly Rent $1,573
Price-to-Rent 11.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.5%
Cap Rate 5.5%
5-Year IRR 12.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.5%). 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
8.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19805

Population: 40,315

💰 Median Household Income
$55,912
This area
$55,912
State
$82,016
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.6%
This area
44.6%
State
21.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
State
-26.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.2%
This area
23.2%
State
2.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.5 years
This area
36.5 years
State
-1.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.9%
This area
8.9%
State
13.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 47.4%
Black/African American 34.1%
Other/Mixed 17.8%
Hispanic/Latino 14.3%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
25.4%
This area
25.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.5%
This area
13.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.3%
This area
18.3%
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 19805

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
10.6:1 Avg Class Size
$25,690 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Baltz (Austin D.) Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

The Bayard School

📚 01 – 08 School
👥
545 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$30,267 Per Student
A Very Good

Pulaski Early Education Center

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
74 Students
👨‍🏫
7.4:1 Class Size
💰
$30,267 Per Student
B Good

Odyssey Charter School

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
2,192 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,550 Per Student
C+ Average

Douglass School

📚 02 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
91 Students
💰
$30,267 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Lewis (William C.) Dual Language Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 920 North Van Buren Street, Wilmington
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Richardson Park Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 16 Idella Avenue, Wilmington
👥
509 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Johnson (Joseph E. Jr) Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 2100 Gilpin Avenue, Wilmington
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Richey Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 105 East Highland Avenue, Wilmington
👥
375 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

The Bancroft School

📚 01 – 09 High School
📍 700 North Lombard Street, Wilmington
👥
535 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 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
C
Delaware College of Art and Design
104 students · 2.3 mi
F
Strayer University-Delaware
269 students · 2.4 mi
C
Wilmington University
14,678 students · 4.4 mi
C
Goldey-Beacom College
1,074 students · 5.1 mi
C
Dawn Career Institute LLC
385 students · 6.9 mi
C
Salem Community College
1,094 students · 7.3 mi
D
Schilling-Douglas School of Hair Design
166 students · 8.2 mi
D
Academy of Massage and Bodywork
113 students · 8.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home sale price in Wilmington, DE?

In Wilmington, DE the median home value sits at $222K. Against the broader DE market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is rental property easy to operate in Wilmington, DE?

Wilmington, DE operates under DE law, which is balanced overall for landlords. Expect stable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Is real estate in Wilmington, DE a good investment right now?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Wilmington, DE ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $222K and rents of $1,573/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Can I house hack in Wilmington, DE?

House hacking in Wilmington, DE is reasonable to execute. Prices around $222K and rents of $1,573/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What is the tenant pool like in Wilmington, DE?

Tenant demand in Wilmington, DE is solid. The local workforce $1,573/mo rents across most rental classes.

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