Real Estate Investing in Wilmington, Delaware (19808)

New Castle County • Population: 38,334 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 19808 (Wilmington, DE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Wilmington, DE (19808)?

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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 $375,939
Avg Monthly Rent $2,153
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $91,847
% Renters 21.1%

Market Analysis: 19808 Wilmington

The 19808 ZIP in Wilmington, DE is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $376K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 19808 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $376K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Wilmington have seen price recovery that 19808 has not matched. New Castle County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The demographic picture in 19808 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Wilmington averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,153/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 19808

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+10.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$108,674/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $194,793 $1,440 5.3% +10.0% $194,793
2BR $269,226 $1,720 4.6% +6.6% $134,613
3BR $344,130 $2,060 4.3% +6.7% $114,710
4BR $448,929 $2,300 3.7% +6.3% $112,232
5BR $543,372 +7.1% $108,674

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$391K$351K$311K$271K$231K$191KMay 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,201$2,085$1,970$1,854$1,739$1,623Apr 2024May 2025May 2026

📊 How Does 19808 Compare?

Metric 19808 Wilmington Delaware
Home Value $375,939 $405,393 $397,840
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 6.2% 6.7%
Avg Rent $2,153 $1,881 -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 19808? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

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Property managers serving New Castle County

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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
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $375,939
Monthly Rent $2,153
Price-to-Rent 14.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
4.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19808

Population: 38,334

💰 Median Household Income
$91,847
This area
$91,847
State
$82,016
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.1%
This area
21.1%
State
21.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-26.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
39.8%
This area
39.8%
State
2.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.8 years
This area
42.8 years
State
-1.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
13.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 74.2%
Other/Mixed 9.6%
Asian 8.2%
Black/African American 8.1%
Hispanic/Latino 7.2%
👶 Under 18
19.8%
This area
19.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.3%
This area
18.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
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 19808

A+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
12.8:1 Avg Class Size
$23,693 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Marbrook Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
431 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mote (Anna P.) Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
324 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Heritage Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
493 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Linden Hill Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
547 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Skyline Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
472 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

McKean (Thomas) High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
870 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A Very Good

Gateway Charter School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
191 Students
👨‍🏫
8.0:1 Class Size
💰
$28,433 Per Student
A Very Good

Brandywine Springs School

📚 K – 08 School
👥
932 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A Very Good

Dickinson (John) School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
1,032 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

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

Richey Elementary School

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

Stanton Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1800 Limestone Road, Wilmington
👥
619 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A Very Good

Red Clay Early Years Program

📚 Grade PK Elementary
📍 1621 Telegraph Road, Wilmington
👥
289 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$23,101 Per Student
A Very Good

Delcastle Technical High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 1417 Newport Road, Wilmington
👥
1,598 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,824 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 653 Off-Campus Students
C
Goldey-Beacom College
1,074 students · 1.3 mi
D
Schilling-Douglas School of Hair Design
166 students · 4.4 mi
C
Dawn Career Institute LLC
385 students · 4.8 mi
C
Wilmington University
14,678 students · 5.7 mi
B
University of Delaware
24,221 students · 6.1 mi
C
Delaware College of Art and Design
104 students · 6.2 mi
F
Strayer University-Delaware
269 students · 6.3 mi
C
Hair Academy School of Barbering & Beauty
25 students · 6.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 653 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Wilmington, DE?

Wilmington, DE median home values land near $376K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $2,153/mo-per-month rentals.

Should investors consider Wilmington, DE?

Yes - Wilmington, DE a 3.0/5 investability score. With $376K home prices against $2,153/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What does house hacking look like in Wilmington, DE?

House hacking works a challenging in Wilmington, DE. Rents of $2,153/mo against $376K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How strict are landlord regulations in Wilmington, DE?

Wilmington, DE falls under DE landlord-tenant law, which is balanced. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What kind of tenants rent in Wilmington, DE?

Tenant demand in Wilmington, DE is solid. The local workforce $2,153/mo rents across most rental classes.

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