Should I Move To
Wilmington, Delaware is home to about 71,034 people. On cost of living, it lands in the moderate band — 6% above the national average. The median renter pays around $1,157 a month against a typical household income of $54,731. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 43 out of 100 (grade D), putting it at #719 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wilmington's composite cost-of-living index lands at 106 (100 = US average), which puts it in the moderate band. At $1,157/mo against $54,731 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 25% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $203,600.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 86°F, winter averages around 28°F. Precipitation totals about 44 inches a year. Built around the car — walking isn't really an option for daily life. Air quality reads good (AQI 40).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Wilmington doesn't obviously fit families. It earns 51/100 (grade C-) on the families profile. Strongest on climate (65/100); weakest on job market (7/100).
Wilmington doesn't obviously fit retirees. It earns 52/100 (grade C-) on the retirees profile. Strongest on climate (65/100); weakest on job market (7/100).
Wilmington doesn't obviously fit remote workers. It earns 54/100 (grade C-) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on climate (65/100); weakest on job market (7/100).
Wilmington doesn't obviously fit young professionals. It earns 32/100 (grade F) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on climate (65/100); weakest on job market (7/100).
Wilmington, Delaware pulls a 43/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade D), currently ranked #719 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
Wilmington's cost-of-living index is 106 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the moderate band — 6% above the national average. Median rent runs about $1,157/mo.
Four-season — summer averages around 86°F, winter averages around 28°F, with about 44 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 23/100. Built around the car — walking isn't really an option for daily life.
Wilmington has about 71,034 residents, 32% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 37.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put Wilmington head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how Wilmington stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Take the 2-minute UrbRank quiz to get a personalized ranking of US cities based on your priorities — cost, climate, commute, jobs, and more.