Rank #45 by Population · Updated April 2026

Delaware Population 2026

Source·US Census ACS 5-Year 2023Updated·Apr 12, 2026Reviewed by·Population Review Data Team

The population of Delaware is 1,005,872 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 45th-most populous state in the United States. The median household income is $82,855, the median home value is $326,800, and the median age is 41.5.

Delaware's population has grown 419.9% since 1910 (202,322 → 1,051,917).

1,005,872

Population

516

People / sq mi

$82,855

Median Income

41.5

Median Age

Delaware covers 1,949 sq mi of land at a density of 516.2 people per square mile.

About Delaware

Delaware is a US state with a population of 1,005,872. It ranks #45 among US states by population. The median age is 41.5, older than the national median. The population is 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

The median household income in Delaware is $82,855, above the US median of $74,580. 7.3% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $326,800, with monthly rent averaging $1,341. The homeownership rate of 72.3% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Delaware reflects 35.3% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, near the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 13.3% of workers primarily work from home, similar to the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 26.1 minutes each way.

Delaware, #45 by population

Delaware Population History (1910-2024)

The state of Delaware had a population of 202,322 in 1910 and 1,051,917 in 2024, a 5.2× growth over 114 years. The peak was 1,051,917 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.46%.

1,051,917

Population (2024)

202,322

Population (1910)

1,051,917

Peak (2024)

1.46%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
1910	202,322	-	-	decennial
1920	223,003	+20,681	+0.98%	decennial
1930	238,380	+15,377	+0.67%	decennial
1940	266,505	+28,125	+1.12%	decennial
1950	318,085	+51,580	+1.79%	decennial
1960	446,292	+128,207	+3.44%	decennial
1970	548,104	+101,812	+2.08%	decennial
1980	594,338	+46,234	+0.81%	decennial
1990	666,168	+71,830	+1.15%	decennial
2000	783,600	+117,432	+1.64%	decennial
2010	897,934	+114,334	+1.37%	decennial
2020	989,948	+92,014	+0.98%	decennial
2020	991,928	+1,980	-	estimate
2021	1,005,062	+13,134	+1.32%	estimate
2022	1,020,625	+15,563	+1.55%	estimate
2023	1,036,423	+15,798	+1.55%	estimate
2024	1,051,917	+15,494	+1.49%	estimate

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.4%

5-9

5.7%

10-14

6.1%

15-19

6.3%

20-24

5.8%

25-34

12.8%

35-44

12.0%

45-54

11.7%

55-59

6.8%

60-64

7.4%

65-74

12.2%

75-84

5.9%

85+

1.9%

Male: 48.5% · Female: 51.5%

Race & Ethnicity

White	61.8%
Black or African American	21.9%
Asian	0.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0.4%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0.2%
Two or More Races	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.4%

Economy & Income

$82,855

Median Household Income

$44,219

Per Capita Income

7.3%

Poverty Rate

3.1%

Unemployment Rate

$109,519

Mean Household Income

58.7%

Employment Rate

Cost of Living

Delaware's overall price level is 99.8 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 0.2% lower the US average. Adjusting for cost of living, Delaware's median household income of $82,855 has the buying power of $83,014 in average-priced areas.

99.8

Price Level (US = 100)

$83,014

COL-Adjusted Median Income

$82,855

Nominal Median Income

Education

91.4%

High School Graduate+

35.3%

Bachelor's Degree+

Births & Fertility

10,816

Live Births (2022)

10.8

Birth Rate (per 1,000)

52.7%

Births to Married Mothers

Births by Mother's Age

Under 20

1,209 (11.2%)

20-24

1,849 (17.1%)

25-29

2,941 (27.2%)

30-34

3,305 (30.6%)

35-39

1,820 (16.8%)

40+

402 (3.7%)

Births by Mother's Race

White	62.0%
Black or African American	29.1%
Hispanic or Latino	18.5%

Housing

$326,800

Median Home Value

$1,341

Median Rent

457,958

Total Housing Units

72.3%

Owner-Occupied

27.7%

Renter-Occupied

13.5%

Vacant

Languages Spoken at Home

85.2% of Delaware residents age 5+ speak only English at home. The most common non-English languages spoken at home in Delaware:

#	Language	Speakers	% of pop. 5+
1	Spanish	32,810	3.45%
2	Chinese (incl. Mandarin, Cantonese)	3,004	0.32%
3	Haitian	2,527	0.27%
4	French (incl. Cajun)	1,176	0.12%
5	Arabic	1,172	0.12%
6	Gujarati	1,054	0.11%
7	Korean	926	0.10%
8	Hindi	874	0.09%
9	Vietnamese	855	0.09%
10	Tagalog (incl. Filipino)	733	0.08%

Commute

1.8%

Drive Alone

2.0%

Carpool

13.3%

Work From Home

26.1 min

Avg Commute

Largest Cities in Delaware

#	City	Population	Median Income	Median Home
1	Wilmington	71,124	$55,269	$224,500
2	Dover	39,491	$58,336	$248,500
3	Newark	30,309	$71,373	$357,600
4	Middletown	24,071	$115,252	$399,500
5	Bear	22,604	$88,985	$280,200
6	Glasgow	16,095	$109,803	$346,200
7	Brookside	15,262	$72,031	$264,800
8	Hockessin	13,608	$172,695	$550,200
9	Smyrna	13,031	$70,473	$273,400
10	Milford	12,193	$55,265	$274,600
11	Pike Creek Valley	11,992	$93,896	$299,500

Counties in Delaware

#	County	Population	Median Income
1	New Castle County	573,030	$89,901
2	Sussex County	247,799	$78,162
3	Kent County	185,043	$72,872

Compare Delaware

vs Rhode Island vs Montana vs Maine vs South Dakota vs North Dakota

Rankings for Delaware

Largest Cities Richest Cities Most Expensive Cities Youngest Cities Most Educated Cities Highest Rent Cities Largest Counties Richest Counties Cost of Living

Metro areas in Delaware

Philadelphia (6,241,882)Dover (185,043)All US metros →

Congressional districts in Delaware

DE-AL (1,005,872)All US districts →

Largest school districts in Delaware

Christina School District (176,766)Red Clay Consolidated School District (139,682)Indian River School District (98,441)Brandywine School District (92,908)Colonial School District (90,439)Appoquinimink School District (72,684)Cape Henlopen School District (67,959)Capital School District (60,312)Caesar Rodney School District (50,510)Smyrna School District (40,677)Milford School District (34,585)Lake Forest School District (27,402)All US school districts →

Other states

Montana Rhode Island South Dakota North Dakota Alaska All states →

State rankings

Densest States by Population per Square Mile Least Densely Populated States US States by Land Area Populated States Oldest States by Median Age Youngest States by Median Age Racially Diverse States States With Largest Hispanic Population States With Largest Black Population States With Largest Asian Population All rankings →

Common questions about Delaware

What is the population of Delaware?What is the median household income in Delaware?What is the median home value in Delaware?What is the largest city in Delaware?What is the largest county in Delaware?What is the cheapest city in Delaware?What are the demographics of Delaware?What is the cost of living in Delaware?Is Delaware growing or shrinking?

Frequently Asked Questions

Delaware has a population of 1,005,872 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 45th-most populous state in the United States.

Delaware is gaining population, with a +419.9% change over the available historical Census record. Delaware's population has grown 419.9% since 1910 (202,322 → 1,051,917).

The median household income in Delaware is $82,855, with a per capita income of $44,219. 7.3% of the population lives below the federal poverty level.

61.8% of Delaware's population identifies as White (Census ACS 2023). 21.9% is Black or African American, 0.0% is Asian, and 1.4% is Hispanic or Latino (any race, counted separately under Census methodology).

Delaware is 61.8% White, 21.9% Black or African American, 0.0% Asian, and 1.4% Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100% in some breakdowns.

The median age in Delaware is 41.5 years. The population is 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

Delaware's population has grown 419.9% since 1910 (202,322 → 1,051,917).

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Delaware's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

Sources: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, CDC National Vital Statistics System (2022)

Demographic data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates. Birth statistics from the CDC National Vital Statistics System via Data Commons. California does not report marital status on birth certificates. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.