Rents are 5% below what Bear's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,327 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Bear usually run 1% below trend in December and 0.8% above it in April, about $42 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Bear is 0.7% below its high of $2,343 in March 2026, at $2,327 as of September 2026.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($91,687) is $2,292 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,230); a 3-bedroom is $2,690.
Newark, 6 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,036/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bear. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Bear, DE is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 32.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bear, DE has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Bear, DE stood at $1,749 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,327, reflecting a 33.0% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $79,981 in 2021 to $91,687 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 3.4% since 2021, moving from about 21,625 residents to roughly 22,370. Renters now make up 34.9% of households, compared with 41% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 32.5% of adults here, versus 34.8% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Bear, DE market of 2021.
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At $2,327/mo, how Bear rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bear rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bear. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bear
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Bear is $2,327/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,700/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,230/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,870/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,690/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($91,687/yr), Bear ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Bear?
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How does Bear rent compare to other cities in Delaware?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bear?
At $2,327/mo, rent takes ~30% of Bear's median household income ($91,687/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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