How much does it cost to rent in Bear, DE?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Bear, DE is $2,146. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Bear cheaper than other Delaware cities?

Bear is one of the pricier cities in Delaware, ranking #4 out of 10 cities tracked at $2,146/mo.

When was Bear rent data last updated?

Bear rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Bear, DE?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Bear, DE at $2,230 per month, which is 4% above the $2,146 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · DE

Bear

Name: Average Rent Prices in Bear, DE
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 22,370·4th most expensive in Delaware·Rental market data updated monthly for Bear, DE

Median rent (all units)

$2,146/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.0%

Month-over-Month

-8.5%

vs US Median

+$184

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Bear · $2,146

More expensive than 67% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

69/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what Bear's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,146/mo

Expected by trend

$2,376/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Bear's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,700

1 BR

$1,870

2 BR

$2,230

3 BR

$2,690

4 BR+

$3,050

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,230/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,146 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$25,752/yr

At $2,146/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 1.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.0% YoY, -8.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

22,370

Median income

$91,687

Median age

37.9

Renters

34.9%

Age distribution

22.9%

23%

26.5%

12.6%

14.9%

Under 1822.9%

18–3423%

35–5426.5%

55–6412.6%

65+14.9%

Gender

47.1%

52.9%

Male47.1%

Female52.9%

Race & ethnicity

30%

37.7%

21.2%

White30%

Black37.7%

Hispanic21.2%

Asian8.3%

Other2.7%

Education (25+)

29.6%

26.1%

32.5%

No HS diploma11.8%

HS diploma29.6%

Some college26.1%

Bachelor's+32.5%

Housing tenure

65.1%

34.9%

Owner65.1%

Renter34.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Bear, DE has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,649 → $2,146

up 30.1%

Income

$79,981 → $91,687

up 14.6%

Population

21,625 → 22,370

up 3.4%

Renter share

41% → 34.9%

-6.1 pts

Bachelor's+

34.8% → 32.5%

-2.3 pts

Median age

37.4 → 37.9

+0.5 yrs

The median rent in Bear, DE stood at $1,649 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,146, reflecting a 30.1% 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.

Community

Discussions about Bear

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View Bear rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Bear on your salary?

At $2,146/mo, how Bear rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 26.7% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 37.6% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 32.7% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 18.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 14.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 40.2% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 44.5% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 36.1% income

stretched

By apartment size

Bear rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Bear. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Bear

About renting in Bear, DE

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Bear is $2,146/mo as of August 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 28% of local median household income ($91,687/yr), Bear ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Bear an affordable city for renters?

Bear is considered affordable for renters. At $2,146/mo, rent takes approximately 28% of the local median household income ($91,687/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Bear falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Bear?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $86,000/year (~$41/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,146/mo in Bear. The local median household income is $91,687/yr, meaning the typical Bear household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Bear?

Rent in Bear has decreased 1.0% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Bear rent compare to other cities in Delaware?

Bear is one of the pricier cities in Delaware for rent, ranking #4 out of 10 tracked cities at $2,146/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bear?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Bear ($2,146/mo): New Castle ($1,669/mo), Wilmington ($1,802/mo), Elkton ($1,918/mo).

What percentage of Bear residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 34.9% of Bear households are renters, while 65.1% are owner-occupied. Bear leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.