Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Wilmington, DE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.1% of gross income.

Wilmington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

Wilmington median rent
$1,872/mo
Carpenter salary (Delaware)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
36.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Wilmington's median rent of $1,872 exceeds that threshold by $318/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 62.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Delaware cities have lower median rent than Wilmington, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

New Castle, DE
$1,747/mo (33.7% of income)
New Castle, DE
$1,726/mo (33.3% of income)
Dover, DE
$1,726/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wilmington

View full rent data for Wilmington, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Wilmington, DE?

Median rent in Wilmington is $1,872 a month. A typical carpenter in Delaware earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 36.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Wilmington?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Delaware (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Wilmington's current median rent is $1,872/mo, which is $318/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Wilmington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Delaware works roughly 62.6 hours a month to cover Wilmington's median rent of $1,872.

Where is rent cheaper than Wilmington for a carpenter?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include New Castle ($1,747/mo), New Castle ($1,726/mo), Dover ($1,726/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Delaware state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Wilmington, DE. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.