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Can A Software Developer Afford Rent in Wilmington, DE?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.9% of gross income.

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

Wilmington median rent
$1,872/mo
Software Developer salary (Delaware)
$140,872/yr
Rent as % of income
15.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,739, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,522/mo in rent. Wilmington's median rent of $1,872 leaves roughly $1,650/mo of headroom under that threshold. A software developer works roughly 27.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a software developer salary

Software developer pay is among the highest of any large occupation, which makes rent affordability comfortable in nearly every US city. The interesting question for developers is not whether they can afford rent, but how much surplus is left after rent in different markets. At the national-average developer salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,453 a month in rent — well above the median rent in even the most expensive US metros. The per-city pages quantify how much paycheck remains after typical local rent at the local developer-pay estimate.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

New Castle, DE
$1,747/mo (14.9% of income)
New Castle, DE
$1,726/mo (14.7% of income)
Dover, DE
$1,726/mo (14.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wilmington

View full rent data for Wilmington, DE →

Frequently asked questions

Can a software developer afford rent in Wilmington, DE?

Median rent in Wilmington is $1,872 a month. A typical software developer in Delaware earns about $140,872 a year, which makes that rent 15.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a software developer afford in Wilmington?

Using the 30% rule, a software developer salary in Delaware (~$140,872/yr) supports up to $3,522 a month in rent. Wilmington's current median rent is $1,872/mo, which leaves a $1,650/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $68 an hour, a software developer in Delaware works roughly 27.6 hours a month to cover Wilmington's median rent of $1,872.

Where is rent cheaper than Wilmington for a software developer?

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 software developer 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.