ZIP Code · DE

ZIP 19809

Part of Wilmington, DE

Pop. 14,311·New Castle County·18th most expensive ZIP in Delaware

Median rent (all units)

$1,653/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.5%

Month-over-Month

-0.1%

vs US Median

-$279

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 19809 · $1,653

More affordable than 62% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,370

1 BR

$1,500

2 BR

$1,780

3 BR

$2,130

4 BR+

$2,380

Research median

$1,780/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 19809 is 0.1% below its high of $1,655 in August 2026, at $1,653 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Delaware

Rent in ZIP 19809 changed +4.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 17 Delaware ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.2%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($81,288) is $2,032 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,780); a 3-bedroom is $2,130.

Rank in Wilmington

2nd cheapest of 7 ZIP codes in Wilmington.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 19013, 9 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,386/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 19809. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,836/yr

At $1,653/mo median

Location

CityWilmington

StateDE

CountyNew Castle County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.5% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 19809 (Wilmington, DE) is majority owner-occupied, 43.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

14,311

Median income

$81,288

Median age

38.6

Renters

25.9%

Age distribution

24.7%

18.8%

23%

16.7%

16.8%

Under 1824.7%

18–3418.8%

35–5423%

55–6416.7%

65+16.8%

Gender

51.6%

48.4%

Male51.6%

Female48.4%

Race & ethnicity

66.9%

20%

White66.9%

Black20%

Hispanic5%

Asian4.1%

Other4%

Education (25+)

23.2%

29.4%

43.4%

No HS diploma4%

HS diploma23.2%

Some college29.4%

Bachelor's+43.4%

Housing tenure

74.1%

25.9%

Owner74.1%

Renter25.9%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 19809 in Wilmington, DE has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,434 → $1,653

up 15.3%

Income

$76,982 → $81,288

up 5.6%

Population

15,111 → 14,311

down 5.3%

Renter share

29.5% → 25.9%

-3.6 pts

Bachelor's+

41.5% → 43.4%

+1.9 pts

Median age

37.9 → 38.6

+0.7 yrs

Since 2023, the typical rent in ZIP 19809 in Wilmington, DE has increased from $1,434 to $1,653, a 15.3% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $81,288 today, compared with $76,982 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 5.3% since 2021, moving from about 15,111 residents to roughly 14,311. Renters now make up 25.9% of households, compared with 29.5% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 19809

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 19809 covers Wilmington, DE. The median rent here is $1,653/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,500/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,780/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($81,288/yr), ZIP 19809 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 19809?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,653/mo in ZIP 19809. The local median household income is $81,288/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 19809?

Rent in ZIP 19809 has risen 4.5% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.1% below its high of $1,655 in August 2026.

How does ZIP 19809 compare to other ZIPs in Delaware?

ZIP 19809 is one of the more affordable among Delaware ZIP codes for rent, ranking #18 of 19 at $1,653/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 19809 changed +4.6%, against a typical +5.2% across the 17 Delaware ZIP codes Zillow tracks.