Wilmington rents moved lower in September
Apartment asking prices in Wilmington declined from a year earlier, offering some relief to renters even as prices remain elevated across Delaware. The typical Wilmington apartment listed for rent reached $1,730 in September 2026, according to an analysis of data from rental marketplace Zumper.
That figure was 4% below Wilmington’s September 2025 median of $1,807. It also marked a modest decrease from the previous month, when the median listing price was $1,775. The figures describe advertised rents rather than the amount paid by every tenant in the city, making them a snapshot of the market available to people searching for a new lease.
The data includes listings for apartments ranging from studios through four-bedroom units in the Wilmington metropolitan area. Zumper says its monthly measure counts listings that were active at any time during the month. Properties that were already occupied or no longer available were left out, while newly built apartments were included.
Two-bedroom listings show the largest annual decline
The year-over-year change was most pronounced among two-bedroom apartments. Those units had a September median listing price of $1,750, down from $1,860 in September 2025, a decrease of 6%. The September figure was also slightly below the $1,760 median recorded in August.
One-bedroom asking rents were comparatively stable. The September median was $1,680, nearly unchanged from August’s $1,670 and 1% lower than the $1,690 median from a year earlier. For renters looking for smaller units, the data points to limited movement rather than a sharp drop in prices.
| Wilmington apartment category | September 2026 median | Change from September 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| All apartment sizes | $1,730 | Down 4% |
| One bedroom | $1,680 | Down 1% |
| Two bedrooms | $1,750 | Down 6% |
Wilmington remains below the state median
Wilmington’s overall median was 8% lower than Delaware’s $1,900 median for listed apartments. Statewide asking rents were described as nearly unchanged from August. One-bedroom apartments across Delaware had a median listing price of $1,543, compared with $1,552 in August. Two-bedroom listings stood at $1,725, slightly below the prior month’s $1,750.
The comparison varies by unit size. Wilmington one-bedroom listings were 9% higher than the statewide median, while Wilmington two-bedroom listings were also somewhat more expensive than the state figure. In other words, the city’s overall median is lower than the statewide measure, but renters seeking smaller apartments may not see the same relative advantage.
National comparison offers another benchmark
Nationally, the median asking rent was also $1,900, unchanged from the preceding month. The U.S. median for one-bedroom units was $1,550, while two-bedroom apartments had a median of $1,800. Wilmington’s overall median was therefore 9% below the national benchmark.
That comparison does not mean every Wilmington apartment is cheaper than an equivalent unit elsewhere. The national and local figures combine listings across different neighborhoods, property types and apartment sizes. Still, they provide context for renters assessing whether the local market is moving in line with broader trends.
What the listing count shows — and does not show
Zumper’s analysis included 449 Wilmington rental listings. Only three were identified as subsidized. Removing those units produced an overall median of $1,732, just $2 above the median that includes them. That small difference indicates the subsidized listings had little effect on the overall result in this dataset.
The numbers are most relevant to households preparing to move or comparing current options. They do not establish what existing tenants are paying, how much an individual landlord may raise rent at renewal, or whether a renter will qualify for a particular unit. Because the analysis covers active advertisements, the mix of available apartments can influence the monthly median.
- Overall Wilmington median: $1,730 in September 2026.
- Annual change: Down 4% from September 2025.
- One-bedroom median: $1,680, down 1% year over year.
- Two-bedroom median: $1,750, down 6% year over year.
- Listings analyzed: 449, including three subsidized units.
A modest easing, not a return to low-cost housing
The September figures show a market that has softened slightly, particularly for two-bedroom apartments, but they do not represent a broad collapse in rents. Wilmington’s $1,730 overall median remains a substantial monthly expense, and one-bedroom listings remain above the statewide one-bedroom median.
For Delaware renters, the most useful signal may be the difference between apartment sizes. Households seeking a two-bedroom unit saw the largest year-over-year reduction in advertised prices, while people searching for one-bedroom apartments encountered nearly flat pricing. The next available monthly data will show whether September’s declines represent a continuing trend or a short-term change in the mix of listings.
