Cost of Living in Kent County, Delaware
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Kent County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Kent County ranks #2,756 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 12%)
Sourced county brief
Kent County Official GRAPI Estimated at 31.3 Percent
In Kent County, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 31.3%. This figure, derived from ACS table B25071, is 0.6 percentage points above the Delaware unweighted county mean of 30.7%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,354 per month, while the median renter-household income was $46,977. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost for all units was $1,349, which is $17 above the state unweighted county mean of $1,332. The median home value for Kent County was $316,600, positioned below the state unweighted county mean of $350,467. All statistics are sourced from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Kent County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.3% of renter household income in Kent County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,354 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,349. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $54,160 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Delaware unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,347 per month. Kent County's $1,354 median is 0.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Kent County
Rent Burden
21.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,738
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.7%
of gross income
The median home in Kent County may be a stretch
Median home value is $316,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,528 vs. your max of $1,738.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Kent County, Delaware?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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