F

Port Penn, DE

Source:

Affordability Score: 36/100

Population: 252 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Port Penn, DE aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 252 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (36/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $71,282, median home value of $369,300, median rent of per month, and 0.0% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,810 per month (studio $1,397, 1BR $1,520, 3BR $2,170, 4BR $2,423). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $14,575 per year, consuming 20% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education, housing, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 0.0% and poverty 4.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C
$71,282
Median household income
Education F
0.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.2x
Home value $369,300 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent D
$1,810/mo
2BR fair market rent (30% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$14,575/yr
Center-based infant care (20% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$71,282
▲ 15% vs national
Per Capita Income
$27,471
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Poverty Rate
4.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$369,300
▲ 34% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
92.3%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,810/mo
▲ 51% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,397
1BR
$1,520
2BR
$1,810
3BR
$2,170
4BR
$2,423

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
0.0%
▼ 30 ppt vs national
High School+
59.6%
Median Age
66.1
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$14,575/yr
20% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,359/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,934/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,522/yr

What This Means

Port Penn, DE receives an overall affordability grade of F (36/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 252. Challenges include education and housing and childcare. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Port Penn, DE affordable?
Port Penn, DE receives an overall affordability grade of F (36/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $71,282. Median home value is $369,300.
What is the cost of living in Port Penn?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $1,810/mo. Infant childcare $14,575/yr. Median home value $369,300.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →