Wilmington, DE · standard
ZIP Code 19803
New Castle County, Delaware - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,364
- 655/sq mi High-density area
- $135,218
- Median income Above-median income area
- $457,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 60.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Wilmington pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 6%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 16%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 655
- people per sq mi
- 89%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 19803 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 19803 (Wilmington, DE) rose +5.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 230.3 in 2023 to 241.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 19803 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, with 21,364 residents across 32.6 square miles, a density of 655 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 19803 skews affluent, with a median household income of $135,218 (51% above the average Delaware ZIP), while per-capita income is $70,999. The poverty rate is 2.0%, with unemployment at 5.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $457,200 (21% above the average Delaware ZIP), while 89.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,722.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 60.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 46.4, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in New Castle County, so 19803 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 19803
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilmington, DE
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 19803.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
153 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
152 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
120 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
115 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
103 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 19803, Wilmington, DE · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
21,364
Population
32.6
Area (sq mi)
655
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 19803?
46.4
Median Age
51.4%
Male
48.6%
Female
7.6%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$135,218
Median Household Income
+51% vs state ZIP avg
$70,999
Per Capita Income
2.0%
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Unemployment Rate
23.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 19803 ranks among Delaware ZIPs
Wilmington, DE household income vs. every Delaware ZIP code
Median household income among 61 reporting Delaware ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$135,218 Top 7% higher than 93% of 61 Delaware ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Delaware ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,831housing units
8,831
Total Housing Units
8,679
Occupied Units
152
Vacant Units
2.49
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$457,200
Median Home Value
+21% vs state ZIP avg
$1,722
Median Rent
1960
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+5.0%
YoY Change (2024)
242
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+142%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 19803 have increased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +142% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.5% | 172 |
| 2021 | +9.1% | 188 |
| 2022 | +10.8% | 208 |
| 2023 | +10.7% | 230 |
| 2024 | +5.0% | 242 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,108 business establishments in ZIP 19803, employing approximately 27,716 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,694,812,000.
1,108
Businesses
27,716
Employees
$2.7B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 153 | 13.8% |
| Retail trade | 152 | 13.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 120 | 10.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 115 | 10.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 103 | 9.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 82 | 7.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 78 | 7.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 76 | 6.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 63 | 5.7% |
| Construction | 37 | 3.3% |
| Information | 33 | 3.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 30 | 2.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 23 | 2.1% |
| Manufacturing | 18 | 1.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 1.0% |
| Educational services | 11 | 1.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 19803 vs 19732 →
ZIP 19803 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19810
Wilmington (19810)
25,011 residents
- 19802
Wilmington (19802)
24,621 residents
- 19803
Wilmington (19803)
21,364 residents
- 19801
Wilmington (19801)
16,286 residents
- 19703
Claymont (19703)
14,471 residents
- 19809
Wilmington (19809)
14,049 residents
- 19806 9,560
Wilmington (19806)
9,560 residents
- 19807 7,405
Wilmington (19807)
7,405 residents
- 19710 41
Montchanin (19710)
41 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 19803 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 19803 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19732
Rockland (19732)
$236,000 median income
- 19807
Wilmington (19807)
$153,341 median income
- 19803
Wilmington (19803)
$135,218 median income
- 19810
Wilmington (19810)
$112,775 median income
- 19806 $88,855
Wilmington (19806)
$88,855 median income
- 19809 $81,288
Wilmington (19809)
$81,288 median income
- 19703 $76,939
Claymont (19703)
$76,939 median income
- 19802 $53,812
Wilmington (19802)
$53,812 median income
- 19801 $52,810
Wilmington (19801)
$52,810 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 19803 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19732 | Rockland, DE | 25 | 1.9 mi |
| 19710 | Montchanin, DE | 41 | 2.5 mi |
| 19810 | Wilmington, DE | 25,011 | 2.3 mi |
| 19802 | Wilmington, DE | 24,621 | 3.1 mi |
| 19806 | Wilmington, DE | 9,560 | 2.8 mi |
| 19735 | Winterthur, DE | 12 | 3.2 mi |
| 19807 | Wilmington, DE | 7,405 | 3.6 mi |
| 19801 | Wilmington, DE | 16,286 | 4.9 mi |
| 19809 | Wilmington, DE | 14,049 | 3.5 mi |
| 19703 | Claymont, DE | 14,471 | 4.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 19803, both outside DE so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (21,364 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in New Castle County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 19803 in?
ZIP code 19803 (Wilmington) is located in New Castle County, Delaware. New Castle County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/new-castle-de.
What is the population of ZIP code 19803?
ZIP code 19803 in Wilmington, DE has a population of 21,364 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 19803?
The median household income in ZIP 19803 is $135,218, which is 77% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 19803?
The median home value in ZIP 19803 is $457,200, which is 64% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 19803?
The largest racial group in ZIP 19803 is White at 83.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 19803?
ZIP code 19803 has 1,108 business establishments employing approximately 27,716 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 19803?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 19803 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (153), Retail trade (152), Health care and social assistance (120). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 19803?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 19803 increased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 142%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 19803?
In ZIP code 19803, 74.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 60.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 19803?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 19803 is 23.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 19803?
In ZIP code 19803, approximately 89.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 10.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 19803?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 19803 is 2.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 19803's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 19803 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Wilmington, DE ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.