Wilmington, Delaware Short-Term Rental Market
Wilmington DE STRs averaged $150/night at 60.9% occupancy in April 2026, with the market scoring 92.1 out of 100 overall.
Quick Answer: Wilmington, Delaware is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 61%. average monthly revenue is $2,489. average daily rate is $150. the top operator is Luxora with 233 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Wilmington and New Castle County form a sizable STR market positioned at the intersection of the Philadelphia metro corridor, the Brandywine Valley historic estate region, and Delaware’s status as a major financial and legal hub. As of April 2026 data, the market has 12,382 total listings: 8,868 entire-place units (72%), 3,489 private rooms (28%), and 25 shared rooms. The bedroom distribution shows 1-bedroom units dominating at 7,047 listings, followed by 2-bedroom at 2,697, 3-bedroom at 1,546, 4-bedroom at 713, and 5-bedroom-plus at 360. Channel distribution is Airbnb-weighted: 8,118 Airbnb-only listings, 3,721 on both platforms, and 543 VRBO-only. April 2026 occupancy was 60.9%, with occupancy down 2.6% year-over-year, ADR up 1.9% to $150, and revenue up 2.7% year-over-year. The 2025 annual average occupancy was 60.2% at $143 ADR and $2,455 monthly revenue. The market’s overall score of 92.1 out of 100 is driven by a revenue growth score of 95.7 and a seasonality score of 94.9, with rental demand at 71.7, investability at 61.2, and regulation at 66.6. No STR permit is currently required in Wilmington city as of mid-2025, and the regulatory environment is minimal, which likely contributes to the high total and revenue growth scores.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48% | $104 | $1,523 |
| Feb | 56% | $106 | $1,522 |
| Mar | 59% | $112 | $1,811 |
| Apr | 61% | $121 | $1,967 |
| May | 62% | $130 | $2,157 |
| Jun | 65% | $131 | $2,311 |
| Jul | 65% | $123 | $2,238 |
| Aug | 64% | $124 | $2,210 |
| Sep | 62% | $122 | $2,040 |
| Oct | 62% | $124 | $2,169 |
| Nov | 58% | $125 | $2,004 |
| Dec | 53% | $124 | $1,884 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Wilmington
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luxora | 233 | 9,906 | ★ 4.51 |
| 2 | PowerHouse | 191 | 634 | ★ 2.70 |
| 3 | Sosuite | 153 | 10,525 | ★ 4.28 |
| 4 | Dillman LLC | 148 | 960 | ★ 4.15 |
| 5 | Properties By Preston | 120 | 401 | ★ 4.09 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Wilmington?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 7,047 |
| 2 bed | 2,697 |
| 3 bed | 1,546 |
| 4 bed | 713 |
| 5 bed | 360 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $181 |
| Luxury | $274 |
| Professionally Managed | $169 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,424 |
| Entire Place | $2,988 |
| House | $2,573 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 65.6% |
| vrbo | 4.4% |
| both | 30.1% |
Investment Analysis
Wilmington’s combination of low entry prices and consistent occupancy produces a compelling gross yield profile. The typical home value is $327,117 (Zillow, April 2026), with a median sale price of $277,433 and 461 properties currently for sale. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.946 and median days-to-pending of 9 indicate a moderately competitive market with reasonable negotiating room. At 2025 average monthly revenue of $2,455 ($29,460 annualized), the gross yield on a typical-value property is approximately 9.0%. Entire-place units in April averaged $2,988 per month, a 20% premium over the market-wide $2,489. Houses averaged $2,573 per month and apartments $2,424. The professionally managed tier ADR of $169 is 13% above the market-wide $150, suggesting a moderate but real premium for active management. The luxury tier averages $274 per night ADR, approximately 1.8x the market-wide rate. Revenue has grown consistently since 2020: annual average monthly revenue climbed from $1,647 in 2020 to $2,455 in 2025, a 49% increase over five years. The revenue growth score of 95.7 reflects this trajectory. The absence of a local STR permit requirement in Wilmington city reduces the administrative overhead for operators relative to neighboring markets like DC or Steamboat Springs, though investors should monitor the regulatory environment given the withdrawn 2024 ordinance.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Wilmington guests book an average of 32.8 days in advance and stay an average of 4.35 nights per booking. The 33-day lead time is consistent with a market serving regional leisure travelers, corporate visitors, and legal or financial sector guests. The 4.35-night average stay is slightly shorter than markets driven by vacation travel, reflecting the presence of shorter corporate and transitional stays. For operators, this relatively short booking window and stay duration means higher turnover frequency: at 4.35 nights per stay, a property could see 6 to 7 turnovers per month during peak periods. Pricing and availability management in the 30-to-45-day window ahead of arrival is the most impactful lever for revenue optimization. Given the market’s moderate seasonality, last-minute bookings (within 14 days) likely represent a meaningful share of volume during slower winter months, and dynamic pricing tools that adjust for short-term demand signals outperform static calendar pricing.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Wilmington operates under one of the lightest STR regulatory environments among U.S. markets of its size. No local STR permit is currently required to operate within Wilmington city limits as of mid-2025. A proposed city ordinance that would have required permits, imposed a 2% city lodging tax, required owner-occupancy, and capped citywide STRs at 150 units was withdrawn in December 2024 after failing a committee vote. Existing Wilmington zoning technically prohibits STRs in residential zones R1-R5, but enforcement is minimal (approximately 7 cease-and-desist orders were issued citywide through late 2024). In unincorporated New Castle County, STRs are not permitted in residential zoning districts and are allowed only in commercial zones; hosts in unincorporated areas should verify their zoning classification with the New Castle County Department of Land Use at (302) 395-5400. On the tax side, the combined STR lodging tax rate is 7.5%: Delaware enacted a 4.5% state short-term rental lodging tax effective January 1, 2025 (under HB 168, signed September 30, 2024), and New Castle County separately levies a 3% lodging tax whose collection was assumed by the Delaware Division of Revenue effective July 1, 2025. Booking platforms including Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com collect and remit both taxes for platform bookings; operators booking directly must obtain a Delaware accommodations intermediary business license ($25) and remit independently. Owner-occupied and primary-residence requirements do not apply at the state level. Enforcement in Wilmington is classified as minimal.
Market Comparison
Wilmington’s April 2026 occupancy of 60.9% exceeds the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%. The 2025 annual average of 60.2% is similarly above the national benchmark, reflecting the market’s consistent year-round demand from the Philadelphia corridor and Brandywine Valley tourism. The ADR of $150 in April ($143 annually in 2025) is below the U.S. median of approximately $220, placing Wilmington as a budget-to-moderate-rate market. RevPAR in April 2026 was $91.38. The gross yield of approximately 9.0% based on 2025 annual revenue and typical home value is among the stronger yields in the Northeast, driven by below-average entry prices relative to occupancy performance. The operator landscape is moderately concentrated. Luxora leads with 233 listings and a 4.51 rating across 9,906 reviews. Sosuite holds 153 listings with 4.28 rating and 10,525 reviews, while PowerHouse operates 191 listings (2.70 rating). Dillman LLC manages 148 listings (4.15 rating) and Properties By Preston rounds out the top 5 at 120 listings (4.09 rating). Combined, the top 5 hold 845 listings, approximately 6.8% of the 12,382-listing market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wilmington, Delaware
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