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 in the Philadelphia market area is 62%. average monthly revenue in the Philadelphia market area is $3,354. average daily rate in the Philadelphia market area is $197. the top operator in the Philadelphia market area is Luxora with 233 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Philadelphia regional market, which includes Wilmington. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Wilmington.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 48% |
| Feb | 56% |
| Mar | 59% |
| Apr | 61% |
| May | 63% |
| Jun | 65% |
| Jul | 65% |
| Aug | 64% |
| Sep | 62% |
| Oct | 62% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 53% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Wilmington are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Philadelphia market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Philadelphia market as a whole, which includes Wilmington, so these counts are not Wilmington-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Wilmington are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 65.6% |
| vrbo | 4.4% |
| both | 30.1% |
Home Value Trends (Wilmington)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Wilmington are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Wilmington — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
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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