Kent County, Delaware: commercial real estate data.
Kent County, Delaware had an estimated 192,690 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 181,844, across 586 square miles. County output reached $11.65 bn in 2024, 4,971 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 208 7(a) approvals worth $61.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Kent County
How many people live in Kent County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024187,604
- Households71,424
- Average household size2.63
- Median household income$74,477
- Median age38.8
- Median gross rent$1,354 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$316,600
- Home value to household income4.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher27.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over126,457
- Population under 1842,721
- Share under 1822.8 percent
- Population 65 and over34,294
- Share 65 and over18.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64110,589
- Civilian labor force90,399
- Unemployment rate5.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.4 percent
- Rank by population among Delaware counties3rd of 3
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included368th of 3,222
Kent County is the 3rd largest of 3 Delaware counties by population. A median home costs 4.3 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.8 percent against 18.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Kent County
Is Kent County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024192,690
- Census 2020 base population181,844
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.96 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,567
- Births, 20242,135
- Deaths, 20242,008
- Natural change, 2024127
- Net domestic migration, 20241,738
- Net international migration, 2024688
- Total net migration, 20242,426
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20248,845
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents414th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.96 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Kent County
Where are people moving to Kent County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,473
- People arriving, from those returns10,231
- Tax returns filed by households leaving4,745
- Net household movement728
- Adjusted gross income arriving$316.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$47.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$57,874
- Average income of a leaving household$56,848
- Largest single originNew Castle County (1,096 households)
- Largest single destinationSussex County (855 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | 1,096 | 2,092 | $64.5 m |
| Sussex County | 770 | 1,448 | $35.6 m |
| Philadelphia County | 257 | 547 | $14.2 m |
| Delaware County | 107 | 233 | $6.6 m |
| Kings County | 92 | 147 | $4.2 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 73 | 165 | $4.3 m |
| Caroline County | 71 | 135 | $2.6 m |
| Queens County | 71 | 122 | $5.1 m |
Households arriving report $1,026 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is New Castle County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Kent County
What is the Kent County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$11.65 bn
- County GDP, 2023$10.77 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.2 percent
- GDP change over five years36.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Delaware areas BEA publishes3rd of 3
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes392nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$62,111
Output grew 8.2 percent in the latest year and 36.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Kent County
Employment by industry in Kent County
- Covered employment, annual average71,071
- Establishments reporting5,852
- Average annual pay$57,464
- Average weekly wage$1,105
- Health care and social assistance, employment10,779
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$55,966
- Retail trade, employment8,993
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,994
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment3,331
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$57,855
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment2,860
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$82,963
- Construction, employment2,808
- Transportation and warehousing, employment2,732
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 10,779 | 1,058 | $55,966 |
| Retail trade | 8,993 | 553 | $36,994 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 3,331 | 633 | $57,855 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,860 | 918 | $82,963 |
| Construction | 2,808 | 499 | $75,867 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 2,732 | 177 | $54,716 |
| Finance and insurance | 1,816 | 304 | $95,410 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,650 | 357 | $45,179 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 10,779 jobs, 15.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Kent County
How many businesses are in Kent County?
- Establishments, all industries4,971
- Employment at those establishments61,078
- Annual payroll$3.53 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Kent County
Building permits in Kent County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,201
- Declared construction value permitted$173.9 m
- Single family units authorized1,056
- Multifamily units authorized145
- Multifamily share of units12.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$144,833
- Units authorized per 1,000 households16.8
Single-family homes are 87.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Kent County
SBA loans in Kent County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded208
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$61.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$296,232
- Median 7(a) approval$75,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$625,600
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,752
- Jobs per approval8.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active32
- Distinct industries receiving approvals109
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms14
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter182
- Franchise loans20
- Franchise share of approvals9.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (11)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (81)
- 504 approvals recorded19
- 504 gross approval dollars$10.5 m
- Average 504 approval$554,368
- Median 504 approval$423,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval7.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.9
- Most active CDCDelaware Community Development Corporation (13)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$72.1 m
The average approval of $296,232 sits well above the median of $75,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 6.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kent County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Kent County
Do SBA loans in Kent County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded35
- Paid in full27
- Charged off8
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans22.9 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure133
- Status: Paid in full27
- Status: Cancelled30
- Status: Charged off8
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed10
Of the 35 loans that have reached a final outcome, 22.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kent County
SBA lending by place in Kent County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending16
- Dover, approvals114
- Smyrna, approvals20
- Harrington, approvals15
- Camden Wyoming, approvals14
- Clayton, approvals14
- Hartly, approvals7
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Dover | 114 | $33,921,900 |
| Smyrna | 20 | $6,188,400 |
| Harrington | 15 | $10,514,500 |
| Camden Wyoming | 14 | $4,376,200 |
| Clayton | 14 | $1,868,700 |
| Hartly | 7 | $2,083,000 |
| Felton | 7 | $803,000 |
| Milford | 5 | $195,000 |
| 8 other borrower cities | 12 | $1,665,600 |
Dover accounts for 114 approvals against 20 in Smyrna. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kent County
How large is Kent County?
- Land area586 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Delaware counties2nd of 3
- Width, east to west24.1 mi
- Height, north to south37 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land320
- Establishments per square mile8.48
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Kent County
Flood risk in Kent County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Kent County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 100001
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book16
- Of those, participating in the NFIP15
- NFIP participation rate93.8 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Kent County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Kent County (community 100001), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Kent County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 93.8 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Kent County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Kent County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024187,604
- Households71,424
- Average household size2.63
- Median household income$74,477
- Median age38.8
Common questions
Kent County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Kent County, Delaware?
The Census Bureau estimates 192,690 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 187,604, in 71,424 households, ranking 3rd of 3 Delaware counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Kent County's population growing?
The population has grown 5.96 percent since the 2020 census base of 181,844, to 192,690 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,135 births against 2,008 deaths, with net migration of 2,426. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Kent County?
$74,477. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $316,600, which is 4.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,354 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Kent County?
4,971 establishments, employing 61,078 people with an annual payroll of $3.53 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Kent County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 10,779 jobs, 15.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 71,071 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,464, or $1,105 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Kent County?
208 7(a) approvals totaling $61.6 m since FY2020, across 32 lenders, with a median approval of $75,000, plus 19 504 approvals worth $10.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Kent County get paid back?
Of the 35 loans that have reached a final outcome, 27 were paid in full and 8 charged off, a charge-off rate of 22.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Kent County?
1,201 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $173.9 m. Multifamily was 12.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Kent County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Kent County come from?
The largest single origin is New Castle County, with 1,096 households. Arriving households report an average income of $57,874 against $56,848 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Kent County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Kent County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Kent County
Cities and places in Kent.
27 Census places lie wholly or partly in Kent County. All 27 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | city | 39,837 | 114 | Wholly in this county |
| Smyrna | town | 13,165 | 20 | 78.8 percent here, 21.2 percent New Castle County |
| Milford | city | 12,803 | 5 | 40.1 percent here, 59.9 percent Sussex County |
| Clayton | town | 4,222 | 14 | 89.6 percent here, 10.4 percent New Castle County |
| Rising Sun-Lebanon | CDP | 4,163 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Camden | town | 4,106 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Harrington | city | 3,838 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Highland Acres | CDP | 3,752 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dover Base Housing | CDP | 2,962 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Riverview | CDP | 2,596 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kent Acres | CDP | 2,388 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Woodside East | CDP | 2,274 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cheswold | town | 2,143 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Wyoming | town | 2,000 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Rodney Village | CDP | 1,331 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Felton | town | 1,294 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Frederica | town | 1,062 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Woodside | town | 475 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Houston | town | 456 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Kenton | town | 355 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Magnolia | town | 274 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Bowers | town | 270 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Farmington | town | 201 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hartly | town | 199 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Leipsic | town | 191 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Viola | town | 178 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Little Creek | town | 141 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 15 of the county's 208 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Kent County, the largest being Camden Wyoming (14), Marydel (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.