2026 monthly care rates for Wilmington (New Castle County), local Census affordability metrics, and 14 CMS-certified care facilities.
Models eldercare inflation, home equity liquidation fees (7%), income offsets & Medicaid spend-down rules.
At Wilmington, DE's average caregiver rate of $36.28/hr, hiring in-home care equals the $6,430/mo cost of Assisted Living at exactly 40.9 hours per week (~5.8 hrs/day).
Saves $3,286/mo vs. Assisted Living (excludes home mortgage/utilities).
Full-time home care costs $487/mo more than Assisted Living (where meals & utilities are included).
Assisted Living saves $6,146/mo; Memory Care averages $7,840/mo.
Monthly Assisted Living cost comparison adjusted for New Castle County economic indicators.
Official ACS 5-Year benchmarks used to model local care affordability (see methodology).
| Median Household Income | $89,901/yr ($7,492/mo) |
| Median Home Value | $329,800 |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,379/mo |
| Delaware Medicaid Limit (2026) | $2,901/mo |
Official Medicare provider registry showing certified bed capacity, ownership structure, and CMS 5-star quality ratings.