Fort Lauderdale FL vs Wilmington DE — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Florida · Population: 183,032

Median HH Income$79,935
Median Home Price$510,297
Unemployment5.3%
Bachelor's+39.8%

Wilmington, DE

Delaware · Population: 71,124

Median HH Income$55,269
Median Home Price$327,117
Unemployment7.6%
Bachelor's+33.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Fort Lauderdale

183,032

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

71,124

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Fort Lauderdale

N/A

Wilmington

N/A

Median Age

Fort Lauderdale

42.9

Wilmington

37.0

Wilmington +

Foreign Born

Fort Lauderdale

26.7%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

8.3%

White

Fort Lauderdale

51.3%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

32.4%

Black

Fort Lauderdale

28.8%

Wilmington

52.3%

Wilmington +

Asian

Fort Lauderdale

1.6%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

1.6%

Hispanic

Fort Lauderdale

20.1%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

11.8%

Spanish at Home

Fort Lauderdale

N/A

Wilmington

N/A

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Wilmington, DE	Better
Population	183,032	71,124	Fort Lauderdale +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	42.9	37.0	Wilmington +
Foreign Born	26.7%	8.3%	Fort Lauderdale +
White	51.3%	32.4%	Fort Lauderdale +
Black	28.8%	52.3%	Wilmington +
Asian	1.6%	1.6%	Fort Lauderdale +
Hispanic	20.1%	11.8%	Fort Lauderdale +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Fort Lauderdale

$79,935

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

$55,269

Per Capita Income

Fort Lauderdale

$57,845

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

$38,786

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Fort Lauderdale

$65,328

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

$64,087

Unemployment Rate

Fort Lauderdale

5.3%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

7.6%

Poverty Rate

Fort Lauderdale

15.2%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

23.2%

Bachelor's Degree+

Fort Lauderdale

39.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

33.1%

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Wilmington, DE	Better
Median HH Income	$79,935	$55,269	Fort Lauderdale +
Per Capita Income	$57,845	$38,786	Fort Lauderdale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$65,328	$64,087	Fort Lauderdale +
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	7.6%	Fort Lauderdale +
Poverty Rate	15.2%	23.2%	Fort Lauderdale +
Bachelor's Degree+	39.8%	33.1%	Fort Lauderdale +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Fort Lauderdale

$510,297

Wilmington

$327,117

Wilmington +

Homeownership Rate

Fort Lauderdale

53.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

46.0%

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Wilmington, DE	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$510,297	$327,117	Wilmington +
Homeownership Rate	53.8%	46.0%	Fort Lauderdale +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Lauderdale

324

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

394

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Lauderdale

1453

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

1991

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Wilmington, DE	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	324	394	Fort Lauderdale +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1453	1991	Fort Lauderdale +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

30.3%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

41.0%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

12.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

16.0%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Fort Lauderdale

16.2%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

18.4%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

14.7%

Wilmington

12.7%

Wilmington +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

14.9%

Wilmington

13.5%

Wilmington +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

13.0%

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

16.4%

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Wilmington, DE	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	30.3%	41.0%	Fort Lauderdale +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	12.8%	16.0%	Fort Lauderdale +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.2%	18.4%	Fort Lauderdale +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	14.7%	12.7%	Wilmington +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	14.9%	13.5%	Wilmington +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	13.0%	16.4%	Fort Lauderdale +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Lauderdale

75.5°F

Wilmington

54.4°F

Wilmington +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Lauderdale

66.5 in

Wilmington

49.3 in

Wilmington +

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Wilmington, DE	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	75.5°F	54.4°F	Wilmington +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	66.5 in	49.3 in	Wilmington +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Fort Lauderdale

7.2 µg/m³

Fort Lauderdale +

Wilmington

8.8 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Fort Lauderdale

75.0%

Wilmington

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Wilmington, DE	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	7.2 µg/m³	8.8 µg/m³	Fort Lauderdale +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Fort Lauderdale

28.5 min

Wilmington

25.0 min

Wilmington +

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Wilmington, DE	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	28.5 min	25.0 min	Wilmington +

Which City is Right for You?

Fort Lauderdale leads in median household income at $79,935, while wilmington offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $327,117. On public safety, Fort Lauderdale is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 394 in Wilmington. Fort Lauderdale has a lower unemployment rate at 5.3%, and Fort Lauderdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Lauderdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.3%.

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