Delaware Jumps into Top 10
of 2026 Realtor.com Ratings

June 25, 2026

Delaware posted the biggest year-to-year jump in the latest Realtor.com Affordability & Homebuilding Report Cards. The state recorded the largest improvement in rankings by climbing 12 spots from 19 to 7 and earning an overall grade of B, which was the best mark of any state in the Northeast.

The rankings are based on data primarily from 2025 and evaluate states using a combination of affordability and homebuilding metrics. These include the REALTORS® Affordability Score, median home listing prices, household incomes, building permit activity, population growth, and the price difference between newly constructed homes and existing housing inventory.

Delaware also benefits from a relatively moderate new-construction premium of 16.0%, meaning newly built homes cost only modestly more than existing homes. The state’s median listing price reached $486,044 in 2025, placing it above the national median and higher than many states in the Midwest and South. However, Delaware’s strong median household income of $87,667 helps offset this.

Delaware’s performance is especially significant given broader trends across the Northeast as the region has trailed the South and Midwest in affordability and homebuilding activity. Several of its neighboring states experienced declines in this year’s rankings, but Delaware’s jump into the top 10 serves as a model for how balanced growth, adequate housing supply and economic strength can work together to support homeownership opportunities.