Measure carefully

The 30% cost-burden threshold is a common housing metric. It does not capture every household’s full financial circumstances.

SECTION 01

What “cost burdened” means

A household is commonly described as cost-burdened when housing costs consume 30% or more of gross income. Chapter 343 of the 2026 Delaware laws cites the State Housing Authority’s 2023 assessment, which found 50% of Delaware renters and 21% of homeowners were cost-burdened. These are assessment findings repeated in legislative findings—not a current monthly estimate or a statement about every household.

Source note Chapter 343 / Housing for Every Delawarean Act · DSHA assessment

SECTION 02

Why area median income matters

Affordable-housing programs often define eligibility using area median income (AMI), adjusted for household size and geography. A household’s percentage of AMI is not the same as its percentage of the federal poverty level. Delaware’s 2026 law defines affordable housing for the new statutory planning framework as rental housing affordable to households up to 80% AMI and homeownership housing affordable up to 120% AMI. That statutory definition is specific to the law; individual programs can have different requirements.
SECTION 03

Renters: look beyond the asking rent

A rent figure alone does not show whether a unit is affordable to a household. Consider utilities, deposits, fees, transportation and whether the household can qualify under income or credit requirements. A lower advertised rent can still be out of reach for a household at very low income. Waitlists, voucher acceptance and unit availability also change over time; confirm program information directly with the provider.
SECTION 04

Homeownership: the monthly payment is only part of the cost

For a buyer, affordability depends on the mortgage rate, down payment, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, maintenance and utility costs. A purchase price that appears manageable can become difficult if insurance, taxes or repair costs rise. State housing programs may change eligibility limits and funding rounds, so use current DSHA program materials rather than old articles or third-party eligibility calculators.
SECTION 05

Find current assistance

Start with Delaware State Housing Authority for current homebuyer, rental and housing-development programs. For income limits and federal housing benchmarks, check HUD’s current figures. Program availability, application windows and waiting lists can change; this publication does not accept applications or determine eligibility.