The Town FilesBear, Delaware
Community in New Castle County · population 23,060 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $304,800
- Household income
- $91,687
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 37.9
Bear is a community of 23,060 people in New Castle County, Delaware. The median home is worth $304,800, close to the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks more vibrant than 82% of Delaware towns, better for young professionals than 75% of Delaware towns, more walkable than 70% of Delaware towns.
How Bear ranks
Percentile among Delaware towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Delaware towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bear is worth $304,800, close to the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $91,687, which is more affordable than 80% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,771 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bear | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $304,800 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $1,771 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $91,687 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Bear
| People | Bear | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 93.0% |
Weather in Bear
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.2 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bear since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 28, 1961 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 29, 2012.
Severe weather in New Castle County since 1996
New Castle County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 24, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4627: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4566: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4526: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3449: Covid-19 |
| November 16, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4090: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in New Castle County
New Castle County had 303,806 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $80,334 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Bear itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Bear
3 public schools with 2,170 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilbur (Kathleen H.) Elementary | K-5 | 1,063 | 15.0 |
| Loss (Olive B.) Elementary School | 1-5 | 559 | 16.0 |
| Oberle (William) Elementary School | K-5 | 548 | 13.7 |
Towns near Bear
- Brookside, DE3.5 mi · 14,974 people · home $279,700
- Glasgow, DE3.7 mi · 15,288 people · home $373,900
- Newark, DE5.8 mi · 30,601 people · home $382,500
- Wilmington Manor, DE6.9 mi · 8,162 people · home $240,600
- New Castle, DE7.0 mi · 5,551 people · home $285,100
- Elkton, MD7.6 mi · 15,807 people · home $293,400
- Pike Creek Valley, DE7.7 mi · 11,692 people · home $340,300
- Pike Creek, DE9.0 mi · 7,808 people · home $422,500
Bear questions
Is Bear, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bear scores better for retirees than 23% of Delaware towns and quieter than 18%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Bear?
The median owner-occupied home in Bear is valued at $304,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,687, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,771 a month.
What is the weather like in Bear?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 20.2 inches of snow.
Does Bear get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bear since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 28, 1961. The typical Delaware town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)