Census 2025 estimates · CMS September 2026 · CDC 2020

Senior housing development in Delaware

Delaware had 100,192 residents aged 75 and older in July 2025, +30.9% since April 2020 (US +23.4%), and 22,783 aged 85 and older (+17.5%). Its 44 certified nursing homes hold 4,717 beds, 207.0 for every 1,000 people 85 and older, fewer than the US ratio of 222.6. Certificate of need for nursing home beds: yes; for assisted living: not listed.

Age 75+ (2025): 100,192
Growth since 2020: +30.9%
Nursing beds per 1,000 aged 85+: 207.0
Assisted living beds per 1,000 aged 75+: 19.0

Demand: the older population

Age group	April 2020	July 2025	Change	US change
75 and older	76,536	100,192	+30.9%	+23.4%
85 and older	19,386	22,783	+17.5%	+11.3%

Nationally, the Census Bureau's 2023 projections have the 75+ population growing 21% from 2025 to 2030 and the 85+ population 59% from 2025 to 2035. The bureau publishes those projections for the US only, not by state.

Supply: licensed beds

Setting	Beds	Per 1,000 aged 75+	Per 1,000 aged 85+	Source
Nursing homes (Medicare or Medicaid certified)	4,717	47.1	207.0	CMS, September 2026
Residential care / assisted living	1,900	19.0	83.4	CDC survey, 2020

US: 222.6 nursing beds and 170.1 assisted living beds per 1,000 aged 85+. Assisted living beds are CDC's 2020 survey estimate, its latest with state detail, set against 2025 population, so the ratio understates any supply added since.

Certificate of need

Nursing home beds: Yes
Assisted living: Not listed
Notes: Covers nursing homes and "Continual care community" (CCRC). Capital threshold $5.8M

From NCSL's certificate of need table (updated April 29, 2025, covering January 2025) with later changes checked on state sites on October 24, 2026. "Not listed" means NCSL does not name assisted living, not that it is exempt. Confirm with the state health planning agency before relying on it. HUD requires a state CON for nursing home beds where the state has one (Handbook 4232.1, 2.5.EE).

Counties

The 3 counties with the most residents aged 75+, with certified nursing home beds per 1,000 aged 85+.

County	Age 75+	Since 2020	Share of population	Age 85+	Nursing homes	Beds per 1,000 aged 85+
New Castle County	46,670	+24.4%	7.9%	11,799	25	212.2
Sussex County	36,519	+41.9%	13.2%	7,067	12	199.1
Kent County	17,003	+28.0%	8.7%	3,917	7	205.8

Fastest growth in the 75+ population

Sussex County: +41.9% (36,519)
Kent County: +28.0% (17,003)
New Castle County: +24.4% (46,670)

Counties with at least 2,000 residents aged 75+.

Fewest nursing beds per 1,000 aged 85+

Sussex County: 199.1 (1,407 beds, 7,067 aged 85+)
Kent County: 205.8 (806 beds, 3,917 aged 85+)
New Castle County: 212.2 (2,504 beds, 11,799 aged 85+)

Counties with at least 1,000 residents aged 85+.

HUD Section 232 construction in Delaware

Since fiscal 2001 HUD has insured 0 new construction or substantial rehabilitation loans on care facilities in Delaware (0 assisted living, 0 nursing homes), $0 million of original principal.

Planning a building in Delaware? Model the budget, lease-up and a HUD 232 construction loan.

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Sources: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 county population estimates; CMS Nursing Home Provider Information (September 2026); CDC/NCHS National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study (2020); HUD Office of Healthcare Programs endorsement database (data run 07/08/2026); NCSL. Absorption is operated by Janover Capital LLC and is not affiliated with any of them. Methodology.