Commercial Real Estate Market in Elsmere, DE
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
Market Trends
Elsmere, DE spans 5.5 square miles in New Castle County, Delaware. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Elsmere, DE runs 20.2% across the South region in 2025, up from 14.4% in 2019.
Retail
Retail vacancy in Elsmere, DE runs 5.4% across the South region in 2025, down from 7% in 2020.
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Elsmere, DE runs 7.9% across the South region in 2025, up from 6% in 2019. Nearly 2.3x the 2022 low of 3.5%.
Multifamily
Multifamily vacancy in Elsmere, DE runs 11.3% across the South region in 2025, up from 8.5% in 2022.
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 69%
- Industrial 23.6%
- Commercial 6.1%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Elsmere, DE zones 637 acres across 6 districts. Commercial zoning covers 6.1% of zoned land, residential 69% and industrial 23.6%. The largest single district is One Family Dwelling at 47.9%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 29.7% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Except in an R-1 Residential District, fences may be erected, altered or reconstructed to a height not to exceed four feet above ground level when located in the front yard area or to a height of six feet above ground level if located elsewhere on the lot, and they shall not be built to admit less than 50% air and light in the front and side portions of the…
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Elsmere, DE has 39,985 residents in 17,281 households. Density runs 7,246 people per square mile. Median household income here is $56,708 and median gross rent $1,203 a month.
Tools
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Newport | — | — |
| Greenville | — | — |
| Minquadale | — | — |
| Stanton | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What zoning applies to commercial property in Elsmere?
Methodology & data sources
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 637 zoned acres across 6 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at South region level, retail vacancy is reported at South region level and industrial vacancy is reported at South region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
