Bear: Economy & Jobs
$91,687 is the median household income in Bear (about the same as New Castle County median $91,166; 1.1× higher than Delaware median $84,954), with homes at a median value of $304,800. The surrounding county supports 303,806 jobs (avg $80,334).
- $89,269 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (at Delaware median).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $91,687 — above the Delaware median ($76,912). Poverty rate 8.7% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 38% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.3× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 21.9% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 38.4% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 8.7% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.4% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $280,600 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $25,048,791 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $89,269 (at Delaware median) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $101,399 |
| Median Household Income | $91,687 (vs Delaware $76,912) |
| Poverty Rate | 8.7% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $91,687 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.2% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 15% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 24.10 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 15.1% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 303,806 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $24,405,857,939 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $80,334 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 469,280 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% (vs Delaware 4.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 76 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 11,305 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 148.80 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Crop Totals, Grain, Poultry Totals, Corn |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 17,672 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 277,909 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 21,191,463 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 111 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 67 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 156 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 101 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 10 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 61 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 49 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 30 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 439 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 497 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 49 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 125 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (9)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Super Giant 385 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 25 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | NEW CASTLE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $3,956,815,045 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,933.04 (at Delaware median) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 570,719 people (vs Delaware 13,439) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 1 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 70.6% |
| Pct Public Transit | 0.4% |
| Pct Walked | 15.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 37.9 years (vs Delaware 37.0y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 24.0% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 7 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12