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Bear, DE
Census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware. ZIP codes: 19701.
Population
22,370
Land area
5.8sq mi
People per sq mi
3,867
ZIP codes
1
Bear and its ZIP codes
Bear at a glance
- Bear is about 7.4 times as dense as Delaware as a whole.
- It is the 5th most populous of 79 cities and towns in Delaware.
- Households here earn a median of $91,687 a year, 8% more than the Delaware figure of $84,954.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $304,800 (13% below Delaware) and median rent is $1,771 a month.
Local data for Bear, DE
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Bear, DE, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$91,687
Poverty rate
8.7%
Median home value
$304,800
Median rent
$1,771/mo
Homeownership
65.1%
Bachelor's or higher
32.5%
Median age
37.9
Average commute
24.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (2,660), German Americans (2,101), Irish Americans (1,867).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for New Castle County. PPP loans are for Bear.
Unemployment rate
4.9%
Aug 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$83,959
306,171 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$69,609
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$4B
FY 2026, $7,016 per person
How people get to work
Bear, DE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone70.6%
- Carpooled11.8%
- Public transit1.1%
- Walked0.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home15.1%
Average one-way commute: 24.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Bear, DE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
1,499
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
1,599
0.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 25°F
47.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Bear, DE, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.0%
U.S. 33.3% +2.7 pts
Diabetes
12.8%
U.S. 12.1% +0.7 pts
Smoking
13.2%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
11.2%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
ZIP codes in Bear
1 in or overlapping Bear. Population shown
Cities near Bear
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| GlasgowCensus-designated place | 3.5 mi | 9.9 |
| BrooksideCensus-designated place | 3.8 mi | 3.9 |
| St. GeorgesCensus-designated place | 4.3 mi | 1.4 |
| Delaware CityCity | 5.9 mi | 1.9 |
| NewarkCity | 6 mi | 9.5 |
| Wilmington ManorCensus-designated place | 6.8 mi | 1.6 |
| New CastleCity | 7.1 mi | 3.5 |
| Elkton, MDTown | 7.3 mi | 9 |
| NewportTown | 7.6 mi | 0.5 |
| Pike Creek ValleyCensus-designated place | 7.6 mi | 2.9 |
| Port PennCensus-designated place | 8.8 mi | 0.4 |
| Pike CreekCensus-designated place | 9 mi | 2.7 |
| Pennsville, NJCensus-designated place | 9.4 mi | 10.7 |
| ElsmereTown | 9.4 mi | 1 |
| Chesapeake City, MDTown | 9.5 mi | 0.5 |
| North StarCensus-designated place | 9.8 mi | 6.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Bear, DE in?
- Bear is in New Castle County, Delaware.
- What ZIP codes are in Bear, DE?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Bear include 19701.
- What is the population of Bear, DE?
- About 22,370 people live in Bear, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Bear?
- Nearby places include Glasgow (3.5 mi), Brookside (3.8 mi), St. Georges (4.3 mi), Delaware City (5.9 mi), Newark (6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023