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As we enter 2026, the landscape for women in the workforce continues to evolve, yet significant challenges persist. Women in the United States still encounter disparities compared to their male counterparts, facing issues such as wage gaps, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and a disproportionate share of domestic responsibilities.
In our ongoing efforts to highlight these disparities, we took a closer look at the worst (and best) cities for women in Delaware.
The findings? Geographic location plays a crucial role in determining the quality of life for women.
Continue reading to discover the rankings of cities in Delaware and the methodology used to identify the worst cities for women.
The 10 Worst Cities To Be A Woman In Delaware
These cities rank as the most challenging places for women in Delaware. Keep reading to learn about the factors contributing to these rankings or jump ahead to discover the best cities for women in the state.
Methodology – How We Determined The Worst Cities For Women In Delaware
Our ranking criteria included four key categories:
- Percentage of Women in Management (Lower is worse)
- Percentage of Women in Poverty (Higher is worse)
- Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Earnings (Lower is worse)
- Uninsured Women (Lower is worse)
To analyze the income disparity between women and men by city, we utilized data from the Census American Community Survey. We calculated the earnings ratio by dividing the median income of male earners by that of female earners.
For the percentage of women living in poverty, we also relied on ACS data. This measure considers household income, which encompasses spouses and family members, but we focused specifically on women living alone. This demographic often experiences higher poverty rates, as it does not include married women.
The ACS was also used to assess the representation of women in management roles, highlighting opportunities for advancement and the overall status of women in leadership.
Lastly, we examined the percentage of uninsured women in each city using ACS data.
We limited our analysis to cities in Delaware with populations exceeding 5,000.
1. Georgetown
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $1.03
Women in Management: 30.8%
Women in Poverty: 23.1%
Uninsured Women: 16.7%
Georgetown ranks as the worst city for women in Delaware, primarily due to low performance across all metrics. Women in Georgetown face high poverty rates and a significant likelihood of being uninsured, making their economic situation particularly challenging.
2. Newark
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $0.45
Women in Management: 46.7%
Women in Poverty: 27.4%
Uninsured Women: 3.2%
Newark comes in as the second worst city for women, with concerning poverty rates and overall poor metrics indicating a challenging environment for women.
3. Dover
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $0.69
Women in Management: 43.8%
Women in Poverty: 23.6%
Uninsured Women: 3.8%
Dover presents a mixed picture for women, with just 43.8% in management and a concerning poverty rate of 23.6%.
4. Claymont
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $0.79
Women in Management: 37.2%
Women in Poverty: 10.1%
Uninsured Women: 6.2%
Claymont ranks as the fourth worst city for women, with a notable percentage lacking health insurance and a worrying poverty rate among single women.
5. Wilmington
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $0.90
Women in Management: 42.1%
Women in Poverty: 25.5%
Uninsured Women: 5.6%
Wilmington, while showing slightly better opportunities for women compared to the top four cities, still presents substantial challenges.
6. New Castle
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $0.76
Women in Management: 39.7%
Women in Poverty: 8.5%
Uninsured Women: 4.5%
New Castle ranks sixth, with a concerning percentage of women living in poverty and low representation in management.
7. Bear
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $0.77
Women in Management: 52.2%
Women in Poverty: 9.4%
Uninsured Women: 9.5%
Bear presents a difficult environment for women, with high poverty rates and significant challenges regarding healthcare access.
8. North Star
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $0.54
Women in Management: 34.9%
Women in Poverty: 1.7%
Uninsured Women: 2.1%
North Star is not favorable for women, with a substantial pay gap and low management representation.
9. Pike Creek Valley
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $0.71
Women in Management: 42.1%
Women in Poverty: 12.2%
Uninsured Women: 2.8%
Pike Creek Valley faces challenges for women, with significant disparities in income and poverty rates among single women.
10. Seaford
Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Male Dollars Earned: $0.87
Women in Management: 79.9%
Women in Poverty: 22.4%
Uninsured Women: 6.4%
Seaford is the tenth on our list. Although women fare slightly better here, they still confront significant struggles, with over 22% living in poverty.
Summary Of The Worst Cities For Women In Delaware
These cities represent the most challenging environments for women in Delaware. While women face various hurdles across the state, these locations offer particularly poor prospects for advancement and well-being.
Despite some cities showing better conditions, the disparities in earnings and opportunities highlight the ongoing issues women encounter in the workforce. While we cannot definitively label Georgetown as the worst city for every individual woman, it is clear that women residing there face unique challenges.
Explore the complete list below to see how other cities compare.
Detailed List Of The Worst Cities For Women In Delaware
| Rank | Place | Pay Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown | $1.03 |
| 2 | Newark | $0.45 |
| 3 | Dover | $0.69 |
| 4 | Claymont | $0.79 |
| 5 | Wilmington | $0.90 |
| 6 | New Castle | $0.76 |
| 7 | Bear | $0.77 |
| 8 | North Star | $0.54 |
| 9 | Pike Creek Valley | $0.71 |
| 10 | Seaford | $0.87 |
| 11 | Edgemoor | $0.71 |
| 12 | Middletown | $0.77 |
| 13 | Brookside | $0.97 |
| 14 | Pike Creek | $0.65 |
| 15 | Wilmington Manor | $0.76 |
| 16 | Elsmere | $1.02 |
| 17 | Hockessin | $0.69 |
| 18 | Milford | $0.82 |
| 19 | Smyrna | $0.89 |
| 20 | Glasgow | $0.77 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
