Delawareans Don’t Think Their State Has Room for People Who Want to Downsize, a 2026 Survey Found

Trading a big house for a smaller one sounds easy until you start looking at what’s for sale.

A state survey asked Delawareans about housing for people who want to downsize.

Here’s what the answers show, and what a survey like this can’t tell you.

Note: This is general information, not financial advice. Survey results and housing figures are subject to change.

Who Ran the Survey and How

The survey behind the finding comes from the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), the state agency whose mission is affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents.

DSHA teamed up with the University of Delaware’s Center for Applied Demography & Survey Research (CADSR) to run it.

CADSR is a research center in the university’s Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration that provides opinion research for state and local government and the private sector.

Together, they asked roughly 400 residents about housing affordability, housing supply, homelessness and housing policies.

DSHA says the early results show housing availability and affordability are major concerns.

DSHA posted the preliminary results on June 10, 2026.

It’s a snapshot.

The survey was still under way at that point, so you’re reading an early look, not a final count.

The findings on housing gaps start with the group the headline is about, older adults seeking to downsize, and then move to the groups that drew bigger shares.

If you’re weighing a move yourself, that first finding is the one to read closely.

The Downsizing Number

Downsizing only works when a smaller home is out there to buy, and the survey asked about that supply.

In the results, 56% of respondents believe the supply of housing for older adults seeking to downsize is insufficient.

In plain terms, more than half of respondents say there aren’t enough homes for older adults who want to downsize, and that’s the “no room” in the headline.

It’s a majority, but by a modest margin, since 56% sits six points above an even split.

Of the four groups listed, older adults seeking to downsize drew the smallest share.

If you’re planning to sell and move smaller, that’s your group.

The summary doesn’t say why.

The survey reports what respondents believe about supply, not how many smaller homes you’d find on the market.

The Other Three Groups

Housing for downsizers wasn’t the survey’s biggest worry.

Housing for people with low incomes drew the largest share, with 80% of respondents calling the supply insufficient.

Housing for smaller households came next at 72%.

Housing for people with moderate incomes followed at 57%, a single point above the group you’d join if you’re downsizing.

That’s close.

With a sample of roughly 400, you shouldn’t read much into a one-point gap.

What Else Respondents Said

The survey’s results reach past the groups you’ve just read about.

DSHA says respondents support expanding housing options by increasing supply and offering a wider mix of home types.

Beyond the four groups, 73% of respondents believe their communities haven’t invested enough in affordable housing.

A separate 66% want first-time homebuyers to be a high priority for community leaders.

That’s two in three.

Respondents are concerned about the next generation.

They lack confidence that young people will be able to afford to live in their communities in the future.

If you have kids, that worry may sound familiar.

Homelessness comes up too.

Respondents see affordable housing as part of the solution.

Older Residents in the Data

Other numbers help put the downsizing finding in context.

The Census Bureau puts the share of Delawareans 65 and older at 22.8% in its QuickFacts profile.

That's over one in five.

If you're in that group, you're in good company.

DSHA's 2023 Housing Needs Assessment, compiled by Root Policy Research, found that since 2010, homeownership has dropped for every age group except seniors.

The mix of homes in the state has changed little over time, apart from a drop in manufactured and mobile homes.

To keep up with household growth through 2030, Delaware needs to add 24,400 new units, an average of 2,400 a year, or about 200 a month.

The state's preview of the assessment says planning and zoning changes are needed so all residents can access safe housing regardless of income, age, location or household size.

None of these figures tells you how many older owners want to move to a smaller home.

What the Survey Can't Say

Roughly 400 respondents is a modest sample for a state with about 1.06 million people, according to Census Bureau estimates.

The posted summary doesn't list a margin of error, how respondents were reached or when the survey was in the field.

Opinions aren't inventory.

A survey like this one records what residents believe about supply, while the 2023 assessment counts units, so the two answer different questions.

If you're sizing up the market before a sale, check listings near you as well.