City: Wilmington
State: Delaware
Best Cities Overall Rank: 80
About Wilmington:
Wilmington was named by Thomas Penn for his friend Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, who was prime minister in the reign of George II of Great Britain.
The Delaware Children's Museum in Wilmington is Delaware's first and only kid-centric museum, teaching math, science and technology through hands-on exhibits appropriate for toddlers through the teen years.
County: New Castle
Population: 72,592
Official website for city visitors' bureau/city: Visitors' bureau website
Newspaper with the largest circulation: Delaware News Journal
Wilmington blogs:
Moms Like Me
Delaware Online
Delaware Business Blog
Wilmington's Facebook page: Follow Wilmington on Facebook
Wilmington's Twitter page: Follow Wilmington on Twitter
Education rank: 10
High School graduation rate 2007: 74.60%
Blue Ribbon Schools, 2003-2009: 2
Blue Ribbon Schools per 100,000 people: 2.76
NEAYC-accredited preschools: 9
NAEYC schools per 100,000 people: 12.40
NAEP State proficiency reading, grade 8: 265
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 14.30
Total Expenditures Per Student: $13,967
Health rank: 28
Quality children's hospitals: 1
Hospitals per 100,000 people: 1.38
Quality Pediatricians: 1
Quality Pediatricians per 100,000: 1.38
Average number of Unhealthy Air Quality days between 2006-2008, by county: 1
Safety rank: 101
Violent Crimes, 2008: 1,410
Violent Crime Rate per 100,000: 1,942.36
Sex Offenders: 565
Sex Offenders per 100,000: 778.32
Economy rank: 26
Travel time to work, 2006-2008, in minutes: 19.5
Percent of labor force unemployed, January 2010: 9.5
Best Performing Cities Job Index: 1,429.58
Median Home Sale Price: $202,900
5-Year Home Value Index: 9.56%
Percent of homes sold for a loss: 10.01%
Recreation Rank: 95
Parkland acreage, 2008 (includes pools and playgrounds): 200
Parkland per 100,000: 275.51
Photo courtesy of smallbones
