The Williams Institute

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Delaware. We compare same-sex “unmarried partners,” which the Census Bureau defines as an unmarried couple who “shares living quarters and has a close personal relationship,” to different-sex married couples in Delaware.

In many ways, the nearly 2,100 same-sex couples living in Delaware are similar to married couples. According to Census 2000, they live throughout the State, are racially and ethnically diverse, have partners who depend upon one another financially, and actively participate in Delaware's economy. Census data also show that about 12% of same-sex couples in Delaware are raising children. Same-sex couples have higher household incomes but lower rates of homeownership than married couples. Individuals in same-sex couples are more likely to be employed than married individuals.