Kent County Today

In 2022, government transfers made up 26.5% of total income in Kent County, Delaware—an alarming 20.5% surge from 6% in 1970 and a 3.9% increase from 2012’s 22.6%. This marks the largest increase among all Delaware counties over the past decade, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.

On a per capita basis, this translates to $13,543 per resident in 2022, up from $9,856 in 2012 and $1,400 in 1970, ranking Kent County as the second fastest-growing in per capita government transfers among Delaware counties over the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, Kent County had the largest share of income derived from government transfers, making it the most dependent county in the state.

For comparison, the statewide average was 21.9% in 2022, showing a higher dependency than the national average of 17.6%. On a per capita level, this translates to $13,866 per resident, compared to $11,542 nationwide.

Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).

In Kent County, reliance on government transfers was just 6% (or $1,400 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970. This has since increased to a total of 20.5% since 1970. This shift is largely influenced by increased healthcare costs, and economic transformations that have reshaped income sources across the U.S.

In 2022, the primary government transfer programs in Kent County included:

• Social Security: $4,198 per capita (31% of total transfers)
• Medicare: $3,089 per capita (22.8% of total transfers)
• Medicaid: $2,695 per capita (19.9% of total transfers)
• Income Maintenance Programs: $1,506 per capita (11.1% of total transfers)

With 18.2% of the population aged 65 and older, Kent County has a significant demand for Social Security and Medicare. However, counties with higher poverty rates also show elevated Medicaid and income maintenance participation.

Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans' income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.2% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022 nationwide.

According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.

County	Dependency on Transfers (%)	Change Since 2012	Change Since 1970	Per Capita Amount (2022)	Per Capita Since 2012	Per Capita Since 1970
Kent County	26.5%	+3.9%	+20.5%	$13,543	$3,687	$12,144
Sussex County	26.4%	+1.2%	+17.6%	$17,120	$4,514	$15,197
New Castle County	18.9%	+3.3%	+13.5%	$12,524	$3,449	$10,910