Area Code 302

Delaware

Area code 302 serves Delaware, primarily Wilmington, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It has served the region since 01-Jan-1947.

Demographics & Economics

Total Population: 1,110,160
Population Density: 434 people/sq mi
above U.S. average (U.S.: 93 people/sq mi)
Median Household Income: $89,901
above U.S. median (U.S.: $75,144)
Poverty Rate: 10.9%
near U.S. average (U.S.: 11.5%)
Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 3.6%)
Education Attainment: Bachelor's Degree+
34.8%
near U.S. average (U.S.: 33.7%)
High School or Lower
32.5%

Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates. Population figures are approximate — see Sources & Methodology for details on how area code populations are derived.

See how this area code compares to all US area codes in the income ranking and density ranking.

Time Zone

Eastern Time (ET)

NANPA Relief Status

According to the latest NANPA analysis (July 2026), this area code is not currently listed as exhausting within the next 36 months. No relief planning is in progress for this NPA.

Source: NANPA NPA Relief Planning Reports · See all relief planning statuses

Current Time

Eastern Time (ET)

Prefix Utilization

Geographic Coverage

State

Major Cities

Wilmington
Dover
Newark
Middletown
Bear
Glasgow
Brookside
Hockessin
Smyrna
Milford
Pike Creek Valley
Claymont
Seaford
North Star
Wilmington Manor
Georgetown
Pike Creek
Millsboro
Edgemoor
Elsmere
New Castle
Rising Sun-Lebanon
Clayton
Laurel

and 55 more cities

Area Code 302 geographic coverage map (light mode)

Historical Timeline of Area Code 302

Area code 302 was created on January 1, 1947 as one of the original 86 North American area codes. It has served the entire state of Delaware continuously for nearly 80 years without a split or overlay, making it one of the longest-unchanged NPAs in the North American Numbering Plan. Source: NANPA

Key milestones:

1947: Created as one of the original 86 area codes by AT&T/Bell System. The middle digit "0" in 302 designated it for a single-NPA state, covering all of Delaware from day one. Source: NANPA
1951: Among early NPAs accessible via automated toll switching during the first commercial Direct Distance Dialing trials in Englewood, NJ. Source: Wikipedia
1981: Delaware Financial Center Development Act signed by Gov. Pierre S. du Pont IV, attracting major banks and credit card operations (MBNA, Chase, Barclays, Discover) to Wilmington. This drove telecom demand growth without requiring a split. Source: Delaware General Assembly
2002 (Delaware PSC): Holly Oak rate center began thousands-block number pooling on May 16, 2002, as part of NANPA's numbering conservation measures.
2020 (FCC): FCC adopted Order 20-100 (July 16, 2020) designating 988 as the three-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline code. Area code 302 was among 82 NPAs affected due to its existing 302-988 exchange in Selbyville.
2021: Delaware PSC announced mandatory 10-digit dialing transition. Permissive dialing began April 24, 2021; mandatory dialing enforced October 24, 2021. Source: Delaware PSC
2025: NANPA projects 302 will exhaust in Q3 2036, revised from an earlier Q2 2034 projection. Approximately 655 of ~792 usable prefixes are assigned (82.7% capacity). Source: NANPA 2025-2 NRUF

Area code 302's uninterrupted service since 1947 reflects Delaware's position as one of roughly 11 US states still served by a single area code. The state absorbed decades of growth, including a major banking boom in the 1980s and 1990s, without requiring a split or overlay.

Regulatory History

FCC Order 20-100 (July 2020) designated 988 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, requiring area code 302 to transition to mandatory 10-digit dialing by October 24, 2021. The existing 302-988 exchange in Selbyville, Delaware was among 82 NPAs affected nationwide. Source: Delaware PSC

Year	Event	Docket	Regulatory Action & Impact
2020	988 Lifeline Designation	FCC 20-100	Designated 988 as abbreviated dialing code for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Required all area codes with working 988 NXX to transition to 10-digit dialing by July 16, 2022. Area code 302 affected due to existing 302-988 exchange in Selbyville.
2021	10-Digit Dialing Transition	NANPA PL-556	Established implementation schedule for mandatory 10-digit dialing across 82 area codes including 302. Permissive dialing began April 24, 2021; mandatory cutover October 24, 2021. Source: NANPA
2021	State Implementation	Delaware PSC	Delaware PSC announced state-level implementation of FCC 20-100 on April 12, 2021. Affected equipment included medical alert devices, alarm systems, PBXs, fax machines, and speed dialers. Source: Delaware PSC