Joe Biden has spent the last fifty years as a creature of Washington, but he’s never really of Washington. If you’ve followed his career at all, you know the train stories. The constant commuting. The pull of Delaware. So, now that the moving trucks have officially cleared out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, everyone is asking the same thing: where will Biden live after the White House?
He’s officially a private citizen again. The "gilded cage," as he famously called the executive mansion, is in his rearview mirror. Honestly, the answer isn’t a mystery, but the logistics of a former president moving back into a quiet suburban neighborhood are kind of wild.
The Wilmington Stronghold: 1209 Barley Mill Road
The primary spot is the house he built from scratch. Back in 1996, Joe and Jill Biden bought a four-acre plot of lakefront land in the Greenville area of Wilmington. They didn’t just buy a house; they built a sanctuary.
It’s a 6,850-square-foot Colonial-style home. Think lots of stucco, a big garage for his 1967 Corvette Stingray, and a vibe that screams "First State" wealth without being too flashy. This is where the Biden family roots are deepest. It’s where they’ve held Sunday dinners for decades. If you’re looking for the man in 2026, he’s probably in the library he had custom-installed by a local carpenter years ago.
Living here as a former president is a lot different than living here as a Senator. The Secret Service doesn't just go away. They’ve actually been renting a small cottage on the property for years to maintain a permanent presence. Neighbors in Greenville are already used to the motorcades and the "Joe-jams" (the local term for traffic when he's in town), but now it's just the permanent reality of the neighborhood.
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The "Summer Capital" Escape in Rehoboth Beach
When the humidity in Wilmington gets too high or the family just needs to smell salt air, they head south. In 2017, using the money from his book deal after his vice presidency, Biden bought a vacation home in the North Shores community of Rehoboth Beach.
It’s a $2.7 million property that sits right against the Gordons Pond Trail. For the last few years, this was his "Presidential Retreat." Locals would see him riding his bike on the trails or grabbing a meal at Egg on Rehoboth Avenue.
Post-presidency life here looks a bit more relaxed. The massive security zones that used to shut down the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and parts of the Atlantic Ocean when he visited have been scaled back. He's still got a detail, of course, but he's no longer followed by the "Nuclear Football" or a 20-car motorcade every time he wants a double-scoop of ice cream at a local shop.
Why Not Pennsylvania or California?
There’s always rumors, right? Biden was born in Scranton. He loves to talk about Scranton. It’s a huge part of his political brand. But he hasn't lived there since he was ten years old. While he visits often, he doesn't own property there.
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Then there was the California chatter. In early 2025, right after the inauguration of his successor, the Bidens spent some time at a ranch in Santa Barbara County to unwind. It sparked some "are they moving to the West Coast?" headlines. But let’s be real—Joe Biden is a Delaware guy. His grandkids are on the East Coast. His church, St. Joseph on the Brandywine, is in Wilmington. He isn't trading the Brandywine Valley for the Santa Ynez mountains permanently.
The Future: The Biden Presidential Library
A huge part of where he spends his time will be dictated by his legacy project. In late 2025, it was officially announced that the Biden Presidential Library will be built in Delaware.
A 13-person board, including names like Antony Blinken and Marty Walsh, is currently scouting locations. While the exact city hasn’t been nailed down, most of the money is on the Wilmington area or near the University of Delaware in Newark. This project will likely be a "hub for civic engagement," meaning Joe won't just be sitting on a porch. He’ll be back and forth between his home and the library site for the next decade.
What Post-Presidency Life Actually Looks Like
It isn't all beach days and Corvettes. Being a former president is a specific kind of job.
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- The Pension: He’s receiving an annual pension of about $219,200.
- Office Space: The General Services Administration (GSA) provides him with office space and a staff. He’s chosen to keep his primary base of operations in Delaware rather than D.C.
- Security: Secret Service protection is a lifetime deal for him and Jill.
- Mail: He can't even get an Amazon package delivered directly to his door. Everything is screened at an off-site facility first.
Actionable Steps for the "Biden Watcher"
If you're interested in the "Biden trail" in Delaware, here is how you can actually see the places that shaped his post-White House life:
- Visit Gordons Pond Trail: You can walk or bike the same trail the Bidens use in Rehoboth. It’s public and beautiful.
- Check out the University of Delaware: The Biden Institute is already there, and it’s a good bet the future library will have a strong connection to the campus.
- Support Local Spots: If you want to eat like a former president, stop by Egg in Rehoboth or St. Edmond Catholic Church if you're in the area for a service.
Joe Biden's move back to Delaware is basically a homecoming that was 50 years in the making. He’s trading the Oval Office for the Barley Mill Road library, and honestly, he seems pretty okay with that.
To keep up with the progress on his library or public appearances in the First State, keep an eye on the official Joe and Jill Biden Foundation updates, as they are managing the transition into his "senior statesman" era.