Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Delaware
Delaware is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Delaware, Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Delaware gets more sunshine.
Alaska
9
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Delaware
21
/ 30
metrics won
DE wins Housing
DE wins Quality of Life
DE wins Climate
AK wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Delaware
winner
Delaware scores higher on quality of life — 5.86 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Delaware is 22.6 points cheaper overall
Delaware has the lower cost-of-living index. Delaware is at 103.2, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.45 further in Delaware
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.24 of local buying power in Delaware, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Alaska income is 9.1% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $79,325 in Delaware.
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Jobs
Delaware has the higher minimum wage
Delaware has the higher statewide minimum wage at $13.25/hr, compared with $13.00/hr in Alaska.
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Housing
Alaska homes cost about 1.1x more
Delaware has the lower median home value at $296,700, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
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Taxes
Alaska has lower state income tax
Alaska has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
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Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Alaska
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Delaware
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 6.6%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (102.7 for Alaska, 100.9 for Delaware). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alaska
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Alaska
- Alaska has a lower housing cost index.
- Alaska shows higher median income.
Cons
- Alaska has a higher overall cost of living.
- Alaska has higher median home values.
- Alaska has higher property tax rates on average.
- Alaska has a higher violent crime rate.
- Alaska job growth trend is weaker.
- Alaska health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
Delaware
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Delaware
- Delaware has a lower overall cost of living.
- Delaware has lower median home values.
- Delaware has lower property tax rates on average.
- Delaware has a lower violent crime rate.
- Delaware job growth trend is stronger.
- Delaware health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Delaware has a higher housing cost index.
- Delaware shows lower median income.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
DE
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Dover |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
989,948
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$79,325
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
103.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$296,700
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.50%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
6.60%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$13.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$3.914/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
50.03
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
55.3°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
97 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
2,489 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
17
shown
Saving Money
Delaware is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 103.2 vs 125.8 in Alaska. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
See full data
Gas Price
Delaware is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.914/gal in Delaware vs $4.619/gal in Alaska. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Delaware has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $13.25/hr in Delaware vs $13.00/hr in Alaska. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Delaware has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 16.51 c/kWh in Delaware vs 25.52 c/kWh in Alaska. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Alaska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.66x in Alaska vs 3.74x in Delaware. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Delaware is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.5% in Delaware vs 18.7% in Alaska. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Alaska vs Delaware - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Delaware?
Delaware has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Delaware scores 103.2 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 22.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Delaware?
$100 goes further in Delaware. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.24 in Delaware, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Delaware?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 266.5x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Delaware have more people?
Delaware has the larger population at 989,948, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Delaware?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $79,325 in Delaware.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alaska or Delaware?
Alaska has no state income tax, while Delaware charges up to 6.60%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Delaware?
Homes are cheaper in Delaware, where the median home value is $296,700, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Delaware?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Alaska is more spread out at 1.1 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.