Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Delaware
Delaware is cheaper overall, while Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Delaware gets more sunshine.
VS
Delaware
DE • South
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
50.03
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.
Quick Take
Alaska vs Delaware
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Delaware is about 266 times smaller than Alaska.
- Delaware has a larger population than Alaska by 256,557 people.
- Delaware has the lower cost-of-living index. Delaware is at 103.2, while Alaska is at 125.8.
- Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $79,325 in Delaware.
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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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 minimum wage is $2.00 higher
Delaware has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/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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Cost of Driving
Delaware gas is about $0.70 cheaper
Delaware has the lower regular gas price at $3.914/gal, versus $4.619/gal in Alaska.
View detailed comparisonFull 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
|
$15.00/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.
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.
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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: $15.00/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.
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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.
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Property Tax
Delaware has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.50% in Delaware vs 1.11% in Alaska. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
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State Color
Delaware votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Dem +14.70 in Delaware vs Rep +13.13 in Alaska.
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Gun Laws
Delaware has stricter gun laws
Delaware falls into the restrictive category, while Alaska falls into the permissive category on this simplified statewide comparison.
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Lower Taxes
Alaska has no state income tax
Alaska charges no state income tax. Delaware levies up to 6.60% at the top marginal rate.
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More Space
Alaska feels less crowded
Population density: 1.1 per sq mi in Alaska vs 397.7 per sq mi in Delaware. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.
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Shorter Commute
Alaska has the shorter commute
Average commute: 18.8 min in Alaska vs 25.7 min in Delaware.
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Job Opportunities
Alaska looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 4.8% in Alaska vs 5.2% in Delaware.
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Remote Workers
Delaware looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 50.03 in Delaware vs 44.17 in Alaska.
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Families
Delaware looks better for families
Delaware wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, uninsured rate compared with Alaska.
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Warmer Climate
Delaware is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 55.3°F in Delaware vs 26.6°F in Alaska.
See full data
More Sunshine
Delaware gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 97 days in Delaware vs 61 days in Alaska.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
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 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, with minimum wage data 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.