Delaware
DE • South
Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs Georgia
Georgia is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Georgia, Delaware has higher incomes, Georgia has lower state income tax, and Georgia gets more sunshine.
Delaware
14
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Georgia
17
/ 31
metrics won
DE wins Housing
GA wins Quality of Life
GA wins Climate
DE wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Delaware
vs
Georgia
winner
Georgia scores higher on quality of life — 1.56 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
Georgia is 9.8 points cheaper overall
Georgia has the lower cost-of-living index. Georgia is at 93.4, while Delaware is at 103.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $7.77 further in Georgia
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $111.01 of local buying power in Georgia, versus $103.24 in Delaware.
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Income
Delaware income is 11.2% higher
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $71,355 in Georgia.
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Jobs
Delaware minimum wage is $6.00 higher
Delaware has the higher statewide minimum wage at $13.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Georgia.
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Housing
Delaware homes cost about 1.1x more
Georgia has the lower median home value at $277,000, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
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Taxes
Georgia has lower state income tax
Georgia has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.49%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
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Delaware
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 6.6%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Georgia
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.5%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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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 (100.9 for Delaware, 93.4 for Georgia). 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.
Delaware
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Delaware
- Delaware has a lower housing cost index.
- Delaware shows higher median income.
- Delaware has lower property tax rates on average.
- Delaware job growth trend is stronger.
- Delaware health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Delaware health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Delaware has a higher overall cost of living.
- Delaware has higher median home values.
- Delaware has a higher violent crime rate.
- Delaware has fewer sunny days.
Georgia
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Georgia
- Georgia has a lower overall cost of living.
- Georgia has lower median home values.
- Georgia has a lower violent crime rate.
- Georgia has more sunny days.
Cons
- Georgia has a higher housing cost index.
- Georgia shows lower median income.
- Georgia has higher property tax rates on average.
- Georgia job growth trend is weaker.
- Georgia health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Georgia health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
DE
|
GA
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Dover | Atlanta |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Swing State |
|
Population
|
989,948
|
10,711,908
|
|
Median Income
|
$79,325
|
$71,355
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.2
|
93.4
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$296,700
|
$277,000
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.50%
|
0.77%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.60%
|
5.49%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.914/gal
|
$3.716/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
14.46 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.03
|
51.59
|
|
Average Temperature
|
55.3°F
|
63.5°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
97 days
|
112 days
|
|
Land Area
|
2,489 sq mi
|
59,425 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
180.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
January 2, 1788 (#4)
|
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
19
shown
Saving Money
Georgia is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 93.4 vs 103.2 in Delaware. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Georgia is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.716/gal in Georgia vs $3.914/gal in Delaware. 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 $7.25/hr in Georgia. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Georgia has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 14.46 c/kWh in Georgia vs 16.51 c/kWh in Delaware. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Delaware is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.74x in Delaware vs 3.88x in Georgia. 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 20.4% in Georgia. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Delaware vs Georgia - Common Questions
Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than Georgia?
Georgia has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Georgia scores 93.4 versus 103.2 for Delaware - a gap of 9.8 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Delaware or Georgia?
$100 goes further in Georgia. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $111.01 in Georgia, compared with $103.24 in Delaware.
Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or Georgia?
Georgia is larger, covering 59,425 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 23.9x the size.
Q Does Delaware or Georgia have more people?
Georgia has the larger population at 10,711,908, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.
Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or Georgia?
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, versus $71,355 in Georgia.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or Georgia?
Georgia has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.49%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or Georgia?
Homes are cheaper in Georgia, where the median home value is $277,000, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or Georgia?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Georgia is more spread out at 180.3 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.