Delaware
DE • South
Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs Maine
Delaware is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Maine, Delaware has higher incomes, Delaware has lower state income tax, and Maine gets more sunshine.
Delaware
14
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Maine
17
/ 31
metrics won
DE wins Quality of Life
DE wins Climate
ME wins Income
ME wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Delaware
vs
Maine
winner
Maine scores higher on quality of life — 6.18 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 7.1 points cheaper overall
Delaware has the lower cost-of-living index. Delaware is at 103.2, while Maine is at 110.3.
View detailed comparison
Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $0.53 further in Maine
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.77 of local buying power in Maine, versus $103.24 in Delaware.
View detailed comparison
Income
Delaware income is 13.0% higher
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $70,171 in Maine.
View detailed comparison
Jobs
Maine minimum wage is $1.40 higher
Maine has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.65/hr, compared with $13.25/hr in Delaware.
View detailed comparison
Housing
Delaware homes cost about 1.1x more
Maine has the lower median home value at $274,400, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
View detailed comparison
Taxes
Delaware has lower state income tax
Delaware has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 6.60%, compared with 7.15% in Maine.
View detailed comparisonTake-Home Calculator
What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
$
$10k$250k$500k
Delaware
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 6.6%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Maine
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.2%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Cost-of-Living Equivalent
—
* "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, 100.6 for Maine). 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 overall cost of living.
- 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.
Cons
- Delaware has higher median home values.
- Delaware has a higher violent crime rate.
- Delaware health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Delaware health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Delaware education proxy is lower.
- Delaware has fewer sunny days.
Maine
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Maine
- Maine has lower median home values.
- Maine has a lower violent crime rate.
- Maine health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Maine health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Maine education proxy is higher.
- Maine has more sunny days.
Cons
- Maine has a higher overall cost of living.
- Maine has a higher housing cost index.
- Maine shows lower median income.
- Maine has higher property tax rates on average.
- Maine job growth trend is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
DE
|
ME
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Dover | Augusta |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
989,948
|
1,362,359
|
|
Median Income
|
$79,325
|
$70,171
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.2
|
110.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$296,700
|
$274,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.50%
|
1.02%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.60%
|
7.15%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.25/hr
|
$14.65/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.914/gal
|
$3.967/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
30.73 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.03
|
56.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
55.3°F
|
41.0°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
97 days
|
101 days
|
|
Land Area
|
2,489 sq mi
|
35,380 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
March 15, 1820 (#23)
|
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
18
shown
Saving Money
Delaware is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 103.2 vs 110.3 in Maine. 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 $3.967/gal in Maine. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
See full data
Minimum Wage
Maine has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $14.65/hr in Maine vs $13.25/hr in Delaware. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
Delaware has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 16.51 c/kWh in Delaware vs 30.73 c/kWh in Maine. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
See full data
Buying a Home
Delaware is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.74x in Delaware vs 3.91x in Maine. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Maine is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.2% in Maine vs 18.5% in Delaware. 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
Delaware vs Maine - Common Questions
Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than Maine?
Delaware has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Delaware scores 103.2 versus 110.3 for Maine - a gap of 7.1 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Delaware or Maine?
$100 goes further in Maine. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.77 in Maine, compared with $103.24 in Delaware.
Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or Maine?
Maine is larger, covering 35,380 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 14.2x the size.
Q Does Delaware or Maine have more people?
Maine has the larger population at 1,362,359, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.
Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or Maine?
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, versus $70,171 in Maine.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or Maine?
Delaware has the lower state income tax top rate at 6.60%, compared with 7.15% in Maine.
Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or Maine?
Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or Maine?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Maine is more spread out at 38.5 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.