Delaware
DE • South
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs Mississippi
Mississippi is cheaper overall, while Delaware has higher incomes, Mississippi has lower state income tax, and Mississippi gets more sunshine.
VS
Mississippi
MS • South
Quality of Life Score
43.53
Delaware
12
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Mississippi
19
/ 31
metrics won
MS wins Housing
MS wins Quality of Life
MS wins Climate
DE wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Delaware
winner
vs
Mississippi
Delaware scores higher on quality of life — 6.50 points difference.
Quick Take
Delaware vs Mississippi
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Delaware is about 20 times smaller than Mississippi.
- Mississippi has a larger population than Delaware by 1,971,331 people.
- Mississippi has the lower cost-of-living index. Mississippi is at 85.5, while Delaware is at 103.2.
- Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $49,111 in Mississippi.
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
Mississippi is 17.7 points cheaper overall
Mississippi has the lower cost-of-living index. Mississippi is at 85.5, while Delaware is at 103.2.
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Income
Delaware income is 61.5% higher
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $49,111 in Mississippi.
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Jobs
Delaware minimum wage is $7.75 higher
Delaware has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Mississippi.
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Housing
Delaware homes cost about 2.1x more
Mississippi has the lower median home value at $140,800, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
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Taxes
Mississippi has lower state income tax
Mississippi has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.70%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
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Cost of Driving
Mississippi gas is about $0.16 cheaper
Mississippi has the lower regular gas price at $3.755/gal, versus $3.914/gal in Delaware.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
DE
|
MS
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Dover | Jackson |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
989,948
|
2,961,279
|
|
Median Income
|
$79,325
|
$49,111
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.2
|
85.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$296,700
|
$140,800
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.50%
|
0.72%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.60%
|
4.70%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.914/gal
|
$3.755/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
14.24 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.03
|
43.53
|
|
Average Temperature
|
55.3°F
|
63.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
97 days
|
111 days
|
|
Land Area
|
2,489 sq mi
|
48,432 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
61.1 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
December 10, 1817 (#20)
|
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
Mississippi is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 85.5 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
Mississippi is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.755/gal in Mississippi 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: $15.00/hr in Delaware vs $7.25/hr in Mississippi. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Mississippi has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 14.24 c/kWh in Mississippi 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
Mississippi is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.87x in Mississippi 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 20.6% in Mississippi. 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 0.72% in Mississippi. 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 +22.86 in Mississippi.
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Gun Laws
Delaware has stricter gun laws
Delaware falls into the restrictive category, while Mississippi falls into the permissive category on this simplified statewide comparison.
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Alcohol Laws
Mississippi uses a control-state system
Mississippi uses a control-state system for liquor sales, while Delaware uses a license-state system.
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Marijuana Legalization
Delaware has broader marijuana access
Delaware currently rates as Legal, while Mississippi rates as Medical under statewide marijuana law.
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Lower Taxes
Mississippi has lower income taxes
Top state income tax rate: 4.70% in Mississippi vs 6.60% in Delaware.
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More Space
Mississippi feels less crowded
Population density: 61.1 per sq mi in Mississippi 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
Mississippi has the shorter commute
Average commute: 24.4 min in Mississippi vs 25.7 min in Delaware.
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Job Opportunities
Mississippi looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 3.4% in Mississippi vs 5.2% in Delaware.
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Remote Workers
Delaware looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 50.03 in Delaware vs 43.53 in Mississippi.
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Families
Delaware looks better for families
Delaware wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including life expectancy, uninsured rate, bachelor's degree compared with Mississippi.
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Warmer Climate
Mississippi is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 63.4°F in Mississippi vs 55.3°F in Delaware.
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More Sunshine
Mississippi gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 111 days in Mississippi vs 97 days in Delaware.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
Population
Mississippi has a larger population than Delaware by 1,971,331 people.
Population Density
Delaware is more densely populated than Mississippi.
Bachelor's Degree
Delaware has a higher college-educated share than Mississippi.
Advanced Degree
Delaware has a higher advanced-degree share than Mississippi.
People Also Ask
Delaware vs Mississippi - Common Questions
Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than Mississippi?
Mississippi has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Mississippi scores 85.5 versus 103.2 for Delaware - a gap of 17.7 points.
Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or Mississippi?
Mississippi is larger, covering 48,432 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 19.5x the size.
Q Does Delaware or Mississippi have more people?
Mississippi has the larger population at 2,961,279, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.
Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or Mississippi?
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, versus $49,111 in Mississippi.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or Mississippi?
Mississippi has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.70%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or Mississippi?
Homes are cheaper in Mississippi, where the median home value is $140,800, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or Mississippi?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Mississippi is more spread out at 61.1 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.