Delaware
DE • South
Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs Mississippi
Mississippi is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Mississippi, Delaware has higher incomes, Mississippi has lower state income tax, and Mississippi gets more sunshine.
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.
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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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $12.77 further in Mississippi
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $116.01 of local buying power in Mississippi, versus $103.24 in Delaware.
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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 $6.00 higher
Delaware has the higher statewide minimum wage at $13.25/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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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)
- —
Mississippi
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.7%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- 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, 85.5 for Mississippi). 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 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.
- Delaware education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Delaware has a higher overall cost of living.
- Delaware has a higher housing cost index.
- Delaware has higher median home values.
- Delaware has a higher violent crime rate.
- Delaware has fewer sunny days.
Mississippi
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Mississippi
- Mississippi has a lower overall cost of living.
- Mississippi has a lower housing cost index.
- Mississippi has lower median home values.
- Mississippi has a lower violent crime rate.
- Mississippi has more sunny days.
Cons
- Mississippi shows lower median income.
- Mississippi has higher property tax rates on average.
- Mississippi job growth trend is weaker.
- Mississippi health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Mississippi health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Mississippi education proxy is lower.
Full 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
|
$13.25/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.
6
of
19
shown
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: $13.25/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.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
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 Where does $100 go further - Delaware or Mississippi?
$100 goes further in Mississippi. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $116.01 in Mississippi, compared with $103.24 in Delaware.
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; 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.