Delaware
DE • South
Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs New York
Delaware is cheaper overall, while Delaware has higher incomes, Delaware has lower state income tax, and Delaware gets more sunshine.
VS
New York
NY • Northeast
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
57.94
Delaware
21
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New York
10
/ 31
metrics won
DE wins Housing
DE wins Quality of Life
DE wins Climate
DE wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Delaware
vs
New York
winner
New York scores higher on quality of life — 7.91 points difference.
Quick Take
Delaware vs New York
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Delaware is about 22 times smaller than New York.
- New York has a larger population than Delaware by 19,211,301 people.
- Delaware has the lower cost-of-living index. Delaware is at 103.2, while New York is at 132.7.
- Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $78,609 in New York.
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 29.5 points cheaper overall
Delaware has the lower cost-of-living index. Delaware is at 103.2, while New York is at 132.7.
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Income
Delaware income is 0.9% higher
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $78,609 in New York.
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Jobs
New York minimum wage is $2.00 higher
New York has the higher statewide minimum wage at $17.00/hr, compared with $15.00/hr in Delaware.
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Housing
New York homes cost about 1.2x more
Delaware has the lower median home value at $296,700, versus $367,200 in New York.
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Taxes
Delaware has lower state income tax
Delaware has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 6.60%, compared with 10.90% in New York.
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Cost of Driving
Delaware gas is about $0.15 cheaper
Delaware has the lower regular gas price at $3.914/gal, versus $4.069/gal in New York.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
DE
|
NY
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Dover | Albany |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
989,948
|
20,201,249
|
|
Median Income
|
$79,325
|
$78,609
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.2
|
132.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$296,700
|
$367,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.50%
|
1.55%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.60%
|
10.90%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$17.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.914/gal
|
$4.069/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
28.37 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.03
|
57.94
|
|
Average Temperature
|
55.3°F
|
45.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
97 days
|
63 days
|
|
Land Area
|
2,489 sq mi
|
54,555 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
370.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
July 26, 1788 (#11)
|
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 132.7 in New York. 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 $4.069/gal in New York. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
New York has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $17.00/hr in New York vs $15.00/hr in Delaware. 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 28.37 c/kWh in New York. 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 4.67x in New York. 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 24.1% in New York. 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 1.55% in New York. 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 Dem +12.52 in New York.
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Lower Taxes
Delaware has lower income taxes
Top state income tax rate: 6.60% in Delaware vs 10.90% in New York.
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More Space
New York feels less crowded
Population density: 370.3 per sq mi in New York 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
Delaware has the shorter commute
Average commute: 25.7 min in Delaware vs 31.2 min in New York.
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Job Opportunities
New York looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 4.6% in New York vs 5.2% in Delaware.
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Remote Workers
New York looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 57.94 in New York vs 50.03 in Delaware.
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Families
New York looks better for families
New York wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, uninsured rate compared with Delaware.
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Warmer Climate
Delaware is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 55.3°F in Delaware vs 45.4°F in New York.
See full data
More Sunshine
Delaware gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 97 days in Delaware vs 63 days in New York.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
Population
New York has a larger population than Delaware by 19,211,301 people.
Population Density
Delaware is more densely populated than New York.
Bachelor's Degree
New York has a higher college-educated share than Delaware.
Advanced Degree
New York has a higher advanced-degree share than Delaware.
People Also Ask
Delaware vs New York - Common Questions
Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than New York?
Delaware has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Delaware scores 103.2 versus 132.7 for New York - a gap of 29.5 points.
Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or New York?
New York is larger, covering 54,555 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 21.9x the size.
Q Does Delaware or New York have more people?
New York has the larger population at 20,201,249, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.
Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or New York?
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, versus $78,609 in New York.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or New York?
Delaware has the lower state income tax top rate at 6.60%, compared with 10.90% in New York.
Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or New York?
Homes are cheaper in Delaware, where the median home value is $296,700, versus $367,200 in New York.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or New York?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. New York is more spread out at 370.3 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, 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.