Delaware
DE • South
Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs North Carolina
North Carolina is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in North Carolina, Delaware has higher incomes, North Carolina has lower state income tax, and North Carolina gets more sunshine.
Delaware
13
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
North Carolina
18
/ 31
metrics won
NC wins Quality of Life
NC wins Climate
DE wins Income
NC wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Delaware
vs
North Carolina
winner
North Carolina scores higher on quality of life — 2.29 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
North Carolina is 6.8 points cheaper overall
North Carolina has the lower cost-of-living index. North Carolina is at 96.4, while Delaware is at 103.2.
View detailed comparison
Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.75 further in North Carolina
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $108.99 of local buying power in North Carolina, versus $103.24 in Delaware.
View detailed comparison
Income
Delaware income is 24.0% higher
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $63,947 in North Carolina.
View detailed comparison
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 North Carolina.
View detailed comparison
Housing
Delaware homes cost about 1.1x more
North Carolina has the lower median home value at $273,600, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
View detailed comparison
Taxes
North Carolina has lower state income tax
North Carolina has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.50%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
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)
- —
North Carolina
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.5%)
- —
- 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, 95.2 for North Carolina). 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 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 job growth trend is weaker.
- Delaware education proxy is lower.
- Delaware has fewer sunny days.
North Carolina
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: North Carolina
- North Carolina has a lower overall cost of living.
- North Carolina has lower median home values.
- North Carolina has a lower violent crime rate.
- North Carolina job growth trend is stronger.
- North Carolina education proxy is higher.
- North Carolina has more sunny days.
Cons
- North Carolina has a higher housing cost index.
- North Carolina shows lower median income.
- North Carolina has higher property tax rates on average.
- North Carolina health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- North Carolina 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
|
NC
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Dover | Raleigh |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Swing State |
|
Population
|
989,948
|
10,439,388
|
|
Median Income
|
$79,325
|
$63,947
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.2
|
96.4
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$296,700
|
$273,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.50%
|
0.66%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.60%
|
4.50%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.914/gal
|
$3.931/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
13.68 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.03
|
52.32
|
|
Average Temperature
|
55.3°F
|
59.0°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
97 days
|
109 days
|
|
Land Area
|
2,489 sq mi
|
53,819 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
194.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
November 21, 1789 (#12)
|
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
20
shown
Saving Money
North Carolina is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 96.4 vs 103.2 in Delaware. 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 $3.931/gal in North Carolina. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
See full data
Minimum Wage
Delaware has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $13.25/hr in Delaware vs $7.25/hr in North Carolina. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
North Carolina has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 13.68 c/kWh in North Carolina vs 16.51 c/kWh in Delaware. 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 4.28x in North Carolina. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Delaware is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.5% in Delaware vs 21.4% in North Carolina. 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
North Carolina has a larger population than Delaware by 9,449,440 people.
Population Density
Delaware is more densely populated than North Carolina.
Bachelor's Degree
North Carolina has a higher college-educated share than Delaware.
Advanced Degree
Delaware has a higher advanced-degree share than North Carolina.
People Also Ask
Delaware vs North Carolina - Common Questions
Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than North Carolina?
North Carolina has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), North Carolina scores 96.4 versus 103.2 for Delaware - a gap of 6.8 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Delaware or North Carolina?
$100 goes further in North Carolina. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $108.99 in North Carolina, compared with $103.24 in Delaware.
Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or North Carolina?
North Carolina is larger, covering 53,819 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 21.6x the size.
Q Does Delaware or North Carolina have more people?
North Carolina has the larger population at 10,439,388, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.
Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or North Carolina?
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, versus $63,947 in North Carolina.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or North Carolina?
North Carolina has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.50%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or North Carolina?
Homes are cheaper in North Carolina, where the median home value is $273,600, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or North Carolina?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. North Carolina is more spread out at 194.0 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.