Delaware
DE • South
Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs Tennessee
Tennessee is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Tennessee, Delaware has higher incomes, Tennessee has lower state income tax, and Tennessee gets more sunshine.
Delaware
13
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Tennessee
17
/ 30
metrics won
TN wins Quality of Life
TN wins Climate
DE wins Demographics
TN wins Geography
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Delaware
winner
vs
Tennessee
Delaware scores higher on quality of life — 3.01 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
Tennessee is 11.2 points cheaper overall
Tennessee has the lower cost-of-living index. Tennessee is at 92.0, while Delaware is at 103.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $8.08 further in Tennessee
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $111.32 of local buying power in Tennessee, versus $103.24 in Delaware.
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Income
Delaware income is 27.6% higher
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $62,166 in Tennessee.
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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 Tennessee.
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Housing
Delaware homes cost about 1.1x more
Tennessee has the lower median home value at $269,600, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
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Taxes
Tennessee has lower state income tax
Tennessee has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
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Delaware
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 6.6%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Tennessee
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
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- 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, 92.0 for Tennessee). 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 a lower violent crime rate.
- Delaware job growth trend is stronger.
- 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 fewer sunny days.
Tennessee
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Tennessee
- Tennessee has a lower overall cost of living.
- Tennessee has lower median home values.
- Tennessee has more sunny days.
Cons
- Tennessee has a higher housing cost index.
- Tennessee shows lower median income.
- Tennessee has a higher violent crime rate.
- Tennessee job growth trend is weaker.
- Tennessee health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Tennessee 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
|
TN
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Dover | Nashville |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
989,948
|
6,910,840
|
|
Median Income
|
$79,325
|
$62,166
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.2
|
92.0
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$296,700
|
$269,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.50%
|
0.50%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.60%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.914/gal
|
$3.852/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
13.10 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.03
|
47.02
|
|
Average Temperature
|
55.3°F
|
57.6°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
97 days
|
102 days
|
|
Land Area
|
2,489 sq mi
|
42,144 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
164.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
June 1, 1796 (#16)
|
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
17
shown
Saving Money
Tennessee is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 92.0 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
Tennessee is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.852/gal in Tennessee 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 Tennessee. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Tennessee has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 13.10 c/kWh in Tennessee 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
Delaware is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.74x in Delaware vs 4.34x in Tennessee. 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 21.2% in Tennessee. 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
Tennessee has a larger population than Delaware by 5,920,892 people.
Population Density
Delaware is more densely populated than Tennessee.
Bachelor's Degree
Delaware has a higher college-educated share than Tennessee.
Advanced Degree
Delaware has a higher advanced-degree share than Tennessee.
People Also Ask
Delaware vs Tennessee - Common Questions
Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than Tennessee?
Tennessee has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Tennessee scores 92.0 versus 103.2 for Delaware - a gap of 11.2 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Delaware or Tennessee?
$100 goes further in Tennessee. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $111.32 in Tennessee, compared with $103.24 in Delaware.
Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or Tennessee?
Tennessee is larger, covering 42,144 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 16.9x the size.
Q Does Delaware or Tennessee have more people?
Tennessee has the larger population at 6,910,840, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.
Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or Tennessee?
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, versus $62,166 in Tennessee.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or Tennessee?
Tennessee has no state income tax, while Delaware charges up to 6.60%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or Tennessee?
Homes are cheaper in Tennessee, where the median home value is $269,600, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or Tennessee?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Tennessee is more spread out at 164.0 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.