Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs Texas
Texas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Texas, Delaware has higher incomes, Texas has lower state income tax, and Texas gets more sunshine.
Delaware
16
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Texas
15
/ 31
metrics won
DE wins Housing
TX wins Quality of Life
TX wins Climate
DE wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Delaware
winner
vs
Texas
Delaware scores higher on quality of life — 2.82 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
Texas is 8.9 points cheaper overall
Texas has the lower cost-of-living index. Texas is at 94.3, while Delaware is at 103.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.93 further in Texas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $109.17 of local buying power in Texas, versus $103.24 in Delaware.
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Income
Delaware income is 18.5% higher
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $66,963 in Texas.
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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 Texas.
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Housing
Delaware homes cost about 1.0x more
Texas has the lower median home value at $294,400, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
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Taxes
Texas has lower state income tax
Texas has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, 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.
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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)
- —
Texas
- 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, 97.2 for Texas). 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 has a lower violent crime rate.
- Delaware job growth trend is stronger.
- Delaware health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Delaware has a higher overall cost of living.
- Delaware has higher median home values.
- Delaware has fewer sunny days.
Texas
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Texas
- Texas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Texas has lower median home values.
- Texas has more sunny days.
Cons
- Texas has a higher housing cost index.
- Texas shows lower median income.
- Texas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Texas has a higher violent crime rate.
- Texas job growth trend is weaker.
- Texas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
DE
|
TX
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Dover | Austin |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
989,948
|
29,145,505
|
|
Median Income
|
$79,325
|
$66,963
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.2
|
94.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$296,700
|
$294,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.50%
|
1.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.60%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.914/gal
|
$3.824/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
15.69 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.03
|
47.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
55.3°F
|
64.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
97 days
|
135 days
|
|
Land Area
|
2,489 sq mi
|
268,596 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
108.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
December 29, 1845 (#28)
|
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
18
shown
Saving Money
Texas is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 94.3 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
Texas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.824/gal in Texas 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 Texas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
Texas has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.69 c/kWh in Texas 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 4.40x in Texas. 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 22.1% in Texas. 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.
People Also Ask
Delaware vs Texas - Common Questions
Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than Texas?
Texas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Texas scores 94.3 versus 103.2 for Delaware - a gap of 8.9 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Delaware or Texas?
$100 goes further in Texas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.17 in Texas, compared with $103.24 in Delaware.
Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or Texas?
Texas is larger, covering 268,596 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 107.9x the size.
Q Does Delaware or Texas have more people?
Texas has the larger population at 29,145,505, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.
Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or Texas?
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, versus $66,963 in Texas.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, while Delaware charges up to 6.60%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or Texas?
Homes are cheaper in Texas, where the median home value is $294,400, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or Texas?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Texas is more spread out at 108.5 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.