Delaware
DE • South
Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs Virginia
Delaware is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Virginia, Virginia has higher incomes, Virginia has lower state income tax, and Virginia gets more sunshine.
Delaware
15
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Virginia
16
/ 31
metrics won
DE wins Housing
DE wins Quality of Life
VA wins Climate
VA wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Delaware
vs
Virginia
winner
Virginia scores higher on quality of life — 6.15 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
Delaware is 0.5 points cheaper overall
Delaware has the lower cost-of-living index. Delaware is at 103.2, while Virginia is at 103.7.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $1.60 further in Virginia
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $104.84 of local buying power in Virginia, versus $103.24 in Delaware.
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Income
Virginia income is 10.0% higher
Virginia has the higher median household income at $87,249, compared with $79,325 in Delaware.
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Jobs
Virginia minimum wage is $1.75 higher
Virginia has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $13.25/hr in Delaware.
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Housing
Virginia homes cost about 1.2x more
Delaware has the lower median home value at $296,700, versus $367,900 in Virginia.
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Taxes
Virginia has lower state income tax
Virginia has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.75%, 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)
- —
Virginia
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.8%)
- —
- 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, 102.4 for Virginia). 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 overall cost of living.
- Delaware has a lower housing cost index.
- Delaware has lower median home values.
- Delaware has lower property tax rates on average.
- Delaware job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Delaware shows lower median income.
- Delaware has a higher violent crime rate.
- Delaware health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Delaware health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Delaware education proxy is lower.
- Delaware has fewer sunny days.
Virginia
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Virginia
- Virginia shows higher median income.
- Virginia has a lower violent crime rate.
- Virginia health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Virginia health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Virginia education proxy is higher.
- Virginia has more sunny days.
Cons
- Virginia has a higher overall cost of living.
- Virginia has a higher housing cost index.
- Virginia has higher median home values.
- Virginia has higher property tax rates on average.
- Virginia job growth trend is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
DE
|
VA
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Dover | Richmond |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
989,948
|
8,631,393
|
|
Median Income
|
$79,325
|
$87,249
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.2
|
103.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$296,700
|
$367,900
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.50%
|
0.73%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.60%
|
5.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.25/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.914/gal
|
$4.063/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
15.87 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.03
|
56.18
|
|
Average Temperature
|
55.3°F
|
55.1°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
97 days
|
100 days
|
|
Land Area
|
2,489 sq mi
|
42,775 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
201.8 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
June 25, 1788 (#10)
|
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
Delaware is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 103.2 vs 103.7 in Virginia. 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 $4.063/gal in Virginia. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Virginia has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Virginia vs $13.25/hr in Delaware. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Virginia has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.87 c/kWh in Virginia 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 4.22x in Virginia. 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 20.9% in Virginia. 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
Virginia has a larger population than Delaware by 7,641,445 people.
Population Density
Delaware is more densely populated than Virginia.
Bachelor's Degree
Virginia has a higher college-educated share than Delaware.
Advanced Degree
Virginia has a higher advanced-degree share than Delaware.
People Also Ask
Delaware vs Virginia - Common Questions
Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than Virginia?
Delaware has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Delaware scores 103.2 versus 103.7 for Virginia - a gap of 0.5 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Delaware or Virginia?
$100 goes further in Virginia. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $104.84 in Virginia, compared with $103.24 in Delaware.
Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or Virginia?
Virginia is larger, covering 42,775 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 17.2x the size.
Q Does Delaware or Virginia have more people?
Virginia has the larger population at 8,631,393, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.
Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or Virginia?
Virginia has the higher median household income at $87,249, versus $79,325 in Delaware.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or Virginia?
Virginia has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.75%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or Virginia?
Homes are cheaper in Delaware, where the median home value is $296,700, versus $367,900 in Virginia.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or Virginia?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Virginia is more spread out at 201.8 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.