Quality of Life Score
50.03
State Comparison
Delaware vs West Virginia
West Virginia is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in West Virginia, Delaware has higher incomes, West Virginia has lower state income tax, and Delaware gets more sunshine.
Delaware
16
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
West Virginia
15
/ 31
metrics won
WV wins Housing
WV wins Quality of Life
DE wins Climate
DE wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Delaware
winner
vs
West Virginia
Delaware scores higher on quality of life — 3.03 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
West Virginia is 19.6 points cheaper overall
West Virginia has the lower cost-of-living index. West Virginia is at 83.6, while Delaware is at 103.2.
View detailed comparison
Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $9.49 further in West Virginia
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $112.73 of local buying power in West Virginia, versus $103.24 in Delaware.
View detailed comparison
Income
Delaware income is 51.2% higher
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $52,480 in West Virginia.
View detailed comparison
Jobs
Delaware minimum wage is $4.50 higher
Delaware has the higher statewide minimum wage at $13.25/hr, compared with $8.75/hr in West Virginia.
View detailed comparison
Housing
Delaware homes cost about 2.4x more
West Virginia has the lower median home value at $124,800, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
View detailed comparison
Taxes
West Virginia has lower state income tax
West Virginia has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.12%, 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)
- —
West Virginia
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.1%)
- —
- 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, 86.7 for West 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 shows higher median income.
- Delaware has lower property tax rates on average.
- Delaware job growth trend is stronger.
- Delaware health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Delaware education proxy is higher.
- Delaware has more sunny days.
Cons
- Delaware has a higher overall cost of living.
- Delaware has a higher housing cost index.
- Delaware has higher median home values.
- Delaware has a higher violent crime rate.
- Delaware health coverage access proxy is weaker.
West Virginia
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: West Virginia
- West Virginia has a lower overall cost of living.
- West Virginia has a lower housing cost index.
- West Virginia has lower median home values.
- West Virginia has a lower violent crime rate.
- West Virginia health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- West Virginia shows lower median income.
- West Virginia has higher property tax rates on average.
- West Virginia job growth trend is weaker.
- West Virginia health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- West Virginia education proxy is lower.
- West Virginia has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
DE
|
WV
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Dover | Charleston |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
989,948
|
1,793,716
|
|
Median Income
|
$79,325
|
$52,480
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.2
|
83.6
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$296,700
|
$124,800
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.50%
|
0.53%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.60%
|
5.12%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.25/hr
|
$8.75/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.914/gal
|
$3.975/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.51 c/kWh
|
14.77 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.03
|
47.00
|
|
Average Temperature
|
55.3°F
|
51.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
97 days
|
60 days
|
|
Land Area
|
2,489 sq mi
|
24,230 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
397.7 per sq mi
|
74.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 7, 1787 (#1)
|
June 20, 1863 (#35)
|
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
West Virginia is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 83.6 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 $3.975/gal in West Virginia. 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 $8.75/hr in West Virginia. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
West Virginia has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 14.77 c/kWh in West Virginia vs 16.51 c/kWh in Delaware. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
See full data
Buying a Home
West Virginia is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.38x in West Virginia vs 3.74x in Delaware. 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 19.0% in West 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
West Virginia has a larger population than Delaware by 803,768 people.
Population Density
Delaware is more densely populated than West Virginia.
Bachelor's Degree
Delaware has a higher college-educated share than West Virginia.
Advanced Degree
Delaware has a higher advanced-degree share than West Virginia.
People Also Ask
Delaware vs West Virginia - Common Questions
Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than West Virginia?
West Virginia has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), West Virginia scores 83.6 versus 103.2 for Delaware - a gap of 19.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Delaware or West Virginia?
$100 goes further in West Virginia. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $112.73 in West Virginia, compared with $103.24 in Delaware.
Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or West Virginia?
West Virginia is larger, covering 24,230 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 9.7x the size.
Q Does Delaware or West Virginia have more people?
West Virginia has the larger population at 1,793,716, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.
Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or West Virginia?
Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, versus $52,480 in West Virginia.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or West Virginia?
West Virginia has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.12%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.
Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or West Virginia?
Homes are cheaper in West Virginia, where the median home value is $124,800, versus $296,700 in Delaware.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or West Virginia?
Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. West Virginia is more spread out at 74.0 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.