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Delaware

Low tax burden · COL index 102

Wins 4 categories

VS

Pennsylvania

Moderate tax burden · COL index 97

Wins 8 categories

Delaware's top income tax rate is 6.6% vs Pennsylvania's 3.07%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Pennsylvania averages 1.43% annually vs Delaware's 0.55%. The median home in Delaware costs $350K vs $270K in Pennsylvania. Politically, Pennsylvania voted Republican in 2024 (R+2.0) while Delaware went Democratic (D+8.0).

Delaware
Pennsylvania

Taxes

6.6%
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
0.55%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.43%/yr
None
Sales Tax (avg)
6.34%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

102
COL Index (100=avg)
97
$350K
Median Home Price
$270K
$1,550/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,350/mo
$700/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

446
Violent Crime / 100K
305
1,827
Property Crime / 100K
1,394

Healthcare

#18 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#17 of 50
76.6 yrs
Life Expectancy
77.1 yrs
6.3%
Uninsured Rate
6.5%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#24 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#23 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes

Childcare

$1,350/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$1,350/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$145/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$150/mo
$520/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$510/mo
#27 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#37 of 50

Social Policy

A-
Gun Laws Grade
C
D+8.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+2.0

Category wins

4

Delaware

8

Pennsylvania

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

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People Also Ask

Is it cheaper to live in PA or Delaware?

What is the 183 day rule in Pennsylvania?

An individual is considered a resident rather than a part- year resident if that person was physically present in PA for at least 183 days or more and maintained a permanent place of abode in PA at any time during the tax year.

Is Delaware or PA better for retirement?

How much is $100,000 after taxes in Delaware?

Your net salary after tax in Delaware, United States of America is $72,213 per year, or $6,018 per month. Your average tax rate is 27.8% and your marginal tax rate is 37.8%.

Full Delaware Profile →Full Pennsylvania Profile →

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable