Delawareincome tax up to 6.6%, 11th lowest property tax, median home $350K

D+8 · Low tax burden · COL index 102

A+

6.6%

Income Tax

446

Violent Crime / 100K

76.6

Life Expectancy

$350K

Median Home

$1,350

Childcare / Mo

Delaware in plain English

Worth knowing before you move to Delaware

Delaware has no sales tax, low property taxes and a graduated income tax that tops out at 6.6%. More than a million business entities are incorporated in the state because of its Court of Chancery. Sussex County beaches draw retirees from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland; the state does not tax Social Security and exempts up to $12,500 of pension and retirement income for residents 60 and over.

What Delaware taxes, and what it doesn't

Delaware levies a graduated income tax that tops out at 6.6%. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 5.2%, about $3,934 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 5.9%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Delaware has the 9th highest effective rate at $100,000 of income.

Property tax runs 0.55% of home value a year, roughly $1,925 on the state's median home of $350K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Delaware has the 11th lowest rate of the 50 states.

There is no sales tax in Delaware.

For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is partly exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.

Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.

Housing and the cost of living in Delaware

Delaware's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average; that is the 20th most expensive of the 50 states.

The median home costs $350K, 15% above the national figure and the 24th highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,550 a month.

Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $700 a year, flood coverage adds about $700 where it is needed, car insurance runs $2,150.

Budget $145 a month for electricity and gas, $520 a month in groceries for two, $1,350 a month for full-time infant care.

Safety, health and schools

Violent crime is 446 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, above the median state (387); Delaware is the 17th most violent of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 1,827 per 100,000.

Life expectancy is 76.6 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 6.3% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Delaware's health system 18th of 50.

Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 24th in the country.

Politics, guns and social policy

Politically, Delaware is a competitive state that went to Harris by 8 points in 2024.

On guns, concealed-carry permits are may-issue, at the discretion of local authorities, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws A-.

Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. Delaware is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $13.25 an hour.

Climate, risk and getting around

Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are hurricane, flood. Annual average air quality index is 35 (under 50 is good).

Delaware has no top-25 hub airport, with about 45 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.

Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.

Largest counties in Delaware

New Castle County Sussex County Kent County All Delaware counties →

Ranked lists

State Profile

63/100

Delaware will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when Delaware changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Taxes

Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026

▾

Income Tax

6.6% top

Property Tax

~$1,925/yr on median home

0.55% / yr

Sales Tax

None

Social Security

Exempt

Pension / IRA

Up to $12,500 pension exclusion for 60+

Partial

Estate Tax

None

Inheritance Tax

None

Capital Gains

Taxed as income

Housing & Cost of Living

Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)

▾

Price Level vs US (BEA)

Near US average (100)

99.8

Mortgages 90+ Days Late

FHFA, latest quarter

1.2%

Cost of Living Index

National avg = 100

102

Median Home Price

$350,000

Median Rent (2BR)

$1,550/mo

Home Insurance

Below national avg (~$1,900/yr)

$700/yr

Flood Insurance

$700/yr

Homestead Exemption

Home equity protected from creditors

$125,000

Asset Protection

Moderate

Homes in HOAs

HOAs dominate the housing stock (Census ACS 2024)

40.5%

Zoning Restrictiveness

More restrictive than most states (Wharton WRLURI 2018)

Restrictive

Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)

No statewide STR framework; local control.

Local Control

Crime & Safety

Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024

▾

Violent Crime Rate

Near national avg

446 / 100K

Property Crime Rate

Near national avg

1,827 / 100K

Traffic Fatality Rate

11.5 / 100K

Registered Sex Offenders

Among the highest registry rates (SafeHome 2025)

429 / 100K

Homeless Population

Moderate homelessness rate — 18% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)

129 / 100K

Healthcare

Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC

▾

State Healthcare Rank

#18 of 50

Life Expectancy

76.6 yrs

Medicaid Expansion

Expanded

Uninsured Rate

6.3%

Education

Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)

▾

College Completion Rate

College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)

57%

Avg College Cost of Attendance

College Scorecard 2024

$24,571/yr

K-12 Quality Rank

#24 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Not Available

HS Graduation Rate

Near national avg (~87%)

87.9%

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Near national avg (~16)

15.1 students/teacher

Childcare

Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022

▾

Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)

$1,350/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022

▾

Grid Carbon Intensity

Near US average (~820)

899 lb CO₂/MWh

Avg Monthly Energy Bill

$145/mo

Electricity Rate

Below national avg (13¢)

12.6¢/kWh

Energy Mix

⚡ 7% renewable · ☀ 1% solar · 💨 0% wind

Avg Monthly Groceries

2-person household, moderate spending

$520/mo

Road Quality Rank

#27 of 50

Airports & Travel

Sources: FAA · BTS

▾

Nonstop Destinations

From state's primary airport

45+ routes

Major Hub Airport

Regional airport — connections via hub

Culture & Lifestyle

Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024

▾

Urban Population

Mix of urban and rural

83% urban

Restaurant Density

450/100K

Religious Congregations

175/100K

Pro Sports Teams

NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS

None

Major Venues

Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)

1 venues

Craft Breweries

3.5/100K residents — Solid scene

35 breweries

Craft Distilleries

12 distilleries

Live Music

Dogfish Head home state; small but punchy craft scene

Limited

Transportation

Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026

▾

Car Insurance (Avg Annual)

$2,150

Traffic Fatality Rate

11.5 / 100K

Broadband Access

88% of households

Work From Home

State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)

54,555 workers

Social & Legal

Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026

▾

Formal Volunteering Rate

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)

32.0%

Votes in Local Elections

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023

46.3%

Abortion Access

Legal to viability

Protected

LGBTQ+ Protections

Comprehensive

Marijuana

Recreational

Minimum Wage

$13.25/hr

Right to Work

Sports Betting

Legal

Casino Gambling

Commercial casinos

Online Gambling

Legal

State Lottery

First state to offer legal single-game sports betting (2018). Online casino gambling legal.

Yes

Age of Consent

Sex Education

Sex ed required by state

Comprehensive

Medically Accurate Required

Yes

Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs

One known naturist club near Wilmington

One club

Environment & Climate

Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index

▾

Air Quality (Annual AQI)

Near national avg

Natural Disaster Risk

Moderate

Primary Hazards

hurricaneflood

Politics & Gun Laws

Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes

▾

2024 Presidential Vote

D+8

Gun Laws

Gun ControlA-

2A LibertyD

Carry Permit

May-issue

Purchase Permit Required

Carry in Bars

Allowed

Carry in Restaurants

Allowed

Carry in Places of Worship

No state prohibition; posting governs.

Allowed

Gambling

Legal

Jobs & Economy

Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS

▾

Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)

Near US average (~4.5%)

4.8%

Quits Rate (JOLTS)

Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average

2.4%

Job Market

+1.2% job growth · 4.2% unemployment

Moderate

Top Industries

FinanceHealthcareChemical

Tech Jobs

#22 of 50

Healthcare Jobs

#12 of 50

Remote Work

24% of workers

Median Household Income

$79,325

Union Membership

Above-average union presence (BLS 2025)

10.4% of workers

Business Climate

Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings

▾

Corporate Income Tax

High corporate rate — plan entity structure carefully

8.7%

LLC Formation Fee

$90 one-time

LLC Annual Fee

$300/yr

Business Climate Rank

#16 of 50

No state sales tax; $300/yr franchise tax on LLCs; popular incorporation state due to flexible corporate law

Daily Life

Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS

▾

Gas Price (Regular)

Below avg (-0.08 vs national avg)

$3.22/gal

Consumer Fireworks

Consumer fireworks legal for adults 18+

Legal

Motorcycle Helmet Law

Required under 19 (IIHS 2026)

Age-Limited

Weather & Natural Risks

Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI

▾

Winter Severity

Avg January high: 41°F

Moderate

Summer Heat

Moderate summers

87°F avg July

Annual Rainfall

45" / yr

Tornado Risk

Very Low

Hurricane Risk

Low

Wildfire Risk

Very Low

Flood Risk

Moderate

Natural Hazards

Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023

▾

23LOW danger

Sea level rise zoneHurricane coastal exposureCopperhead presence

Venomous Snakes

Low

Spider Hazard

Low

Hurricane Risk

Moderate

Tornado Risk

Low

Wildfire Risk

Minimal

Earthquake Risk

Minimal

Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗

Veteran Benefits

Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation

▾

Veteran-Friendly Score

7.6% of state population are veterans

51/100

Property Tax Exemption

Disabled vet property tax credit

Partial

Military Retirement Pay

Taxed

Active Duty Pay

Tax Exempt

VA Facilities Access

Adequate

Notable Benefits

Military retirement exempt up to $12,500

Explore Delaware counties

Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county

Explore Counties

See your full cost of living in Delaware

Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.

Calculate

Compare Similar States

DE vs VA

Delaware vs Virginia

COL 102 vs 102 · 6.6% vs 5.75% income tax

Full comparison →

DE vs ME

Delaware vs Maine

COL 102 vs 107 · 6.6% vs 7.15% income tax

Full comparison →

DE vs MN

Delaware vs Minnesota

COL 102 vs 95 · 6.6% vs 9.85% income tax

Full comparison →

DE vs CO

Delaware vs Colorado

COL 102 vs 110 · 6.6% vs 4.4% income tax

Full comparison →

Trending in Delaware

National Grant to Expand Free Arts Classes for Hundreds More Delaware Seniors - news.delaware.gov

news.delaware.gov · Sep 8

VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, Alongside Gun Safety Advocates, Signs Life-Saving Law to Curb Gun Trafficking - Everytown

Everytown · Sep 6

Consumer Reports applauds Delaware Governor for signing key privacy bill into law - Consumers Union

Consumers Union · Sep 2

Delaware governor signs legislation that aims to make data centers ‘pay their fair share’ - WHYY

WHYY · Aug 26

New Delaware gun laws target dealers, ghost guns and violence prevention - nbcphiladelphia.com

nbcphiladelphia.com · Sep 3

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Delaware will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when Delaware changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.