Before you decide to relocate to Delaware, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Delaware that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 18 places in Delaware with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Delaware for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Delaware For 2024
What’s the most expensive place to live in Delaware? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that North Star is the most expensive place to live in Delaware.
Seaford (the cheapest place to live in Delaware) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Delaware and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Delaware For 2024
/10
Population: 8,370
Cost Of Living Index: 142
Median Income: $165,179
Average Home Price: $621,521
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on North Star: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in North Star is 142. The median income in North Star comes in at $165,179 and the average home value is $621,521 for 2024.
/10
Population: 13,878
Cost Of Living Index: 140
Median Income: $164,848
Average Home Price: $554,626
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Hockessin: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Hockessin is 140. The median income in Hockessin comes in at $164,848 and the average home value is $554,626 for 2024.
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Population: 6,975
Cost Of Living Index: 130
Median Income: $129,614
Average Home Price: $486,966
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Pike Creek: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Pike Creek is 130. The median income in Pike Creek comes in at $129,614 and the average home value is $486,966 for 2024.
/10
Population: 30,655
Cost Of Living Index: 120
Median Income: $67,738
Average Home Price: $333,102
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.9x
More on Newark: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Newark is 120. The median income in Newark comes in at $67,738 and the average home value is $333,102 for 2024.
/10
Population: 15,405
Cost Of Living Index: 117
Median Income: $104,692
Average Home Price: $391,432
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Glasgow: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Glasgow is 117. The median income in Glasgow comes in at $104,692 and the average home value is $391,432 for 2024.
/10
Population: 11,452
Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $86,953
Average Home Price: $344,705
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Pike Creek Valley: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Pike Creek Valley is 115. The median income in Pike Creek Valley comes in at $86,953 and the average home value is $344,705 for 2024.
/10
Population: 14,331
Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $66,485
Average Home Price: $296,877
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Brookside: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Brookside is 109. The median income in Brookside comes in at $66,485 and the average home value is $296,877 for 2024.
/10
Population: 10,191
Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $72,840
Average Home Price: $285,144
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Claymont: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Claymont is 109. The median income in Claymont comes in at $72,840 and the average home value is $285,144 for 2024.
/10
Population: 5,523
Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $95,884
Average Home Price: $256,759
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.7x
More on New Castle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in New Castle is 109. The median income in New Castle comes in at $95,884 and the average home value is $256,759 for 2024.
/10
Population: 6,485
Cost Of Living Index: 108
Median Income: $70,672
Average Home Price: $351,188
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Edgemoor: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Edgemoor is 108. The median income in Edgemoor comes in at $70,672 and the average home value is $351,188 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The First State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Delaware are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Delaware to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 18 places in Delaware that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Delaware according to the data is North Star. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Delaware.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Delaware For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in Delaware that have the highest cost of living, with North Star ranking as the most expensive city in the First State.
The most expensive cities in Delaware are North Star, Hockessin, Pike Creek, Newark, Glasgow, Pike Creek Valley, Brookside, Claymont, New Castle, and Edgemoor.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Delaware according to the data:
- Seaford
- Wilmington
- Millsboro
For more Delaware reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Delaware
- Cheapest Places To Live In Delaware
- Most Dangerous Cities In Delaware
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Delaware
- Safest Places In Delaware
- Worst Places To Live In Delaware
Most Expensive Cities In Delaware
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Star | 142 | 8,370 | $165,179 | $621,521 | 3.8x |
| 2 | Hockessin | 140 | 13,878 | $164,848 | $554,626 | 3.4x |
| 3 | Pike Creek | 130 | 6,975 | $129,614 | $486,966 | 3.8x |
| 4 | Newark | 120 | 30,655 | $67,738 | $333,102 | 4.9x |
| 5 | Glasgow | 117 | 15,405 | $104,692 | $391,432 | 3.7x |
| 6 | Pike Creek Valley | 115 | 11,452 | $86,953 | $344,705 | 4.0x |
| 7 | Brookside | 109 | 14,331 | $66,485 | $296,877 | 4.5x |
| 8 | Claymont | 109 | 10,191 | $72,840 | $285,144 | 3.9x |
| 9 | New Castle | 109 | 5,523 | $95,884 | $256,759 | 2.7x |
| 10 | Edgemoor | 108 | 6,485 | $70,672 | $351,188 | 5.0x |
| 11 | Wilmington Manor | 105 | 8,260 | $72,432 | $243,055 | 3.4x |
| 12 | Smyrna | 104 | 12,870 | $68,260 | $381,842 | 5.6x |
| 13 | Elsmere | 104 | 6,194 | $70,773 | $211,158 | 3.0x |
| 14 | Dover | 103 | 38,879 | $54,438 | $307,836 | 5.7x |
| 15 | Milford | 102 | 11,714 | $53,472 | $325,839 | 6.1x |
| 16 | Millsboro | 102 | 6,876 | $64,622 | $370,896 | 5.7x |
| 17 | Wilmington | 101 | 71,034 | $54,731 | $294,430 | 5.4x |
| 18 | Seaford | 99 | 8,055 | $49,469 | $284,380 | 5.7x |