The cheapest places to live in Delaware are not just a figment of your imagination.
They’re real, and they’re here.
You don’t have to sacrifice comfort for affordability if you live in one of Delaware’s most affordable places. The state has hip millennial cities like Smyrna, family-friendly cities like Wyoming, and retirement cities like Seaford for every budget.
We identified these budget-friendly havens in Delaware for you using Saturday Night Science. We analyzed the latest Delaware Census data on the cost of living, home prices, and rents to rank every city in the First State.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Delaware
Where is Delaware’s most affordable place to live? The most affordable place in Delaware is Wilmington for 2026.
When you live in one of Delaware’s most affordable places, you’ll save money on the fun things to do and see in the oldest state, like tickets to the Delaware Taco Festival in Wilmington or taking a road trip to Bethany Beach.
Check out some more reading about Delaware and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Delaware For 2026
/10
Population: 71,727
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $58,671
Median Home Price: $325,757
Median Rent: $1,224
Wilmington, the most affordable city in Delaware, has a slightly above-average overall cost of living index of 98, which is low for Delaware. It has a median home price of $325,757 that stands competitively within the state. The city’s utilities are relatively cheap for Connecticut.
Located where the Christina and Delaware Rivers meet, Wilmington’s median income is $58,671. Because housing is relatively affordable, you can spend more of that income on fun things like the Delaware Children’s Museum or planning a hike along Jack A. Markell Trail.
More on Wilmington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
I love Wilmington because it is small and everyone knows eachother!
Charcoal Pit, University of Delaware, Pea Patch Island, The Farmhouse in Newark
/10
Population: 39,837
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 99
Median Income: $60,199
Median Home Price: $339,650
Median Rent: $1,344
Delaware’s capital, Dover has an overall cost of living index of 99, good for a second place finish in Delaware.
Dover has plenty of cheap options to do, including the Johnson Victrola Museum and the Delaware Governor’s Mansion, both of which are free to visit. Or have some outdoor fun at Dover Park. All are ways to save more of your $60,199 median income.
More on Dover: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,214
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $78,078
Median Home Price: $275,385
Median Rent: $1,155
Wilmington Manor ranks as the third cheapest in the state for 2026. The city’s overall cost of living index of 101 hovers slightly above the national average but low for Delaware. Housing is always the big differentiator within a state, and the city’s $275,385 median home value is a good deal for Delaware.
Located northeast of New Castle and south of Wilmington, some cheap things to do in town are Rogers Manor Park and Chelsea Manor Park.
More on Wilmington Manor: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,203
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $67,944
Median Home Price: $239,941
Median Rent: $1,339
Elsmere, Delaware, is considered the first suburb in northern Delaware. It was conceived in the late 1800s as real-estate venture. Nowadays, it’s still a haven for commuters, sitting 45 minutes from downtown Philadelphia, just over the border in Pennsylvania. More than that, Elsmere offers great cost-of-living value. It’s the number 4 cheapest place in Delaware to call home.
The influence of Philly gives Elsmere an economic boost. The area sports a median income of $67,944 and an unemployment rate of 4.84%.
The 6,203 people living in the community also have access to affordable housing. The median home value sits at $239,941, the cheapest figure in the state. Rents are low as well, with a median value of $1,339 per month.
Proximity to a major metropolitan area gives Elsmere’s residents easy access to exciting activities. But if they want a break from big-city fun, they an also head down the Delaware River for something more outdoorsy. The Augustine Wildlife Area is one of a number of nature-focused attractions nearby.
More on Elsmere: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,803
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $59,464
Median Home Price: $343,315
Median Rent: $1,260
Milford, straddling the line between Kent and Sussex counties, holds the fifth place title for affordability in the state. Its cost of living index is modest compared to the state’s average, and its $343,315 median home value and $1,260 median rent stand out.
This cost-conscious corner of Delaware delivers a firm fiscal footing for residents who can afford to visit Killens Pon Water Park and Abbott’s Mill Nature Center.
More on Milford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Lovely small town experience, nice people. Great downtown area. Great Coffee shop called DOLCE. Great theater, Riverfront Theatre. Wonderful antique shop Maggie and Friend.
The Riverwalk
Dolce
Riverfront Theatre
Milford Art League
Maggie and Friends Antique Shop
Delaware Music School
The Irish Shop
Arena’s
Furbaby
Tattoos and Kayaak rentals
/10
Population: 8,786
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $74,712
Median Home Price: $320,059
Median Rent: $1,306
Claymont is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 8,253 at the 2010 census.
More on Claymont: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,485
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $54,016
Median Home Price: $310,072
Median Rent: $1,176
Seaford comes in as the seventh cheapest place to call home in Delaware thanks to the low cost of homes and being an equally affordable place to buy or rent. The median home price in Seaford is $310,072 and the median rent is $1,176/month. If you move here, be ready for a big party every summer, because the Nanticoke Riverfest draws visitors from all around. The one big negative of Seaford is that it has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the the most dangerous cities in Delaware.
More on Seaford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,165
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $67,048
Median Home Price: $400,874
Median Rent: $1,534
Returning to the greater Dover area, Smyrna ranks as the eighth most affordable place in Delaware. The median home price in Smyrna is $400,874 and the median income is $67,048, giving the town the 19th best home price to income ratio in the state. To reward yourself for your smart financial planning, get yourself a cocktail from Painted Stave Distilling or a craft beer from Blue Earl Brewing. I realize it’s a weird segue from alcohol, but Smyrna is also one of the best places for families in Delaware. Parents like booze too, after all.
More on Smyrna: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,115
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $78,328
Median Home Price: $320,138
Median Rent: $1,444
Next up we have Edgemoor which you’ll find in New Castle County. It secured the ninth spot as one of the least expensive places in Delaware. With living expenses just -1.0% of the state average, it’s a Delaware affordable gem.
Brookside is CDP located southwest of Wilmington. With only a 20 minute commute to the city, you’ll have plenty of cheap options to keep your weekends filled with fun.
More on Brookside: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,579
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 108
Median Income: $89,205
Median Home Price: $280,916
Median Rent: $1,739
It’s no surprise that New Castle ranks highly in terms of cost of living, coming in at tenth place in Delaware.
But it’s not just the affordability that makes New Castle a great place to live. The city is located just south of Wilmington and sits on the Delaware River, offering residents beautiful waterfront views and easy access to nearby amenities. With a population of 5,579, New Castle maintains a small-town feel while still providing plenty of opportunities for entertainment and recreation.
More on New Castle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cheapest places to live in Delaware FAQs
The county in Delaware with the lowest cost of living is Sussex County. The average living wage in Sussex County is $88,233 according to MIT data. Sussex County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Delaware as a whole. Childcare costs $14,102 a year in Sussex County for two children compared to the Delaware average of $16,668. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $11,580 per year in Sussex County compared to $13,860 on average in Delaware.
The cost of living in Delaware is 4.5% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Delaware is $93,755 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Delaware household is $69,110.
The cheapest housing market in Delaware is Laurel. The average home value in Laurel is $155,600, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Delaware is $258,300, almost 1.7 times higher than Laurel.
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The county in Delaware with the lowest cost of living is Sussex County. The average living wage in Sussex County is $88,233 according to MIT data. Sussex County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Delaware as a whole. Childcare costs $14,102 a year in Sussex County for two children compared to the Delaware average of $16,668. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $11,580 per year in Sussex County compared to $13,860 on average in Delaware.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the First State for 2026
Determining affordability for places in Delaware boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for Delaware using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Delaware to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 19 places in Delaware that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Delaware with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Wilmington.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in Delaware.
Delaware Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Delaware for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Delaware.
The cheapest cities in Delaware are Wilmington, Dover, Wilmington Manor, Elsmere, Milford, Claymont, Seaford, Smyrna, Brookside, and New Castle.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Delaware according to the data:
- Hockessin
- North Star
- Pike Creek
For more Delaware reading, check out:
- Best Places To Buy A House In Delaware
- Best Places To Live In Delaware
- Most Dangerous Cities In Delaware
Cheapest Places To Live In Delaware
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | 71,727 | 98 | $58,671 | $325,757 | $1,224 |
| 2 | Dover | 39,837 | 99 | $60,199 | $339,650 | $1,344 |
| 3 | Wilmington Manor | 8,214 | 101 | $78,078 | $275,385 | $1,155 |
| 4 | Elsmere | 6,203 | 101 | $67,944 | $239,941 | $1,339 |
| 5 | Milford | 12,803 | 103 | $59,464 | $343,315 | $1,260 |
| 6 | Claymont | 8,786 | 103 | $74,712 | $320,059 | $1,306 |
| 7 | Seaford | 8,485 | 104 | $54,016 | $310,072 | $1,176 |
| 8 | Smyrna | 13,165 | 105 | $67,048 | $400,874 | $1,534 |
| 9 | Brookside | 15,115 | 106 | $78,328 | $320,138 | $1,444 |
| 10 | New Castle | 5,579 | 108 | $89,205 | $280,916 | $1,739 |
| 11 | Edgemoor | 6,349 | 109 | $59,424 | $332,385 | $1,438 |
| 12 | Bear | 22,370 | 110 | $91,687 | $414,665 | $1,771 |
| 13 | Pike Creek Valley | 12,431 | 110 | $102,434 | $389,499 | $1,751 |
| 14 | Millsboro | 7,424 | 112 | $78,707 | $396,649 | $1,277 |
| 15 | Newark | 30,330 | 114 | $76,912 | $364,095 | $1,654 |
| 16 | Glasgow | 15,546 | 116 | $113,982 | $427,957 | $2,039 |
| 17 | Pike Creek | 7,129 | 127 | $139,635 | $483,583 | $2,262 |
| 18 | Hockessin | 13,439 | 143 | $171,204 | $600,793 | $3,501 |