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 2019-2023 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 2025.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Delaware For 2025
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 2025
/10
Population: 8,178
Cost Of Living Index: 142
Median Income: $167,664
Average Home Price: $566,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on North Star: Data
The overall cost of living in North Star is 142. The median income in North Star comes in at $167,664 and the average home value is $566,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 13,608
Cost Of Living Index: 140
Median Income: $172,695
Average Home Price: $550,200
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Hockessin: Data
The overall cost of living in Hockessin is 140. The median income in Hockessin comes in at $172,695 and the average home value is $550,200 for 2025.
/10
Population: 7,185
Cost Of Living Index: 130
Median Income: $135,703
Average Home Price: $414,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on Pike Creek: Data
The overall cost of living in Pike Creek is 130. The median income in Pike Creek comes in at $135,703 and the average home value is $414,700 for 2025.
/10
Population: 30,309
Cost Of Living Index: 120
Median Income: $71,373
Average Home Price: $357,600
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Newark: Data
The overall cost of living in Newark is 120. The median income in Newark comes in at $71,373 and the average home value is $357,600 for 2025.
/10
Population: 16,095
Cost Of Living Index: 117
Median Income: $109,803
Average Home Price: $346,200
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Glasgow: Data
The overall cost of living in Glasgow is 117. The median income in Glasgow comes in at $109,803 and the average home value is $346,200 for 2025.
/10
Population: 11,992
Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $93,896
Average Home Price: $299,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Pike Creek Valley: Data
The overall cost of living in Pike Creek Valley is 115. The median income in Pike Creek Valley comes in at $93,896 and the average home value is $299,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 15,262
Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $72,031
Average Home Price: $264,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Brookside: Data
The overall cost of living in Brookside is 109. The median income in Brookside comes in at $72,031 and the average home value is $264,800 for 2025.
/10
Population: 9,543
Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $75,808
Average Home Price: $262,900
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Claymont: Data
The overall cost of living in Claymont is 109. The median income in Claymont comes in at $75,808 and the average home value is $262,900 for 2025.
/10
Population: 5,519
Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $92,565
Average Home Price: $262,100
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.8x
More on New Castle: Data
The overall cost of living in New Castle is 109. The median income in New Castle comes in at $92,565 and the average home value is $262,100 for 2025.
/10
Population: 6,671
Cost Of Living Index: 108
Median Income: $79,572
Average Home Price: $291,000
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Edgemoor: Data
The overall cost of living in Edgemoor is 108. The median income in Edgemoor comes in at $79,572 and the average home value is $291,000 for 2025.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The First State For 2025
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 2019-2023 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 2025. 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 2025
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 | 8,178 | $167,664 | $566,500 | 3.4x |
| 2 | Hockessin | 140 | 13,608 | $172,695 | $550,200 | 3.2x |
| 3 | Pike Creek | 130 | 7,185 | $135,703 | $414,700 | 3.1x |
| 4 | Newark | 120 | 30,309 | $71,373 | $357,600 | 5.0x |
| 5 | Glasgow | 117 | 16,095 | $109,803 | $346,200 | 3.2x |
| 6 | Pike Creek Valley | 115 | 11,992 | $93,896 | $299,500 | 3.2x |
| 7 | Brookside | 109 | 15,262 | $72,031 | $264,800 | 3.7x |
| 8 | Claymont | 109 | 9,543 | $75,808 | $262,900 | 3.5x |
| 9 | New Castle | 109 | 5,519 | $92,565 | $262,100 | 2.8x |
| 10 | Edgemoor | 108 | 6,671 | $79,572 | $291,000 | 3.7x |
| 11 | Wilmington Manor | 105 | 8,030 | $72,346 | $220,400 | 3.0x |
| 12 | Smyrna | 104 | 13,031 | $70,473 | $273,400 | 3.9x |
| 13 | Elsmere | 104 | 6,189 | $76,378 | $210,200 | 2.8x |
| 14 | Dover | 103 | 39,491 | $58,336 | $248,500 | 4.3x |
| 15 | Milford | 102 | 12,193 | $55,265 | $274,600 | 5.0x |
| 16 | Millsboro | 102 | 7,152 | $77,750 | $297,000 | 3.8x |
| 17 | Wilmington | 101 | 71,124 | $55,269 | $224,500 | 4.1x |
| 18 | Seaford | 99 | 8,255 | $51,120 | $223,700 | 4.4x |