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 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 19 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 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Delaware For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in Delaware? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Hockessin is the most expensive place to live in Delaware.
Wilmington (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 2026
/10
Population: 13,439
Cost Of Living Index: 143
Median Income: $171,204
Average Home Price: $600,793
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Hockessin: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Hockessin is 143. The median income in Hockessin comes in at $171,204 and the average home value is $600,793 for 2026.
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Population: 7,834
Cost Of Living Index: 136
Median Income: $150,733
Average Home Price: $668,089
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.4x
More on North Star: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in North Star is 136. The median income in North Star comes in at $150,733 and the average home value is $668,089 for 2026.
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Population: 7,129
Cost Of Living Index: 127
Median Income: $139,635
Average Home Price: $483,583
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Pike Creek: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Pike Creek is 127. The median income in Pike Creek comes in at $139,635 and the average home value is $483,583 for 2026.
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Population: 15,546
Cost Of Living Index: 116
Median Income: $113,982
Average Home Price: $427,957
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Glasgow: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Glasgow is 116. The median income in Glasgow comes in at $113,982 and the average home value is $427,957 for 2026.
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Population: 30,330
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $76,912
Average Home Price: $364,095
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.7x
More on Newark: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Newark is 114. The median income in Newark comes in at $76,912 and the average home value is $364,095 for 2026.
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The overall cost of living in Millsboro is 112. The median income in Millsboro comes in at $78,707 and the average home value is $396,649 for 2026.
/10
Population: 22,370
Cost Of Living Index: 110
Median Income: $91,687
Average Home Price: $414,665
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Bear: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bear is 110. The median income in Bear comes in at $91,687 and the average home value is $414,665 for 2026.
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Population: 12,431
Cost Of Living Index: 110
Median Income: $102,434
Average Home Price: $389,499
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Pike Creek Valley: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Pike Creek Valley is 110. The median income in Pike Creek Valley comes in at $102,434 and the average home value is $389,499 for 2026.
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Population: 6,349
Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $59,424
Average Home Price: $332,385
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.6x
More on Edgemoor: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Edgemoor is 109. The median income in Edgemoor comes in at $59,424 and the average home value is $332,385 for 2026.
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Population: 5,579
Cost Of Living Index: 108
Median Income: $89,205
Average Home Price: $280,916
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on New Castle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in New Castle is 108. The median income in New Castle comes in at $89,205 and the average home value is $280,916 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The First State For 2026
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 2020-2024 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 19 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 Hockessin. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in Delaware.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Delaware For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in Delaware that have the highest cost of living, with Hockessin ranking as the most expensive city in the First State.
The most expensive cities in Delaware are Hockessin, North Star, Pike Creek, Glasgow, Newark, Millsboro, Bear, Pike Creek Valley, Edgemoor, and New Castle.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Delaware according to the data:
- Wilmington
- Dover
- Elsmere
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 | Hockessin | 143 | 13,439 | $171,204 | $600,793 | 3.5x |
| 2 | North Star | 136 | 7,834 | $150,733 | $668,089 | 4.4x |
| 3 | Pike Creek | 127 | 7,129 | $139,635 | $483,583 | 3.5x |
| 4 | Glasgow | 116 | 15,546 | $113,982 | $427,957 | 3.8x |
| 5 | Newark | 114 | 30,330 | $76,912 | $364,095 | 4.7x |
| 6 | Millsboro | 112 | 7,424 | $78,707 | $396,649 | 5.0x |
| 7 | Bear | 110 | 22,370 | $91,687 | $414,665 | 4.5x |
| 8 | Pike Creek Valley | 110 | 12,431 | $102,434 | $389,499 | 3.8x |
| 9 | Edgemoor | 109 | 6,349 | $59,424 | $332,385 | 5.6x |
| 10 | New Castle | 108 | 5,579 | $89,205 | $280,916 | 3.1x |
| 11 | Brookside | 106 | 15,115 | $78,328 | $320,138 | 4.1x |
| 12 | Smyrna | 105 | 13,165 | $67,048 | $400,874 | 6.0x |
| 13 | Seaford | 104 | 8,485 | $54,016 | $310,072 | 5.7x |
| 14 | Milford | 103 | 12,803 | $59,464 | $343,315 | 5.8x |
| 15 | Claymont | 103 | 8,786 | $74,712 | $320,059 | 4.3x |
| 16 | Wilmington Manor | 101 | 8,214 | $78,078 | $275,385 | 3.5x |
| 17 | Elsmere | 101 | 6,203 | $67,944 | $239,941 | 3.5x |
| 18 | Dover | 99 | 39,837 | $60,199 | $339,650 | 5.6x |
| 19 | Wilmington | 98 | 71,727 | $58,671 | $325,757 | 5.6x |