Delaware: What you need to know
Nicknamed “The First State,” Delaware is home to several outdoor recreation options along with a number of high-ranked cities for livability. The state has several wildlife refuges, parks and lighthouses that attract residents and tourists. The best places to live in Delaware include the capital of Dover along with Middletown, Milford and New Castle. Top industries include agriculture, banking, pharmaceuticals and government service, and Delaware has no sales tax.
Courtesy of James O’Guinn under a CC 4.0 license.
Things to Do in Delaware
Top attractions include Rehoboth Beach, the Brandywine Zoo, and the Wilmington & Western Railroad.
Dover, Newark, Wilmington all offer an excellent quality of life at an affordable price point.
Good choices include Wilmington, Dover, New Castle
Read More About Delaware
Featured Cities in Delaware
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Search for any city in Delaware to find your best place to live..Delaware Profile
Quick Facts about DE
| Population | 926,454 |
| Latest Population Increase | 0.97% |
| Median Household Income | $60,509 |
| Median Home Price | $231,500 |
| Median Property Tax | $1,537 |
| Median Rent | $71 |
Employment Rate in DE
| Employed | 95.7% | |
| Unemployed | 4.3% |
Featured Cities/Population in DE
| New Castle, DE | 5,371 |
| Middletown, DE | 19,744 |
| Dover, DE | 37,144 |
| Wilmington, DE | 71,549 |
| Newark, DE | 32,740 |
| Hockessin, DE | 13,230 |
| Bear, DE | 19,886 |
| Pike Creek Valley, DE | 10,672 |
| Milford, DE | 9,993 |
| Edgemoor, DE | 6,257 |
Race in DE
| Ethnicity White | 69.4% | |
| Ethnicity Black | 21.6% | |
| Ethnicity Asian | 3.6% | |
| Ethnicity Hispanic | 8.7% | |
| Ethnicity Indian | 0.3% | |
| Ethnicity Other | 2.3% |
Employment Rate in DE
| Employed | 95.7% | |
| Unemployed | 4.3% |
Educational Levels in DE
| Bachelor's Degree | 17.8% | |
| Associate's Degree | 7.5% | |
| Graduate or Professional Degree | 12.2% | |
| High School Graduate | 31.1% | |
| Some College, No Degree | 19.7% | |
| Percent Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30% | |
| Percent High School Graduate or Higher | 88.4% |
Industry in DE
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting and Mining | 1% |
| Construction | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% |
| Wholesale Trade | 1.9% |
| Retail Trade | 12.3% |
| Transportation and Warehousing, and Utilities | 4.7% |
| Information | 1.7% |
| Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 9.7% |
| Professional, Scientific and Management and Administrative and Waste | 10% |
| Educational Services and Health Care and Social Assistance | 24.5% |
| Arts, Entertainment and recreation and Accommodation and food Services | 9.1% |
| Other Services, Except Public Administration | 4.5% |
| Public Administration | 5.7% |
Housing in DE
| Homes Rent | 71.2% | |
| Homes Owned | 28.8% |
Data Sources : U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 2010 Census Gazetteer, GreatSchools, WalkScore, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service, Veterans Administration (VA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Delaware Rankings
Best places to Live in Delaware
| Title | Population | Median Home Price | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 71,549 | $167,500 | $40,465 |
| Dover | 37,144 | $176,300 | $45,363 |
| Newark | 32,740 | $268,100 | $54,187 |
| Bear | 19,886 | $177,800 | $61,924 |
| Middletown | 19,744 | $259,800 | $84,451 |
| Glasgow | 14,640 | $260,900 | $86,813 |
| Brookside | 13,743 | $189,600 | $59,392 |
| Hockessin | 13,230 | $422,800 | $121,680 |
| Smyrna | 10,904 | $191,200 | $54,217 |
| Pike Creek Valley | 10,672 | $242,400 | $75,765 |
| Milford | 9,993 | $180,600 | $45,368 |
| Claymont | 9,060 | $192,800 | $47,525 |
| Pike Creek | 8,463 | $316,000 | $110,114 |
| Wilmington Manor | 7,912 | $178,800 | $52,695 |
| North Star | 7,596 | $433,400 | $142,622 |
| Seaford | 7,290 | $162,900 | $38,145 |
| Georgetown | 6,775 | $210,300 | $45,983 |
| Edgemoor | 6,257 | $192,100 | $59,155 |
| Elsmere | 6,154 | $169,400 | $47,704 |
| New Castle | 5,371 | $199,900 | $56,307 |