Median rent is 5% lower in Wilmington ($1,187/mo vs $1,252/mo). Buying is cheaper in Wilmington, where the median home runs $224,500 versus $248,500. Households earn more in Dover ($58,336 vs $55,269 a year).
City A
Dover, DE
City B
Wilmington, DE
How much would you need to earn in Wilmington, DE to maintain your standard of living from Dover, DE?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Dover
Delaware
Wilmington
Delaware
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,252/mo in Dover and $1,187/mo in Wilmington. Median home values are within 10% of each other: $248,500 in Dover and $224,500 in Wilmington.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Delaware's top income tax rate is 6.60% versus 6.60% in Delaware, so Wilmington is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 0.00% in Delaware and 0.00% in Delaware; Wilmington has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Dover
Income tax: 6.60%
Sales tax: None
Wilmington
Income tax: 6.60%
Sales tax: None
Air quality data is not yet available for these cities.
Is Dover cheaper than Wilmington?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Dover vs Wilmington?
Median rent is $1,252/mo in Dover, DE and $1,187/mo in Wilmington, DE. Wilmington, DE has the lower rent by about 5%.
Which has higher salaries — Dover or Wilmington?
Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE. Dover, DE has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Dover or Wilmington?
Delaware's top income tax rate is 6.60% and Delaware's is 6.60%. Wilmington, DE has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Wilmington to match my Dover income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology