Pros, cons, key stats, and the strongest Delaware cities to consider. Based on our analysis of 18 tracked Delaware city markets.
Yes, for many movers. The better answer is city-specific: Delaware contains both stronger and weaker markets, and the right fit depends on your budget, job needs, climate tolerance, and tax situation.
Pros
- Low effective property tax rate (0.55%)
- No statewide sales tax
- Social Security is not taxed by the state
- Middle-of-the-pack tracked-city housing ($363,552)
- Healthy housing-market momentum in tracked cities (70/100 median)
Cons
- Fewer large/mid-size city options than bigger states (18 tracked)
- State averages hide major city-by-city differences
- Best-known places can price above the statewide median
What this means in practice
Across 18 tracked Delaware city markets, the median home costs $363,552 with a 1-year change of +2.5% and a median momentum score of 70 out of 100.
On taxes, No sales tax. Low property tax. Income tax modest. Retirement-friendly: no SS tax + $12,500 pension exclusion. That matters because the cheapest state on paper can still be expensive if property tax, insurance, or local housing costs overwhelm the headline rate.
State-level averages mask city-level variation — within any state, individual cities can have radically different cost, climate, and trajectory. Use the strongest-momentum cities below as a starting point.
Top 5 Delaware cities by momentum
- Hockessin — momentum 75, median $606,664
- Bear — momentum 74, median $414,875
- Claymont — momentum 73, median $317,759
- Middletown — momentum 72, median $532,370
- Milford — momentum 72, median $340,292