The official state name of Delaware is “The First State.”
But you may be wondering what makes Delaware so special.
The state of Delaware is most known for its beautiful beaches, including Dewey, Rehoboth, and Bethany.
In addition to this, the state of Delaware is known for being the first state not to have state taxes, for its historical landmarks, as well as chemical manufacturing.
The question is:
Is it worth it living in Delaware?
Let’s dive into the five advantages and five disadvantages of living in Delaware.
Contents
Pros of Living in Delaware
There are a plethora of advantages to living in Delaware.
We have narrowed it down to the top five benefits of living in this state.
And, while healthcare did not make it onto this list, it is by no means a feature that should not be overlooked.
The healthcare system, including public and private hospitals, has ranked in 14th place in the entire United States.
Another key aspect that the state rates very high is the education system.
Taking those two factors into consideration, aloe would make Delaware a very viable option for either starting a family or retiring.
In this section, we will look at the top five advantages of living in Delaware.
1. Beautiful beaches
Delaware has consistently ranked in the top award for the most pristine beaches in the United States by the National Resource Defense Council.
Most of the most well-known and frequented beaches in Delaware are situated south of Delaware Bay.
Every summer, locals and tourists alike flock to the seaside towns to enjoy the majestic beaches, water sports, and attractions.
In fact, Delaware attracts tourists from all over the United States and the globe.
In addition, the Delaware coast has a rich marine history for those who enjoy learning about marine life and the history that surrounds it.
Beaches like Rehoboth Beach attract hundreds of thousands of tourists each year with its beautiful boardwalk that hosts a plethora of little eateries, candy shops, and souvenir stores.
2. A great retirement option
Delaware is a great destination for those seeking a retirement destination with a relatively low cost of living and a lot of activities that will keep them entertained.
In fact, you do not have to wait for retirement to live in Delaware.
Many young professionals and those wanting to start a family find that the low cost of living paired with the variety of outdoor activities makes Delaware a great destination for people who want to start a family as well.
Added to this is the fact that Delaware has some world-class healthcare facilities that are also close to nationally recognized hospitals, such as Jefferson University Hospital and John Hopkins hospital.
From excellent coastal towns with pristine beaches to world-renowned state and national parks, Delaware is definitely a destination that should not be overlooked.
3. Great tax benefits
Where do we even start with this benefit?
Delaware is considered to be the best tax-friendly state in all of America.
In addition, it has also been named the most tax-friendly state for retirees.
There is no state or local sales tax.
That means that when you go to the grocery store, for example, the price you see on any item is the price you will pay for that item.
This makes budgeting so much easier.
Your social security benefits are not taxed in Delaware and there is no inheritance tax either.
Furthermore, you will not be paying any personal property tax in Delaware.
The state income tax is relatively low, sitting between 2.2% to 6.6%.
And, if you are 60 or older, then up to $12,500 of your retirement income is tax-exempt.
4. Delaware has great job opportunities
Delaware may be slightly higher in terms of its unemployment rate in relation to the national average in the United States, but this does not mean that there are not a plethora of job opportunities available in this state.
Although still considered to be one of the smaller states, Delaware has still reported high demand for workers in some of the fastest-growing career fields, such as healthcare workers, electricians, HVAC workers, business analysts, and carpenters.
In fact, one of the most common jobs held by Delaware residents is that of a registered nurse.
And, some of the most high-paying jobs in Delaware include managers, engineers, driver-operator owners, and registered nurses, among others.
5. Great schools
Delaware is ranked 24th in the United States for its education system.
The state of Delaware offers residents a plethora of high-quality public and private education institutions.
From pre-school all the way through to college, Delaware has some of the highest-rated educational institutions and systems in the US.
If education is an important aspect for you and your family, you may want to consider Delaware as the state where you settle down.
The Cons of Living in Delaware
We would be remiss not to mention that there are in fact a few disadvantages to living in Delaware as well.
1. Catching an international flight may be a problem
A major drawback to living in Delaware is that you will need to travel to nearby states in order to catch an international flight.
For example, you may need to travel to either Baltimore, Maryland, or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in order to connect with international flights.
If you or your family do not travel internationally often, this may not be an issue for you.
However, if your job requires you to frequently travel to other countries, then this may just become just another annoying problem for you.
In addition, if you are in retirement and would like to enjoy your retirement by traveling the world, you may find the frequent trips to international airports in neighboring states to be quite frustrating after a period of time.
The airports in Delaware only offer a few local destinations as well.
2. Dense population
You will not earn a label as the most tax-friendly state, with some of the best beaches in the United States, and some of the highest-ranked schools and universities in the nation, and not attract a swarm of people to your shores.
Yes, that is right, Delaware is somewhat overcrowded.
Regardless of whether it is the second smallest state in the US, or that it only has a total land mass of 25,00 square miles, nearly a million people call the state of Delaware their home.
And, there is a continuous stream of people moving to Delaware from other states and countries, due to the many benefits afforded to residents of the state.
3. There are not enough doctors
While we mentioned earlier that the state attracts many job seekers and that the healthcare industry is possibly one of the biggest employers in Delaware, it does not deter the fact that the state has a shortage of doctors.
While you will have access to outstanding healthcare facilities in this state, and the emergency care is world-class, you may still need to travel to neighboring states to attend a physical.
New primary care physicians that open their practice in Delaware have mentioned that it is not unusual to have a practice filled up with appointments within a very short amount of time.
That is because the ratio of patients to doctors is not great.
If you are a sickly person or have a need for healthcare quite often, then you may find the added expense of having to travel to another state to attend to your healthcare concerns stressful.
4. Public transportation
There are states in the US, like New York and Illinois that have outstanding public transportation systems.
However, in the state of Delaware, this is not the case.
If you do not know how to drive or if you do not own a car, you may feel very stuck in this state.
If you do need to get around, there are Uber, Lift, and regular taxis that you can order to drive you around.
However, you may need to sit and plan your trip carefully in order to be sure that you do not end up being stuck somewhere with no way to get back home.
Because your only option will then be to walk.
5. Hurricanes
Hurricanes can be devastating and, in many cases, fatal.
Granted, there has not been a landfall in the state of Delaware in over 150 years.
We have seen the destruction that storms such as Hurricane Florence and Sandy have done to nearby states and how these affected Delaware.
And, much like the weather, this could change quickly.
In addition to hurricanes, there are tornadoes.
The tornadoes in this area are not too serious but they certainly are consistent.
The state of Delaware sees at least one tornado each year.
In addition to hurricanes and tornadoes, Delaware sees its fair share of flooding.
The scary part is that over 331 square miles in Delaware lie in a 100-year floodplain.
Pros and Cons of Living in Delaware – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Delaware | The Cons of Living in Delaware |
|---|---|
| 1. Beautiful beaches | 1. Catching an international flight may be a problem |
| 2. A great retirement option | 2. Dense population |
| 3. Great tax benefits | 3. There are not enough doctors |
| 4. Delaware has great job opportunities | 4. Public transportation |
| 5. Great schools | 5. Hurricanes |
Delaware Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Delaware Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there bears in Delaware?
Yes, there are bears in Delaware.
However, little is known about the bears that roam Delaware apart from the fact that the bears that can be found in Delaware are black bears.
Not to worry though, the black bears in Delaware are, for the most part, attracted to humans due to them being a food source.
They are not known to be aggressive though.
These bears are timider and are not known for attacking people.
What is the biggest crime trend in Delaware?
Property crime is the most common crime in the state of Delaware.
Over the 2019/2020 period, there were a total of 21,931 property crimes reported across the state of Delaware, or, alternatively, 2,252 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
In fact, 84% of all crimes committed in this state are due to property crime.
What city in Delaware has the highest crime rate?
Some parts of New Castle are pretty bad.
What is Delaware known for?
The top three things that Delaware is known for are the tax benefits that you have in this state.
There is no local or state sales tax.
In addition, the beaches, having won several awards, are another factor that Delaware is well known for.
Thirdly, the state is known for having great healthcare.
What is a weird fact about Delaware?
The state has over 381 miles of shoreline and has more shoreline than Guam and the US Virgin Islands combined.
What is the climate change problem in Delaware?
Its a common problem in northern states known as sugondeez.
What’s the best city in Delaware to live . As far as crime
Delaware City is the best city in DE in terms of crime. Small town with excellent, friendly police presence.
what is the safest beach to live near?