Cost of Living in Middletown, DE

Population 24,071 · Delaware · Data vintage 2023

126
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Middletown sits on the smaller end of the Delaware city distribution. That scale shapes the housing market, the labor pool, and the services available to residents in ways the data below makes visible.

Middletown is about 50 miles east of Baltimore, the nearest large metro — close enough that regional housing and labor patterns are shaped largely by the larger market. Median home values run roughly 82% higher than Baltimore's $219,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 131
Rent 119

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Middletown

The median home value in Middletown is $399,500 — 31% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,567/month, 19% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $115,252/year is 55% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 5.7%, above the national average of 4.8%. Delaware's top state income tax rate is 6.6% and the combined sales tax is 0.0%. Overall, Middletown has a cost of living index of 126 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 26% more expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$399,500
31% above avg
Zillow Home Value
$523,673
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,567/mo
19% above avg
Zillow Rent
$2,592/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2x
Favors renting
Property Tax Rate
0.6%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,173
1 BR
$1,181
2 BR
$1,492
3 BR
$2,080
4 BR
$2,278
Owner-occupied 76.3%
Renter-occupied 23.7%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,567
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $2,181/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
31.6 min
17% above avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
17.6%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
76.4%
Carpooled
4.1%
Public transit
0.7%
Walked
0.4%
Work from home
17.6%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 6.6%
Total Sales Tax 0.0%
State rate 0.0%
Avg local rate 0.0%
Property Tax 0.6%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$115,252
55% above avg
Per Capita Income
$54,362
Unemployment Rate
5.7%
19% above avg
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Labor Force Participation
67.1%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 26.1%
Graduate degree 19.3%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 38.4
Male median age 34.3
Female median age 40.6

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 51 — Moderate
47.4%
Good air days/yr
282
Max AQI recorded
236
PM2.5 days
127
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

97%
4-Year Graduation Rate
17.2:1
Student-teacher ratio
1
Public schools
1,375
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Middletown, DE?

Middletown has a cost index of 126 (100 = national average). It is 26% above the national average.

What is average rent in Middletown, DE?

The median gross rent in Middletown is $1,567 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Middletown?

The median home value in Middletown is $399,500 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Middletown?

The median household income in Middletown is $115,252 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Middletown, DE?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Middletown is 0.0%. The Delaware state income tax top rate is 6.6%.

Is Middletown, DE affordable?

Middletown is above average in cost of living, with an index of 126 — about 26% higher than the national average.

Middletown at a Glance

Population
24,071
Median Income
$115,252
Home Value
$399,500
Median Rent
$1,567/mo
Unemployment
5.7%
Sales Tax
0.0%
View all cities in Delaware →
🗺️ County data for Delaware

Explore county-level cost of living data

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