DC to Delaware Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 93 mile interstate move from DC to Delaware? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Delaware across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living expenses), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Scrapple), real estate & housing (victorian, row house vs ranch, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-Smoke and Mumbo Sauce with Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Scrapple & Broiled Chicken with Slippery Dumplings
- Delaware housing costs are 38% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Delaware is 22.86% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Delaware will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended DC to Delaware movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to Delaware Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Delaware
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Limited coastline
- Lack of state tax benefits
- Lower living expenses
- Less traffic
- Quieter environment
- Beaches and waterfronts
- No sales tax
- Fewer historical sites
- Fewer entertainment options
- Less public transport
- Fewer job prospects
- Less cultural diversity
- Rich history and culture
- Vibrant nightlife
- Public transport options
- Professional opportunities
- Diverse population
Pros of moving from DC to Delaware
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower living expenses
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic congestion and moving to Delaware with less traffic
- Swap the fast-paced lifestyle of DC for a quieter environment in Delaware
- Get ready for beaches and waterfronts in Delaware
Cons of moving from DC to Delaware
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history and culture in DC to live with fewer historical sites in Delaware
- You'll lose out on the pro of vibrant nightlife and have to settle for the con of fewer entertainment options
- Time to bid farewell to public transport options and get used to less public transport in Delaware
- Swap professional opportunities for fewer job prospects
DC vs. Delaware: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Scrapple |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo Sauce with Chicken | Broiled Chicken with Slippery Dumplings |
Most popular street food item | Food Trucks (Various Cuisines) | Italian Sausage Sandwiches |
Most popular vegan food | Falafel | Roasted Vegetable Wraps |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Foodie Scene | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ |
Vegan Friendly | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± |
If you're moving from DC to Delaware, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Scrapple of Delaware. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce with Chicken and sumptuous Food Trucks (Various Cuisines), Delaware residents know they have tasty Broiled Chicken with Slippery Dumplings and Italian Sausage Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Falafel they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Roasted Vegetable Wraps of Delaware. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rosa's Taco Shop, and Zaytinya. After the boxes are unpacked in Delaware, don't wait too long before making your way to Delaware's acclaimed eateries like Harry's Savoy Grill, Deer Park Tavern, and Matt's Fish Camp.
When comparing lifestyles, Delaware shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Delaware compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Delaware.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Delaware
Comparison | DC | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Row House | Ranch, Colonial |
Walkability | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Bikeability | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² |
Urban Lifestyle | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, Rooftop decks | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhoods |
- The Victorian and Row House architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Colonial architecture typical of Delaware.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and rooftop decks, Delaware real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Delaware is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Delaware is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Delaware has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Delaware housing costs are 38% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $385,745 compared to DCās $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Delaware have increased by 42% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Delaware is 22.86% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Delaware
Comparison | DC | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø |
Avg. Annual Humidity | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ |
Avg. UV Index | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Floods | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 89/71 | 87/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47/30 | 45/28 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40 | 45 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.5 | 20.5 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to Delaware. Delaware gets 2% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- Delaware has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in DC, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in Delaware.
- The average summer high temperature in Delaware is 2 degrees colder than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Delaware, as Delaware receives 5 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Delaware
Comparison | DC | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $82,174 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 102.45 |
State Income Tax | 6-10% | 2.2-6.6% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 0.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Professional Services | Finance, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Visible | Less Visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Delaware tend to earn about 19% less than those in DC
- The COLI in Delaware will be 27% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in DE is 2.2-6.6% compared to 6-10% in DC
- The affluence in Delaware is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is low in Delaware compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in DC and less visible in Delaware
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Delaware
Comparison | DC | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Focus on federal governance, civil rights | Statewide issues, business-friendly policies |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant Catholic presence | Protestant majority, diverse religious communities |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Delaware, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Delaware's religious environment can be described as having a Protestant majority and diverse religious communities
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Delaware
Comparison | DC | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland George Washington University Howard University | University of Delaware Delaware State University Wilmington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Janney Elementary Lafayette Elementary Mann Elementary | Charter School of Wilmington Newark Charter Jr./Sr. High School Sussex Academy |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Jefferson Middle School Academy | Cab Calloway School of the Arts Postlethwait (F. Niel) Middle School Alfred G. Waters Middle School |
Top 3 High School Schools | Wilson High School School Without Walls High School Banneker High School | Charter School of Wilmington Newark Charter High School Sussex Technical High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends Georgetown Day School National Cathedral School | Tower Hill School Wilmington Friends School St. Andrew's School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maret School St. Albans School Georgetown Day School | Tower Hill School Sanford School St. Andrew's School |
Top 3 School Districts | District of Columbia Public Schools | Brandywine School District Caesar Rodney School District Red Clay Consolidated School District |
How Much Do DC to Delaware Movers Cost?
Moving 93 miles from DC to Delaware will typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $1,500 - $4,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,067 | 300 ft3 | $3.56 |
1 Bedroom | $1,581 | 450 ft3 | $3.51 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,604 | 750 ft3 | $3.47 |
3 Bedrooms | $3,772 | 1100 ft3 | $3.43 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,418 | 1600 ft3 | $3.39 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,019 | 1800 ft3 | $3.34 |
Top DC to Delaware Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Delaware movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.