Delaware to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 613 mile interstate move from Delaware to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in Delaware vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like higher cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Scrapple vs Kentucky Hot Brown), real estate & housing (colonial and cape cod vs colonial, craftsman, and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Delaware), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Scrapple and Fried Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Kentucky Hot Brown & Bourbon-glazed Pork
- Kentucky housing costs are 48% less expensive than they are in Delaware
- Rent in Kentucky is 29.27% more affordable than in Delaware
- Moving from Delaware to Kentucky will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Delaware to Kentucky movers is From Here to There
Delaware to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Delaware to Kentucky
- Higher cost of living
- Limited green spaces
- Dense population
- Severe weather
- Traffic congestion
- More affordable housing
- Abundant natural beauty
- Quieter communities
- Moderate climate
- Less traffic
- Fewer nearby metropolitans
- No ocean coastline
- Less historic variety
- Fewer restaurant choices
- More rural areas
- Close to major cities
- Access to beaches
- Rich historical sites
- Diverse dining options
- Established neighborhoods
Pros of moving from Delaware to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to the higher cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from limited green spaces and moving to Kentucky with abundant natural beauty
- Swap the dense population of Delaware for quieter communities in Kentucky
- Get ready for a moderate climate in Kentucky
Cons of moving from Delaware to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from being close to major cities in Delaware to live with fewer nearby metropolitan areas in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of access to beaches and have to settle for the con of no ocean coastline
- Time to bid farewell to rich historical sites and get used to less historic variety in Kentucky
- Swap diverse dining options for fewer restaurant choices
Delaware vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Delaware | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Scrapple | Kentucky Hot Brown |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Chicken | Bourbon-glazed Pork |
Most popular street food item | Italian Sub | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular vegan food | Roasted Vegetable Sandwich | BBQ Jackfruit |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Delaware to Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Scrapple of Delaware for the equally delicious Kentucky Hot Brown of Kentucky. And while the locals in Delaware rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Italian Sub, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Bourbon-glazed Pork and Barbecue Ribs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Roasted Vegetable Sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Delaware eateries like Harryβs Savoy Grill, Deerfield, and Bluecoast Seafood Grill. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like The Brown Hotel, Mammoth Cave Hotel, and Beaumont Inn.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Delaware. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kentucky, compared to what you are used to in Delaware. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Delaware and Kentucky
Comparison | Delaware | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial and Cape Cod | Colonial, Craftsman, and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to beaches, Energy-efficient windows | Spacious yards, Hardwood floors |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Delaware is known for will be replaced with the Colonial, Craftsman, and Ranch architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to Delaware's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to beaches and energy-efficient windows, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and hardwood floors.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Kentucky is less walkable than Delaware.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Kentucky is less bike-friendly than Delaware.
- Kentucky has less of an urban feel than Delaware.
- Kentucky housing costs are 48% less expensive than they are in Delaware, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to Delawareβs $385,745.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased by 47% compared to a 42% increase in Delaware.
- Rent in Kentucky is 29.27% more affordable than in Delaware.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Delaware and Kentucky
Comparison | Delaware | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Nor'easters | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 65Β°F | 87Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45Β°F / 28Β°F | 44Β°F / 27Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20.2 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Delaware to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 3% fewer sunshine days than Delaware.
- Kentucky has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Delaware.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in Delaware, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Kentucky.
- The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 2 degrees warmer than in Delaware.
- The average winter lows are 1 degree colder than they are in Delaware.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 5 more inches of rain compared to Delaware.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Delaware and Kentucky
Comparison | Delaware | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,174 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.45 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 5.55% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 0.82% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Agriculture, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail |
Affluence | Prosperous | Modest |
Poverty | Moderate | Significant |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 28% less than those in Delaware
- The COLI in Kentucky is 14% lower than what you are used to living in Delaware
- The state income tax in KY is 5% compared to 5.55% in DE
- The affluence in Kentucky is modest compared to prosperous in Delaware
- The poverty level is significant in Kentucky compared to moderate in Delaware
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Delaware and moderate in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in Delaware vs. Kentucky
Comparison | Delaware | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Largely Democratic | Largely Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive urban centers | Conservative rural areas |
Religion | Mainly Christian, diverse denominations | Mainly Christian, predominantly Baptist |
- Delaware tends to lean largely Democratic in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as largely Republican
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as mainly Christian and predominantly Baptist
- Delaware's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mainly Christian and diverse denominations
Education Guide When Moving from Delaware to Kentucky
Comparison | Delaware | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Delaware Wilmington University Delaware State University | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Charter School of Wilmington Newark Charter School (Newark) | Ashland Elementary (Lexington) Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Charter School of Wilmington Newark Charter School (Newark) | Beaumont Middle School (Lexington) Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) |
Top 3 High Schools | Charter School of Wilmington (Wilmington) Cab Calloway School of the Arts (Wilmington) | DuPont Manual High School (Louisville) Highlands High School (Fort Thomas) |
Top 3 private high schools | Tower Hill School (Wilmington) The Tatnall School (Wilmington) | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) St. Xavier High School (Louisville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Tower Hill School (Wilmington) The Tatnall School (Wilmington) | The Lexington School (Lexington) Collegiate School (Louisville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Appoquinimink School District Brandywine School District | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools |
How Much Do Delaware to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 613 miles from Delaware to Kentucky will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,550 | 300 ft3 | $5.17 |
1 Bedroom | $2,303 | 450 ft3 | $5.12 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,800 | 750 ft3 | $5.07 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,518 | 1100 ft3 | $5.02 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,947 | 1600 ft3 | $4.97 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,850 | 1800 ft3 | $4.92 |
Top Delaware to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Delaware to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

From Here to There
Best moving company overall for Delaware to Kentucky