Delaware to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 1,516 mile interstate move from Delaware to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Delaware vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited open spaces vs spacious landscapes), food & health (like Scrapple vs Chislic), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs ranch, split foyer), 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 Chislic & Bison Steaks
- South Dakota housing costs are 22% less expensive than they are in Delaware
- Rent in South Dakota is 35.68% more affordable than in Delaware
- Moving from Delaware to South Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Delaware to South Dakota movers is SSW Moving & Junk Removal
Delaware to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Delaware to South Dakota
- Limited open spaces
- High population density
- Traffic congestion
- Expensive housing
- Higher taxes
- Spacious landscapes
- Low population density
- Less traffic
- Affordable housing
- Lower taxes
- Inland location
- Harsh winters
- Less urban development
- Less diversity
- Fewer historical sites
- Coastal living
- Mild winters
- Proximity to major cities
- Diverse culture
- Rich history
Pros of moving from Delaware to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to limited open spaces and hello to spacious landscapes
- Look forward to moving away from high population density and moving to South Dakota with low population density
- Swap the traffic congestion of Delaware for less traffic in South Dakota
- Get ready for affordable housing in South Dakota
Cons of moving from Delaware to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from coastal living in Delaware to live with an inland location in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of mild winters and have to settle for the con of harsh winters
- Time to bid farewell to proximity to major cities and get used to less urban development in South Dakota
- Swap diverse culture for less diversity
Delaware vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Delaware | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Scrapple | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Chicken | Bison Steaks |
Most popular street food item | Italian Ice | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad | Wild Rice Soup |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Scrapple of Delaware for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in Delaware rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Italian Ice, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Bison Steaks and Indian Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Soup of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Delaware eateries like Deerfield, The Cultured Pearl, and Mattβs Fish Camp. After the boxes are unpacked in South Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to South Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Minervas, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Crawford's Bar & Grill.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Delaware. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota, compared to what you are used to in Delaware. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Delaware and South Dakota
Comparison | Delaware | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Ranch, Split Foyer |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious gardens, Modern kitchens | Big yards, Natural landscapes |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Delaware is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split Foyer architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to Delaware's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious gardens and modern kitchens, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like big yards and natural landscapes.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Dakota is less walkable than Delaware.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; South Dakota is less bike-friendly than Delaware.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than Delaware.
- South Dakota housing costs are 22% less expensive than they are in Delaware, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to Delawareβs $385,745.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased 48% compared to a 42% increase in Delaware.
- Rent in South Dakota is 35.68% more affordable than in Delaware.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Delaware and South Dakota
Comparison | Delaware | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
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, Blizzard |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86/66 | 85/60 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45/28 | 32/13 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45 | 20-30 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20 | 30-60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Delaware to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 14% more sunshine days than Delaware.
- South Dakota 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 blizzards in South Dakota.
- The average summer high temperature in South Dakota is 1 degree colder than in Delaware.
- The average winter lows are 15 degrees colder than they are in Delaware.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 25 fewer inches of rain compared to Delaware.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Delaware and South Dakota
Comparison | Delaware | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,174 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.45 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 6.6% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 1.32% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Agriculture, Tourism, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 15% less than those in Delaware
- The COLI in South Dakota will be 8% lower than what you are used to living in Delaware
- Hooray, moving to SD means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in South Dakota is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Delaware
- The poverty level is moderate in South Dakota compared to low in Delaware
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Delaware and low in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Delaware vs. South Dakota
Comparison | Delaware | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive in urban areas | Conservative across most of the state |
Religion | Christianity (predominantly), with diverse religious communities in urban areas | Primarily Christianity, with a higher concentration of Lutherans |
- Delaware tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- South Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- South Dakota's religious environment can be described as primarily Christianity, with a higher concentration of Lutherans
- Delaware's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity, predominantly with diverse religious communities in urban areas
Education Guide When Moving from Delaware to South Dakota
Comparison | Delaware | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Delaware Wilmington University Delaware State University | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Black Hills State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Brandywine Springs School Newark Charter School North Star Elementary | R.F. Pettigrew Elementary John Harris Elementary Discovery Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | H.B. Dupont Middle School Newark Charter School Cab Calloway School of the Arts | George S. Mickelson Middle School Patrick Henry Middle School Whittier Middle School |
Top 3 High Schools | Charter School of Wilmington Newark High School Cab Calloway School of the Arts | Roosevelt High School Lincoln High School Washington High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Tower Hill School Wilmington Friends School The Tatnall School | O'Gorman High School Sioux Falls Christian Schools Rapid City Christian School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Tatnall School Tower Hill School Wilmington Friends School | Sioux Falls Christian Schools Rapid City Christian School Great Plains Lutheran High School |
Top 3 School Districts | Brandywine School District Christina School District Red Clay Consolidated School District | Sioux Falls School District Rapid City Area School District Harrisburg School District |
How Much Do Delaware to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,516 miles from Delaware to South Dakota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Keep It - Moving & Labor
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,062 | 300 ft3 | $6.87 |
1 Bedroom | $3,070 | 450 ft3 | $6.82 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,080 | 750 ft3 | $6.77 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,395 | 1100 ft3 | $6.72 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,677 | 1600 ft3 | $6.67 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,922 | 1800 ft3 | $6.62 |
Top Delaware to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Delaware to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

SSW Moving & Junk Removal
Best moving company overall for Delaware to South Dakota