Illinois to Delaware Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 852 mile interstate move from Illinois to Delaware? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Delaware across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high property taxes vs lower property taxes), food & health (like Deep-dish pizza vs Scrapple), real estate & housing (chicago school, prairie style vs colonial, coastal), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Delaware), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Deep-dish pizza and Italian Beef, but get your taste buds ready for Scrapple & Fried Chicken
- Delaware housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Illinois
- Rent in Delaware is 5.72% more expensive than in Illinois
- Moving from Illinois to Delaware will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Illinois to Delaware movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
Illinois to Delaware Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Delaware
- High property taxes
- Harsh winters
- Heavy traffic
- Dense urban centers
- Higher cost of living
- Lower property taxes
- Milder climate
- Smoother commutes
- Quieter neighborhoods
- More affordable living
- Limited cultural venues
- Smaller job market
- Fewer restaurant choices
- Lack of major museums
- Limited transit options
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Diverse job market
- Ample dining options
- World-class museums
- Extensive public transit
Pros of moving from Illinois to Delaware
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to lower property taxes
- Look forward to moving away from harsh winters and moving to Delaware with a milder climate
- Swap the heavy traffic of Illinois for smoother commutes in Delaware
- Get ready for quieter neighborhoods in Delaware
Cons of moving from Illinois to Delaware
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a vibrant cultural scene in Illinois to live with limited cultural venues in Delaware
- You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse job market and have to settle for the con of a smaller job market
- Time to bid farewell to ample dining options and get used to fewer restaurant choices in Delaware
- Swap world-class museums for a lack of major museums
Illinois vs. Delaware: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Illinois | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Deep-dish pizza | Scrapple |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef | Fried Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dog | Boardwalk Fries |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Deep-dish pizza | Vegan Crab Cakes |
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 Illinois to Delaware, you will be trading the iconic deep-dish pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious scrapple of Delaware. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian beef and sumptuous hot dog, Delaware residents know they have tasty fried chicken and boardwalk fries to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the vegan deep-dish pizza they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegan crab cakes of Delaware. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Illinois eateries like Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Portillo's, and Alinea. 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, Helen's Sausage House, and Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront.
When comparing lifestyles, Delaware shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Delaware, compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Delaware.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Illinois and Delaware
Comparison | Illinois | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Chicago School, Prairie Style | Colonial, Coastal |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Stainless steel appliances | Hardwood floors, Waterfront views |
- The Chicago School and Prairie Style architecture that Illinois is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Coastal architecture typical of Delaware.
- Compared to Illinois's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances, Delaware real estate listings often highlight features like hardwood floors and waterfront views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Delaware is less walkable than Illinois.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Delaware is less bike-friendly than Illinois.
- Delaware has less of an urban feel than Illinois.
- Delaware housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Illinois, with a median home price of $385,745 compared to Illinoisβs $257,738.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Delaware have increased by 42% compared to a 35% increase in Illinois.
- Rent in Delaware is 5.72% more expensive than in Illinois.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Illinois and Delaware
Comparison | Illinois | Delaware |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/65 | 87/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/22 | 44/28 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 45 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 20 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Illinois to Delaware. Delaware gets 7% more sunshine days than Illinois.
- Delaware has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Illinois.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Illinois, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in Delaware.
- The average summer high temperature in Delaware is 2 degrees warmer than in Illinois.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Illinois.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Delaware. Delaware receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Illinois.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Illinois and Delaware
Comparison | Illinois | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $76,708 | $82,174 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.25 | 102.45 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.05% | 0.59% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.83% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Finance, Agriculture | Finance, Real Estate, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Notable | Low |
Homelessness | Significant | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Delaware tend to earn about 7% more than in Illinois
- The COLI in Delaware will be 9% higher than what you are used to living in Illinois
- Hooray, moving to DE means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Delaware is high compared to moderate affluence in Illinois
- The poverty level is low in Delaware compared to notable poverty in Illinois
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Illinois and minimal in Delaware
Political and Religious Climate in Illinois vs. Delaware
Comparison | Illinois | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Chicago's influence major | Moderate, with Democratic lean |
Religion | Christian, non-religious significant portion | Christian, unaffiliated growing |
- Illinois tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Delaware, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Delaware's religious environment can be described as Christian, with a growing unaffiliated segment
- Illinois' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian, with a significant portion being non-religious
Education Guide When Moving from Illinois to Delaware
Comparison | Illinois | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Illinois Northwestern University University of Chicago | University of Delaware Delaware State University Wilmington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lincoln Elementary Naperville; South Loop Elementary Chicago; Willowbrook Elementary Glenview | Charter School of Wilmington; Newark Charter School Newark; Sussex Academy Georgetown |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Kennedy Junior High Lisle; Maple School Northbrook; Daniel Wright Junior High Lincolnshire | H.B. DuPont Middle School Hockessin; Alfred G. Waters Middle School Middletown; Conrad Schools of Science Wilmington |
Top 3 High Schools | Adlai E. Stevenson High Lincolnshire; New Trier High Winnetka; Northside College Prep Chicago | Charter School of Wilmington Wilmington; Newark Charter School Newark; Sussex Academy Georgetown |
Top 3 private high schools | Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy Aurora; Latin School of Chicago Chicago; University of Chicago Lab School Chicago | Tower Hill School Wilmington; St. Andrew's School Middletown; Sanford School Hockessin |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | University of Chicago Lab School Chicago; Francis W. Parker School Chicago; Latin School of Chicago Chicago | Sanford School Hockessin; Tower Hill School Wilmington; St. Andrew's School Middletown |
Top 3 School Districts | New Trier Township High School District 203 Northfield; Highland Park Township Highland Park; Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Naperville | Appoquinimink School District Odessa; Caesar Rodney School District Wyoming; Brandywine School District Wilmington |
How Much Do Illinois to Delaware Movers Cost?
Moving 852 miles from Illinois to Delaware will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: A1 Movers, Inc
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,686 | 300 ft3 | $5.62 |
1 Bedroom | $2,506 | 450 ft3 | $5.57 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,139 | 750 ft3 | $5.52 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,015 | 1100 ft3 | $5.47 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,669 | 1600 ft3 | $5.42 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,663 | 1800 ft3 | $5.37 |
Top Illinois to Delaware Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Illinois to Delaware movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.