Michigan to Delaware Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 805 mile interstate move from Michigan to Delaware? This moving guide will help you compare living in Michigan vs Delaware across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Pasties vs Scrapple), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Delaware), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pasties and Detroit-Style Pizza, but get your taste buds ready for Scrapple & Chicken
- Delaware housing costs are 61% more expensive than they are in Michigan
- Rent in Delaware is 27.60% more expensive than in Michigan
- Moving from Michigan to Delaware will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Michigan to Delaware movers is Pro-Low Moving
Michigan to Delaware Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Michigan to Delaware
- Harsh winters
- Rust belt economy
- Higher state taxes
- Urban congestion
- Milder climate
- Business-friendly state
- No sales tax
- Quieter communities
- No Great Lakes access
- Less snowfall
- Fewer historic landmarks
- Smaller cultural scene
- Great Lakes beauty
- Distinct seasons
- Rich automotive history
- Diverse cultural events
Pros of moving from Michigan to Delaware
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a rust belt economy and moving to Delaware with a business-friendly state
- Swap the higher state taxes of Michigan for no sales tax in Delaware
- Get ready for quieter communities in Delaware
Cons of moving from Michigan to Delaware
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the Great Lakes beauty in Michigan to live with no Great Lakes access in Delaware
- You'll lose out on the pro of distinct seasons and have to settle with the con of less snowfall
- Time to bid farewell to rich automotive history and get used to fewer historic landmarks in Delaware
- Swap diverse cultural events for a smaller cultural scene
Michigan vs. Delaware: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Michigan | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pasties | Scrapple |
Most popular meat dish | Detroit-Style Pizza | Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Coney Dog | Italian Sub |
Most popular vegan food | Tempeh Reuben | Seitan BBQ |
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 Michigan to Delaware, you will be trading the iconic Pasties of Michigan for the equally delicious Scrapple of Delaware. And while the locals in Michigan rave about their flavorful Detroit-Style Pizza and sumptuous Coney Dog, Delaware residents know they have tasty Chicken and Italian Sub to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Reuben they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan BBQ of Delaware. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Michigan eateries like Slows Bar BQ, Zingerman's Delicatessen, and Bell's Eccentric CafΓ©. 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, Big Fish Grill, and Chesapeake and Maine.
When comparing lifestyles, Delaware shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Michigan. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Delaware compared to what you are used to in Michigan. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Delaware.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Michigan and Delaware
Comparison | Michigan | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Natural surroundings, Lake access | Proximity to beaches, Historic charm |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Michigan is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Delaware.
- Compared to Michigan's real estate listings that commonly reference natural surroundings and lake access, Delaware real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to beaches and historic charm.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Delaware is less walkable than Michigan.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Delaware is less bike-friendly than Michigan.
- Delaware has more of an urban feel than Michigan.
- Delaware housing costs are 61% more expensive than they are in Michigan, with a median home price of $385,745 compared to Michiganβs $239,770.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Delaware have increased by 42% compared to a 45% increase in Michigan.
- Rent in Delaware is 27.60% more expensive than in Michigan.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Michigan and Delaware
Comparison | Michigan | 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 | Snowstorms, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 79/58 | 85/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/18 | 44/28 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 32.8 | 45.7 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60.66 | 20.2 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Michigan to Delaware. Delaware gets 18% more sunshine days than Michigan.
- Delaware has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Michigan.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in Delaware.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Delaware is 6 degrees warmer than in Michigan.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in Michigan.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Delaware. Delaware receives 12.9 more inches of rain compared to Michigan.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Michigan and Delaware
Comparison | Michigan | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,986 | $82,174 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 102.45 |
State Income Tax | 4.25% | 6.60% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.54% | 0.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00% | 0.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Automotive, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Finance, Healthcare, Chemical Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Prevalent | Less Common |
Homelessness | Visible | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Delaware tend to earn about 23% more than those in Michigan
- The COLI in Delaware will be 12% higher than what you are used to living in Michigan
- The state income tax in DE is 6.60% compared to 4.25% in MI
- The affluence in Delaware is high compared to moderate affluence in Michigan
- The poverty level is less common in Delaware compared to prevalent poverty in Michigan
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Michigan and minimal in Delaware
Political and Religious Climate in Michigan vs. Delaware
Comparison | Michigan | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with a slight Democratic lean in recent elections | Leans Democratic, especially in presidential elections |
Local Politics | Varies by region; urban areas are more liberal, rural areas are more conservative | More uniform, with liberal policies especially in urban centers like Wilmington |
Religion | Christianity predominates, with significant Catholic and Protestant populations | Christianity is major, but with a higher percentage of people without religious affiliation |
- Michigan tends to lean mixed, with a slight Democratic lean in its political climate
- Delaware, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic, especially in presidential elections
- Delaware's religious environment can be described as Christianity being major, but with a higher percentage of people without religious affiliation
- Michigan's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominating, with significant Catholic and Protestant populations
Education Guide When Moving from Michigan to Delaware
Comparison | Michigan | Delaware |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University | University of Delaware Delaware State University Wilmington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bates Elementary School (Dexter) Musson Elementary School (Rochester) Deerfield Elementary School (Novi) | Odyssey Charter School (Wilmington) Charter School of Wilmington Newark Charter School (Newark) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | West Middle School (Rochester) East Middle School (Farmington Hills) Millennium Middle School (South Lyon) | Odyssey Charter School (Wilmington) Conrad Schools of Science (Wilmington) Newark Charter School (Newark) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International Academy (Bloomfield Hills) City Middle/High School (Grand Rapids) Troy High School (Troy) | Charter School of Wilmington Odyssey Charter School (Wilmington) Cab Calloway School of the Arts (Wilmington) |
Top 3 private high schools | Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills) Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) | Tower Hill School (Wilmington) St. Andrew's School (Middletown) Sanford School (Hockessin) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills) Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) | Tower Hill School (Wilmington) Sanford School (Hockessin) St. Andrew's School (Middletown) |
Top 3 School Districts | Novi Community School District Troy School District Bloomfield Hills Schools | Appoquinimink School District Brandywine School District Cape Henlopen School District |
How Much Do Michigan to Delaware Movers Cost?
Moving 805 miles from Michigan 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: 6.5-15.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,659 | 300 ft3 | $5.53 |
1 Bedroom | $2,466 | 450 ft3 | $5.48 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,072 | 750 ft3 | $5.43 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,917 | 1100 ft3 | $5.38 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,527 | 1600 ft3 | $5.33 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,503 | 1800 ft3 | $5.28 |
Top Michigan to Delaware Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Michigan to Delaware movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.