State Comparison

Delaware vs Mississippi

Mississippi is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Mississippi, Delaware has higher incomes, Mississippi has lower state income tax, and Mississippi gets more sunshine.

Delaware flag
Delaware
DE • South
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
50.03
Mississippi flag
Mississippi
MS • South
Quality of Life Score
43.53
Delaware flag
Delaware
12 / 31
metrics won
Mississippi flag
Mississippi
19 / 31
metrics won
Wins
Mississippi flag MS wins Housing Mississippi flag MS wins Quality of Life Mississippi flag MS wins Climate Delaware flag DE wins Income

Quality of Life

Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.

Delaware flag Delaware winner
50.03
vs
Mississippi flag Mississippi
43.53
Delaware scores higher on quality of life — 6.50 points difference.
Quick Take

Delaware vs Mississippi

This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.

  • Delaware is about 20 times smaller than Mississippi.
  • Mississippi has a larger population than Delaware by 1,971,331 people.
  • Mississippi has the lower cost-of-living index. Mississippi is at 85.5, while Delaware is at 103.2.
  • After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $116.01 of local buying power in Mississippi, versus $103.24 in Delaware.

Overview

Key differences overview

These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.

Overall Affordability

Mississippi is 17.7 points cheaper overall

Mississippi has the lower cost-of-living index. Mississippi is at 85.5, while Delaware is at 103.2.

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Real Dollar Value

$100 goes $12.77 further in Mississippi

After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $116.01 of local buying power in Mississippi, versus $103.24 in Delaware.

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Income

Delaware income is 61.5% higher

Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, compared with $49,111 in Mississippi.

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Jobs

Delaware minimum wage is $6.00 higher

Delaware has the higher statewide minimum wage at $13.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Mississippi.

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Housing

Delaware homes cost about 2.1x more

Mississippi has the lower median home value at $140,800, versus $296,700 in Delaware.

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Taxes

Mississippi has lower state income tax

Mississippi has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.70%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.

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Full Comparison

Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.

Metric Delaware flag DE Mississippi flag MS
Capital City
 Dover Jackson
State Color
 Solid Blue Solid Red
Population
 989,948
2,961,279
Median Income
 $79,325
$49,111
Cost of Living
 103.2
85.5
Median Housing Value
 $296,700
$140,800
Property Tax
 0.50%
0.72%
State Income Tax
 6.60%
4.70%
Minimum Wage
 $13.25/hr
$7.25/hr
Gas Price
 $3.914/gal
$3.755/gal
Electricity Rates
 16.51 c/kWh
14.24 c/kWh
Livability Score
 50.03
43.53
Average Temperature
 55.3°F
63.4°F
Sunny Days
 97 days
111 days
Land Area
 2,489 sq mi
48,432 sq mi
Population Density
 397.7 per sq mi
61.1 per sq mi
Statehood
 December 7, 1787 (#1)
December 10, 1817 (#20)
Population -> Median Income -> Cost of Living -> Median Housing Value -> Property Tax -> State Income Tax -> Minimum Wage -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Livability Score -> Average Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Land Area -> Population Density ->

Intent-Oriented

Which state fits your priorities better?

Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.

6 of 19 shown
Saving Money

Mississippi is cheaper overall

Overall cost-of-living index: 85.5 vs 103.2 in Delaware. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.

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Gas Price

Mississippi is cheaper at the pump

Average regular gas price: $3.755/gal in Mississippi vs $3.914/gal in Delaware. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.

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Minimum Wage

Delaware has the higher minimum wage

State minimum wage: $13.25/hr in Delaware vs $7.25/hr in Mississippi. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.

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Electricity Rates

Mississippi has cheaper electricity

Average residential electricity rate: 14.24 c/kWh in Mississippi vs 16.51 c/kWh in Delaware. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.

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Buying a Home

Mississippi is more attainable for buyers

Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.87x in Mississippi vs 3.74x in Delaware. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.

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Renting

Delaware is easier for renters

Rent-to-income ratio: 18.5% in Delaware vs 20.6% in Mississippi. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.

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Detailed Metric Pages

Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.

Population
Mississippi has a larger population than Delaware by 1,971,331 people.
Population Density
Delaware is more densely populated than Mississippi.
Bachelor's Degree
Delaware has a higher college-educated share than Mississippi.
Advanced Degree
Delaware has a higher advanced-degree share than Mississippi.

People Also Ask

Delaware vs Mississippi - Common Questions

Q Is Delaware cheaper to live in than Mississippi?

Mississippi has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Mississippi scores 85.5 versus 103.2 for Delaware - a gap of 17.7 points.

Q Where does $100 go further - Delaware or Mississippi?

$100 goes further in Mississippi. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $116.01 in Mississippi, compared with $103.24 in Delaware.

Q Which state is bigger - Delaware or Mississippi?

Mississippi is larger, covering 48,432 sq mi compared with 2,489 sq mi for Delaware - roughly 19.5x the size.

Q Does Delaware or Mississippi have more people?

Mississippi has the larger population at 2,961,279, compared with 989,948 in Delaware.

Q Which state has higher household income - Delaware or Mississippi?

Delaware has the higher median household income at $79,325, versus $49,111 in Mississippi.

Q Which state has lower income taxes - Delaware or Mississippi?

Mississippi has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.70%, compared with 6.60% in Delaware.

Q Is housing cheaper in Delaware or Mississippi?

Homes are cheaper in Mississippi, where the median home value is $140,800, versus $296,700 in Delaware.

Q Which state is more densely populated - Delaware or Mississippi?

Delaware is more densely populated at 397.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Mississippi is more spread out at 61.1 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related Comparisons

Alabama flag Alabama vs Mississippi Mississippi flag Arkansas flag Arkansas vs Mississippi Mississippi flag

Methodology

All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.

Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.