| Index | Middletown | Delaware | National |
| Cost of living | 117 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 155 | 123 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 103 | 99 | 100 |
The cost of living in Middletown affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Middletown is 117, which is 17% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Middletown cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 55.2% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 5 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Middletown. The feedback revealed that 40% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 60% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Middletown affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Middletown, for instance, where the median home price falls 63.2% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 36.4% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Middletown flaunting a median household income of $137,722, 69.3% higher than the national norm.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Middletown, the transportation index is 0.4% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Middletown, the groceries index is 0.1% lower than the national average.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Middletown, the utilities index registers 0.1% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Middletown shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $140,260 | $11,688 | $3,273 | $4,208 |
| Renters | $121,642 | $10,137 | $2,838 | $3,650 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Delaware | 0% | 0% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Delaware | 2.2% | 6.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Salem, NJ | 4,860 | 85 | 15.1% |
| Leipsic, DE | 147 | 94 | 6.0% |
| Pennsville, NJ | 12,293 | 97 | 2.6% |
| Kennedyville, MD | 439 | 102 | 2.5% |
| Hancocks Bridge, NJ | 315 | 98 | 2.0% |
| Middletown, DE | 23,057 | 117 | 16.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| South Lake Tahoe, CA | 23,049 | 131 | 30.5% |
| Mount Pearl, NL | 23,066 | n/a | |
| Cockeysville, MD | 23,095 | 127 | 26.5% |
| Munster, IN | 23,103 | 103 | 3.4% |
| Waynesboro, VA | 23,002 | 101 | 1.4% |
| Middletown, DE | 23,057 | 117 | 16.9% |
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