D+
17%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
53%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Middletown Delaware National
Cost of living117108100
Goods & Services101104100
Groceries100102100
Health care99103100
Housing153121100
Transportation101102100
Utilities10798100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Middletown, DE

Knowing the cost of living in Middletown allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Middletown stands at 117, marking it 17% higher than the national average.

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 53.2% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Middletown?

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?

Is Middletown affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Middletown, the median home price is 59.6% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 38.1% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Middletown boasting a median household income of $91,663, 65.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Middletown?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Middletown, healthcare costs are 1.1% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Middletown cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Middletown is 8% higher than the Delaware average
  • The cost of living in Middletown is 17% higher than the national average
  • Middletown housing is 53% higher than the national average
  • Delaware general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • Delaware state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Middletown

See all the best places to live around Middletown

Compare Middletown, DE Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$93,552$7,796$2,183$2,807
      Renters$80,848$6,737$1,886$2,426
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Middletown is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Middletown has a median income of about $93,552 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,183 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $80,848. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,886 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Delaware Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Delaware 0% 0%

      Delaware Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Delaware 0% 6.6%

      Goods & Services

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.17$24.264.5%
      Beauty Salon $52.17$45.5614.5%
      Toothpaste $3.59$3.703.1%
      Shampoo $1.28$1.280.0%
      Movie $12.40$12.132.2%
      Bowling $19.44$18.008.0%

      Groceries

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.11$5.844.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.1%
      Milk $4.68$4.670.1%
      Potatoes $5.38$4.939.0%
      Pizza $12.29$12.091.7%
      Beer $11.43$10.419.8%

      Health Care

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $143.30$125.6814.0%
      Doctor $134.50$135.780.9%
      Dentist $120.11$113.296.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.51$10.651.3%
      Lipitor $377.86$468.6019.4%

      Housing

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      Home Price $294,800.00$184,700.0059.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,951.15$2,346.6916.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,311.00$949.0038.1%

      Transportation

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.44$3.460.5%
      Tire Balancing $62.39$59.924.1%

      Utilities

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $214.53$193.9910.6%
      Phone $195.25$192.251.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Salem, NJ4,7618812.4%
      Leipsic, DE141954.9%
      Kennedyville, MD423982.3%
      Pennsville, NJ11,9681000.3%
      Hancocks Bridge, NJ3081010.9%
      Middletown, DE22,35011717.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Yellowknife, NT22,316n/a 
      Garden City, NY22,384214113.8%
      Patterson, CA22,30912828.0%
      Westmount, QC22,392n/a 
      Waynesboro, VA22,300991.0%
      Middletown, DE22,35011717.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.