CountyScore

Delaware County

Pennsylvania · PA

#67 in Pennsylvania
55
County Score

County Report Card

About Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Delaware slightly above national median

Delaware County scores 52.2 on the composite index, just above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the mainstream of U.S. county livability. While higher incomes and reasonable taxes provide some support, elevated housing costs significantly constrain overall attractiveness.

Pennsylvania's lowest scorer in this group

At 52.2, Delaware County substantially underperforms Pennsylvania's state average of 66.0, making it the least livable county in this eight-county comparison. The gap reflects the county's premium housing market and elevated tax burden outweighing income advantages.

High incomes provide financial cushion

Delaware County leads all comparison counties with an Income Score of 41.2 and median household income of $88,576, offering substantial purchasing power. This income advantage is the primary livability advantage for established professionals and dual-income households.

High taxes and costs constrain affordability

Delaware County's most significant weakness is a Tax Score of just 46.5 with a 1.98% effective tax rate and Cost Score of 59.3, the lowest in the group. Median home value of $302,400 and median rent of $1,315 demand the highest incomes to achieve modest housing affordability ratios.

Only for high-income suburban residents

Delaware County suits only affluent professionals and executives with household incomes well above $85,000 seeking established suburban communities and urban proximity. Lower-income families should consider peer counties offering superior value even with lower absolute incomes.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax46.5Cost59.3SafetyComing SoonHealth78.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome41.2Risk7.1WaterComing Soon
🏛46.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠59.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼41.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤78.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡7.1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Delaware County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Monterey County
California
54.9
Median income: $94,486
Miami-Dade County
Florida
54.9
Median income: $68,694
Hillsborough County
New Hampshire
54.9
Median income: $100,436
Tompkins County
New York
55.1
Median income: $73,012
Cuyahoga County
Ohio
54.9
Median income: $62,823

Deep Dives

Delaware County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Delaware County

via TaxByCounty

Delaware has highest tax rate nationally

Delaware County's 1.984% effective tax rate ranks among the highest in the nation, exceeding Pennsylvania's state average of 1.317% by 51% and the national median of 1.58% by 26%. The median property tax of $6,001 is more than double the national median of $2,690, driven by both higher rates and home values.

Delaware ranks as Pennsylvania's highest

At 1.984%, Delaware County's effective tax rate is the highest among Pennsylvania's 67 counties, resulting in a median annual property tax of $6,001 versus the state average of $2,657. Delaware homeowners pay more than double the state average in annual taxes.

Delaware far exceeds all nearby counties

Delaware County's 1.984% rate dwarfs every comparable county regionally, including Dauphin (1.427%), Crawford (1.464%), and Cumberland (1.214%). At $6,001 in median taxes, Delaware residents pay nearly triple what neighboring Clearfield County residents pay on comparable values.

Median homeowner pays $6,001 annually

On a median home value of $302,400, Delaware County homeowners pay approximately $6,001 in annual property taxes at the county's 1.984% effective rate. With a mortgage, taxes reach $6,210; without one, they total $5,575.

Aggressive appeals could yield major savings

In Delaware County's ultra-high tax environment, a successful assessment appeal could save $800-1,200 annually, making the effort highly worthwhile. Homeowners should thoroughly document comparable sales and file appeals if their assessed values significantly exceed recent market transactions.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Delaware County

via CostByCounty

Delaware's premium housing supported by strong income

Delaware County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.8% exceeds the national average, yet the county's exceptionally high median household income of $88,576—nearly $14,000 above national median—enables residents to absorb these premium costs. Rents averaging $1,315 monthly and median home values of $302,400 reflect an affluent suburban market.

Pennsylvania's priciest housing market overall

Delaware County ranks as Pennsylvania's most expensive county for both renters and homeowners; median rent of $1,315 and median home value of $302,400 substantially exceed state averages. The county's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio, while above the state average, becomes manageable only because median household income of $88,576 is Pennsylvania's highest.

Substantially pricier than all regional peers

Delaware's $1,315 monthly rent towers over all comparison counties: Cumberland ($1,184), Dauphin ($1,153), and rural alternatives like Clearfield ($788) or Elk ($720). Similarly, median home values of $302,400 represent the highest in the dataset, reflecting Delaware's position as a high-income Philadelphia suburban corridor.

Highest income supports highest housing costs

Renters dedicate approximately 18% of the $88,576 median household income to $1,315 monthly rent, while homeowners spend roughly 22% on mortgages averaging $1,646 on homes valued at $302,400. Homeowners here face the most significant housing-cost burden, though income levels make it sustainable.

Delaware for high-income Philadelphia proximity seekers

Delaware offers premium suburban living and Philadelphia access for top earners; expect to pay Pennsylvania's highest housing costs, offset by strong median income of $88,576. Consider it if career opportunity and proximity to major job centers justify housing premiums that dwarf rural alternatives by 60–80%.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Delaware County

via IncomeByCounty

Delaware commands premium above U.S. average

Delaware County's median household income of $88,576 exceeds the national median of $74,755 by $13,821, a 18.5% premium. This ranks Delaware among the wealthiest counties nationally and reflects a robust suburban economy anchored by Philadelphia's metro region. The strong performance underscores why the Philadelphia suburbs consistently outpace national benchmarks.

Pennsylvania's wealthiest county in sample

Delaware County leads all eight counties with a median household income of $88,576, surpassing Pennsylvania's state average of $69,614 by $18,962. Per capita income of $48,676 also ranks highest statewide and exceeds the state average by nearly $11,000. Delaware's economic dominance reflects professional services concentration and Philadelphia metro access.

Clear winner in regional earnings

Delaware's $88,576 median household income exceeds every other county in this sample, leading Cumberland ($85,634) by nearly $3,000 and Dauphin ($74,159) by over $14,000. The gap widens dramatically compared to western rural counties, reflecting the fundamental economic divide between Philadelphia suburbs and rural Pennsylvania. Geographic location drives earning power.

High incomes required for expensive housing

Delaware's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio and median home value of $302,400 mean housing consumes substantial wealth despite high incomes. Residents spend roughly $1,323 monthly on rent, and home purchases require substantial down payments relative to national median prices. Wealth accumulation depends heavily on building equity through homeownership.

Leverage premium incomes for aggressive investing

Delaware residents should aggressively fund retirement accounts, 529 college savings plans, and taxable brokerage accounts after housing costs. The high income base supports substantial contributions to diversified portfolios that can generate meaningful wealth within 15–20 years. Consider working with a financial planner to optimize tax efficiency across multiple investment vehicles.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Delaware County

via HealthByCounty

Delaware County outperforms on most metrics

At 77.6 years, Delaware County residents live over 1 year longer than the U.S. average of 76.4 years, while just 14.3% report poor or fair health—among the lowest nationally. The county's strong performance reflects robust economic conditions and high provider density.

Pennsylvania's top county in this cohort

Delaware's 77.6-year life expectancy ranks second only to Cumberland County (79.3 years) among these eight Pennsylvania counties and significantly exceeds the state average of 76.4 years. Its 5.4% uninsured rate nearly matches Cumberland's, placing Delaware in the state's most equitable coverage tier.

Urban advantage over rural peers

Delaware's 77.6-year life expectancy outpaces all rural neighbors—Clearfield (75.9), Clinton (76.6), and Elk (76.6)—by 0.9 to 1.7 years. With 101 primary care providers and 366 mental health providers per 100,000, Delaware's proximity to Philadelphia and its urban infrastructure deliver exceptional care density.

Highest mental health provider density in the cohort

Delaware County's 366 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—the highest among all eight counties—signals exceptional behavioral health access and reduced wait times for treatment. Combined with 101 primary care providers, Delaware creates one of the region's most comprehensive health care ecosystems.

Maximize Delaware's health care advantage

Although Delaware leads in coverage, approximately 13,200 residents still lack insurance, unable to fully access the county's exceptional provider network. Enroll today at Healthcare.gov or through your employer—coverage ensures you benefit from Delaware's world-class health infrastructure.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Delaware County

via RiskByCounty

Delaware ranks among highest-risk U.S. counties

A composite risk score of 92.91 places Delaware in the national top percentile for natural disaster exposure, earning a Relatively Moderate rating. The county faces exceptionally high risk across flood (94.43), tornado (92.49), earthquake (94.47), and hurricane (88.11) categories.

Pennsylvania's most disaster-prone county

Delaware's 92.91 score represents the highest composite risk in Pennsylvania, substantially exceeding the state average of 67.45 and narrowly surpassing even Dauphin County. This distinction reflects the county's southeastern location, urban density, seismic zone proximity, and exposure to tropical systems and severe convection.

Risk tier above all surrounding counties

Delaware (92.91) dramatically exceeds neighboring counties like Dauphin (91.06) to the west and counties further north, establishing itself as Pennsylvania's premier disaster-risk zone. The county's high population density compounds these natural hazards, creating greater potential community impact from any single event.

Earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes converge

Earthquake risk of 94.47 and flood risk of 94.43 represent Delaware's two primary threats—both at critically elevated levels—while tornado risk of 92.49 adds severe convective danger. The county sits at a convergence of geological and meteorological hazard zones that few other Pennsylvania locations experience simultaneously.

Triple-layer disaster protection strategy required

Flood insurance is essential at 94.43 risk; pair it immediately with earthquake coverage given the 94.47 seismic exposure—these two hazards alone justify comprehensive coverage. Strengthen your home's structural integrity for tornadoes (92.49 risk), establish a family communication plan, and maintain a 30-day emergency supply kit given Delaware's highest-in-state hazard concentration.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.