10 Best Places to Retire in Delaware

Moving to a new location can be quite thrilling, even if a bit terrifying at the same time, but doing this when you reach the retirement age can be seen as an adventure, so this time around we’re going to take a look at the 10 best places to retire in Delaware.

If moving to a new state is something you take into consideration and you’re trying to figure out where to go, then Delaware is as good as any other option. Located in the Northeast megalopolis region in the Untied States, Delaware is an interesting state, even if it’s not exactly the largest one out there. In fact, it is the second smallest state, and the sixth least populous in the entire USA. On the other hand, it’s quite densely populated, so that’s also something you should take into consideration since there’s little elbow room to go around. Some 945,000 people call Delaware home, a state that spreads over 1,982 square miles, making for a population density of 469 people per square mile.

When it comes to the state’s topography, well, Delaware is quite flat, with the highest elevation barely deserving any mention. The state has a rather long coastline with the Atlantic Ocean, so that’s something you might enjoy if you decide upon moving here. The climate in Delaware is somewhere between humid subtropical and continental, depending on the area we’re talking about. Some have large amounts of snowfall while others are more moderate, closer to the Ocean. If you’re looking for other ideas, you can check out another list we published regarding the 10 best places to retire in Connecticut.

In Delaware, the median home price is $195,700, while the cost of living index is 110.5, with 100 being the average across the United States. The crime rate in the state was calculated at 52, with 1 being the lowest crime rate. If you’re not yet convinced about Delaware, perhaps you could take a look at the 7 best places to retire in Connecticut.

For this list, we took a list at all of Delaware’s cities, since there are only three counties in this small state. To make things a bit easier, we decided to only take into consideration cities with at least 5,000 citizens. Then, we checked out the median home price in these areas, the average commute time, the cost of living index and the crime index for each of them. We handed out points and came up with the final ranking. The data comes from Sperling’s Best Places which mixes data from various governmental sources, including the Census Bureau and the FBI, to name a few.

Without further ado, here are the 10 best places to retire in Delaware.

10. Smyrna

Score: 11

Median home price: $156,500

Cost of living index: 102.6

Average commute time: 32.48

Crime rate: 64

Last on our list is Smyrna, a town with a little over 10,000 residents, according to the latest census. This is a rather small town, covering only 3.8 square miles, out of which 2 percent is water. Smyrna has a history of over 250 years, so there are plenty to see in the historic center. Small town life is what Smyrna is all about, however, so you should know this before picking this place over the rest.

9. Milford

Score: 11

Median home price: $168,700

Cost of living index: 105.2

Average commute time: 22.47

Crime rate: 93

Home to some 9,500 people, Milford is a city with a total area of 5.6 square miles, making for a rather high population density. Settled back in 1680, the City of Milford has a long history that will keep you interested if you go searching for various landmarks. However, you really shouldn’t think this is a city that’s left back in the past since there are plenty of shops, bars and entertainment options to bring it into the present.

The median home price in this city is a little under $169,000 while the cost of living index is just a bit above the national average, namely 105.2. Commuting takes in average 22.47 minutes, which isn’t too terrible unless you take into consideration just how small the town is.

8. Newark

Score: 12

Median home price: $194,900

Cost of living index: 112.2

Average commute time: 20.15

Crime rate: 59

Newark is a city that has over 31,400 citizens and it spreads over 8.9 square miles, making for a rather high population density. Don’t think, however, that you won’t be able to take a breather in Newark, since there are plenty of parks to enjoy nature in. When you feel like taking a drink out of the city rowdiness you can do that too, since there are plenty of entertainment options to pick from.

The median home price in the area is close to $195,000, while the cost of living index is 112.2, quite a bit over the national average, but not exaggeratedly so.  The average commute time is just over 20 minutes, which is quite ok; you won’t spend forever in the car. The crime rate in Newark is 59, so things aren’t particularly terrible, but they’re not great either.

7. Seaford

Score: 12

Median home price: $174,200

Cost of living index: 106.2

Average commute time: 20.98

Crime rate: 70

With a population of nearly 7,000 people and a territory of 3.5 square miles, Seaford is not exactly the ghost town you might expect, especially with a population density of 2,000 people per square mile. Instead, the city is full of life and there’s always something to do around here. There are parks you can enjoy and bars and restaurants to visit when you want to socialize a bit more.

Homes in this area cost a little over $174,000 in average, which isn’t too terrible. The cost of living index is a little above the national average – 106.2, so you’ll be paying a bit more, although this depends on where you’re coming from. The crime rate in the area was calculated at 70, so you should be a bit more careful when out and about.

6. Edgemoor

Score: 15

Median home price: $141,600

Cost of living index: 102.2

Average commute time: 29.3

Crime rate: 74

Edgemoor, Delaware, is home to over 5,600 people. Located in the upper area of the state, Edgemoor covers a mere 1.8 square miles, which means it may seem quite crowded. If you enjoy being on the water, then you should know Delaware River is just around the corner. Whether it’s fishing, boating or just plain out enjoying a picnic on the river bank is up to you.

Houses cost over $141,000 in this area while the cost of living index is a little bit above the national average.

5. New Castle

Score: 15

Median home price: $150,500

Cost of living index: 103.9

Average commute time: 23.04

Crime rate: 60

New Castle is a town with loads of history, a history that you can enjoy by walking down the cobblestone streets or visiting the sites strewn across the city. It’s like taking a step back in time when enjoying one of these tours.

The city isn’t too big, spreading over only 3.2 square miles. There are over 5,000 residents living here, according to the latest census. The median home price in New Castle is a little over $150,000 while the cost of living index is close to 104, so just a little over the national average.

4. Pike Creek

Score: 18

Median home price: $325,200

Cost of living index: 136.8

Average commute time: 24.77

Crime rate: 26

Next up is Pike Creek, a city that nearly a decade ago was on CNN’s list of the 100 best places to live in the United States. The city is nowadays home to nearly 8,000 people while the territory assigned to it is a mere 6.1 square miles.

Homes in this area go for a median price of $325,200, which is extremely expensive. Thankfully, however, you’ll be able to find homes that go for a lot less than this, depending on what you’re looking for, of course.

3. Elsmere

Score: 24

Median home price: $124,900

Cost of living index: 99

Average commute time: 21.98

Crime rate: 70

Elsmere City may be a really small town, with a territory of 1 square mile, but it’s quite densely populated since there are over 6,100 people living here. While the territory is all land, no water bodies, you can enjoy some time out in nature by visiting one of the local parks.

The median home price in this city is just shy of $125,000 while the cost of living index is just under the national average.

2. Dover

Score: 24

Median home price: $143,500

Cost of living index: 100.1

Average commute time: 20.95

Crime rate: 66

The capital of Delaware is quite an interesting city. Dover has a territory of 22.7 square miles and a population of over 37,000 citizens, making it the second largest city in the state. There are so many options to enjoy yourself in Dover, including through shopping for whatever it is you need, enjoy arts and culture events, or a NASCAR race.

The median home price in Dover was calculated at $143,500, which is quite an ok price. The cost of living index in Delaware’s capital is pretty much in line with the nation’s average.

1. Wilmington

 Score: 36

Median home price: $118,300

Cost of living index: 97.8

Average commute time: 20.96

Crime rate: 95

The largest city in Delaware tops our list. Over 70,000 people call this city home, all of its 17 square miles. While all the previous cities have plenty of entertainment options to give you, as well as quality nature time, there’s none that offers what Wilmington does – the DuPont Theater, a historic location.

Houses cost a little over $118,000 in average here, which is great news since it means you’re quite likely to be able to afford a place here if you decide upon it. The cost of living index is a few points below the national average, so you’ll be paying less for everything from groceries to health care. All in all, Wilmington tops our list of the 10 best places to retire in Delaware.