Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Newark?

Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Newark?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $56,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Newark?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Concord vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Concord, NH is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 15% higher in Concord, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Newark, DE

Rent

Studio

$876

$1,649

+88% in Newark, DE

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$1,391

+23% in Newark, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$1,513

+3% in Newark, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,916

+8% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$357,600

+10% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$71,373

+15% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$54,310

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

22.0 yr

+18.7 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

50.3%

+7.1 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

57.5%

+17.4 pp in Newark, DE

Avg Commute

23.2 min

19.6 min

+3.6 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

326.3

+81% in Newark, DE

Property Crime

1,251.5

2,024.6

+62% in Newark, DE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

54.9°F

+8.5°F in Newark, DE

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

43.1 in

+2.5 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

19.3

+29% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$29.73

+37% in Newark, DE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Concord, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Newark, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / DE)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.60%

+6.6 pp in DE

Concord vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Newark?: Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Newark?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).