Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 26% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio
$993
$762
+23% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$758
+28% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$881
+26% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,121
+31% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$118,800
+52% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$43,146
+26% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$44,600
+4% in Dover, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
34.9 yr
+0.2 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
52.5%
+5.5 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
34.5%
+7.4 pp in Huntington, WV
Avg Commute
24.0 min
18.6 min
+5.4 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
800.3
+22% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
3,617.9
+41% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
55.7°F
+1.2°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
42.6 in
+3.5 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.4
+20% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$24.68
+17% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / WV)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
4.82%
+1.8 pp in DE

Dover vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Huntington?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Huntington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Huntington?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% 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).