Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 18% higher in Wilmington, DE. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$973
$1,103
+13% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,024
+2% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$1,213
+6% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,394
+3% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$224,500
+3% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$55,269
+22% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$54,310
+9% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
37.0 yr
+3.6 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
25.7%
46.0%
+20.3 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
33.1%
+14.8 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
22.8 min
23.0 min
+0.2 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
1,138.2
+116% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
2,949.2
3,182.4
+8% in Wilmington, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
54.9°F
+3.7°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
43.1 in
+0.5 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
19.3
+21% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$29.73
+27% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / DE)
6.35%
None
+6.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
6.60%
+0.4 pp in CT

Hartford vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Wilmington?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Wilmington 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).