Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/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 $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 22% higher in Wilmington, DE. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Huntington, WV
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$762
$1,103
+45% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$758
$1,024
+35% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$881
$1,213
+38% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,394
+24% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$224,500
+89% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$55,269
+28% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$54,310
+22% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
37.0 yr
+2.1 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
52.5%
46.0%
+6.5 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
33.1%
+1.4 pp in Huntington, WV
Avg Commute
18.6 min
23.0 min
+4.4 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
1,138.2
+42% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,617.9
3,182.4
+12% in Huntington, WV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
55.7°F
54.9°F
+0.8°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
43.1 in
+0.5 in in Wilmington, 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)
15.4
19.3
+25% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$29.73
+20% in Wilmington, 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 (WV / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
6.60%
+1.8 pp in DE

Huntington vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Wilmington?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Wilmington?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% 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).