Is it cheaper to live in Overland Park or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Overland Park than in Wilmington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Overland Park versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Overland Park or Wilmington?

Overland Park is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Overland Park vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Overland Park, KS versus $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $103,838 in Overland Park, KS and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 47% higher in Overland Park, KS. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Overland Park, KS

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,270

$1,103

+13% in Overland Park, KS

1 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,024

+16% in Overland Park, KS

2 Bedroom

$1,589

$1,213

+24% in Overland Park, KS

3 Bedroom

$1,828

$1,394

+24% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$384,400

$224,500

+42% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income

$103,838

$55,269

+47% in Overland Park, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,820

$54,310

+7% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.6 yr

37.0 yr

+1.6 yr in Overland Park, KS

Homeownership

61.5%

46.0%

+15.5 pp in Overland Park, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

62.9%

33.1%

+29.8 pp in Overland Park, KS

Avg Commute

19.9 min

23.0 min

+3.1 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

188.4

1,138.2

+504% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

1,790.5

3,182.4

+78% 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

55.2°F

54.9°F

+0.3°F in Overland Park, KS

Annual Precipitation

40.0 in

43.1 in

+3.0 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Wilmington, DE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.7

19.3

+23% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.12

$29.73

+18% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Overland Park, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Wilmington, DE

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Overland Park, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Overland Park, KS

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Overland Park, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KS / DE)

6.5%

None

+6.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

5.58%

6.60%

+1.0 pp in DE

Overland Park vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Overland Park or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Overland Park than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Overland Park versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Overland Park or Wilmington?: Overland Park is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).