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Living in Delaware, OH

Small city in Ohio

Delaware is a small city in Ohio, home to about 43,000 people, with 1.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Delaware a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Family-friendly: playgrounds, family attractions and plenty of households with kids
  • Strong healthcare: 6 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.4× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Dog-friendly: 3 dog parks within 9 mi

👎 Cons

  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Cloudier than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Delaware ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
43,000
1.5 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
38°F / 83°F
Average daily highs · 24″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$366k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,720/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
95
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$932
State income tax per resident · 1.5% property tax
Safety
0.4× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
6 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
6
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
46%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
CMH
22 mi away

Living in Delaware: common questions

What is the cost of living in Delaware?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $366k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,720 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 95, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Delaware?

Ohio collects about $932 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.5% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Delaware safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.4× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Delaware?

Delaware has cold winters: winter days average around 38°F and summer days around 83°F, with roughly 24″ of snow a year.

Does Delaware get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and tornadoes: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.27 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Delaware?

The nearest major airport is CMH, about 22 mi away.

How Delaware scores

Each bar compares Delaware with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Friendly community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Average
💼Job market Average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Good
🧸Kids & family Excellent
🐕Dog-friendly Excellent
⛰️Outdoors Average
🎭Culture Poor
🛡️Safety Very safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Poor
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Excellent

Places like Delaware

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

Nearby

See all the best places to live in Ohio.

Is Delaware right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.