Cost of Living in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Delaware County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Delaware County ranks #2,890 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 8%)
Sourced county brief
Delaware County Renters Allocate 32.7 Percent of Income to Rent
The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Delaware County was 32.7%, which is 5.0 percentage points above the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of 27.7%. Median gross rent for the county was $1,372 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $991. Among renter-occupied households, the median income was $49,812. For homeowners, the median home value reached $332,200, which is $120,121 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $212,079. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,680, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,010. These data are derived from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Delaware County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.7% of renter household income in Delaware County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,372 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,680. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $54,880 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Pennsylvania unweighted mean of county median rents is $991 per month. Delaware County's $1,372 median is 38.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Delaware County
Rent Burden
18.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,089
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.5%
of gross income
The median home in Delaware County may be a stretch
Median home value is $332,200. Estimated monthly cost: $2,652 vs. your max of $2,089.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Delaware County, Pennsylvania?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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