What it's like to live in Smyrna
Smyrna is a small city in Delaware with home prices that remain within reach and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Smyrna deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Low college degree attainment
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Smyrna compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Smyrna
Based on Smyrna's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,068
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $61,360 a year
- 43% of Smyrna renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$58,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,140
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,534/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,534 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $291,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $291,400 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Kent County is 5.3%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Kent County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 65% above US
544 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2012/100k · Smyrna Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 28% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 33.4 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 40% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is First State National Historical Park (37 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Smyrna's strongest point is home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,534/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Smyrna
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