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Living in
Delaware.
About
Life in Delaware
If you're considering a move to the Columbus metro area but want something more established and less sprawling than the capital itself, Delaware offers a solid middle ground. You'll get a median household income around $100,000 and relatively affordable housing with median home values near $318,000, though rent averages $1,286 monthly—both reasonable for this part of Ohio. The job market is stable with 4.1% unemployment, and your commute to Columbus typically runs about 26 minutes, which is manageable if you work downtown.
Delaware at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.8%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
94.7%
of households
Population Growth
+12.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Delaware: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Delaware, the largest foreign-born group is from India (40.7%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
14.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.4%
of households
Married Couples
54.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.57
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 24% above OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Delaware
In Delaware, rent runs 24% above the OH average, and home values are 48% above the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,326
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $413,190 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below OH average
Unemployment in Delaware and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Delaware is 0.5 percentage points lower than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Delaware Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Columbus, OH metro area
Commute25.6 min avg
How Delaware residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Delaware, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 mi
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 133 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 40% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Delaware runs 40% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
196.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
953.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Delaware Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
78.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Delaware County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Delaware County, which includes Delaware, the most common type is winter weather, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $29,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Tornado | $1.1M |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $37,700 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $98,750 |
| 2021 | 12 | Winter Weather | $15,100 |
| 2020 | 22 | Winter Weather | $111,000 |
| 2019 | 18 | Winter Weather | $14,250 |
| 2018 | 12 | Winter Weather | $3,250 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Delaware County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Delaware County, which includes Delaware, is typically good.
Median AQI
40
Delaware County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Delaware has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.6"
Annual Snowfall
24.0"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
114
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 21°F | 2.68" |
| Feb | 39°F | 23°F | 2.29" |
| Mar | 50°F | 31°F | 3.02" |
| Apr | 63°F | 41°F | 3.86" |
| May | 74°F | 52°F | 4.52" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 4.85" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 4.15" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.41" |
| Sep | 78°F | 55°F | 3.20" |
| Oct | 65°F | 44°F | 2.72" |
| Nov | 51°F | 34°F | 2.90" |
| Dec | 40°F | 26°F | 2.88" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Delaware
Delaware has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Grady Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mount Carmel Dublin
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12 mi away · Dublin
Mount Carmel St Ann's
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.3 mi away · Westerville
Dublin Methodist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.6 mi away · Dublin
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Delaware
Delaware's student/teacher ratio is 19.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 47.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
47.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Delaware
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,516 students · in-state tuition $54,953 · 63% graduate · median earnings $61,905 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,157 students · in-state tuition $36,598 · 68% graduate · median earnings $59,196 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 192 students · in-state tuition $22,756 · 60% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, 59 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Delaware
Delaware has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (59 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
59 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
64 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
67 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
96 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Delaware
Delaware County District Library
84 E. Winter St., Delaware
Cities Near Delaware
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Delaware?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Delaware FAQ
Is Delaware, Ohio affordable?⌄
Delaware's median rent is $1,286/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $99,786/year. Median home value is $318,400.
Is Delaware, Ohio safe?⌄
Delaware's violent crime rate was 197 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 954 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Delaware, Ohio?⌄
Delaware has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Delaware, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Delaware is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,286/month and median household income is $99,786/year. The median home value is $318,400. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Delaware, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Delaware is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from