Want to live and work in Delaware?

Delaware is one of the few US states with no sales tax. That means the price on the tag is the final price, with no add-on at checkout. Electronics, clothing, and furniture cost less here than in neighboring states, and residents of Maryland and Pennsylvania cross the border to shop.

A one-bedroom apartment in Wilmington rents for about $1,300 to $1,700 per month. In Dover or Newark, $1,100 to $1,500. Small towns in the south have even lower prices. Groceries and electricity are near the national average.

There is a state income tax, and it is progressive, but no local sales tax. Property taxes are among the lowest in the US. Taken together, money goes further here than in neighboring states like New Jersey or New York.

Delaware concentrates much of its employment in finance. Wilmington is home to major banks and credit card companies such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, and Barclays. This came from state banking laws favorable to the financial sector since the 1980s.

The chemical industry has deep historical roots, with DuPont born in Wilmington. Today, DuPont and its spin-offs (Chemours, Corteva) still employ thousands. Pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca and Incyte also have large operations in the state.

Other strong sectors include logistics and warehousing (because of the location between New York and Washington), beach tourism, and agriculture in the south. The University of Delaware and the ChristianaCare hospital system also employ many people. Salaries are good in the financial and chemical sectors and average in others.

The healthcare system follows the American standard: no universal coverage, with private insurance through employment for formal workers. Family premiums run about $1,200 to $1,800, with the employer covering much of it.

ChristianaCare, based in Wilmington and Newark, is the state's main hospital network and ranks among the best regional hospitals in the US. Nemours Children's Hospital is a pediatric reference center. Bayhealth serves the southern part of the state.

Lower-income families may qualify for Medicaid (Delaware Healthy Children Program for children, adult Medicaid for specific income brackets). Documented immigrants have access after a waiting period. Those who arrive without coverage should avoid private emergency rooms, where a visit can exceed $2,000.

Delaware has no international airport. ILG (New Castle Airport) handles private flights and cargo, but for air travel residents use Philadelphia Airport (PHL), about 40 minutes from Wilmington, or Baltimore (BWI) and Washington (DCA, IAD), all 1 to 2 hours by car.

The car is the main mode of transport. Highways I-95 and I-495 cut through the state and connect with Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington in a few hours. For the south, Route 1 leads straight to the beaches. There are DART buses in Wilmington and Newark, but the network is limited.

Amtrak stops at Wilmington station (an important stop on the Northeast Corridor) and runs directly to Philadelphia (30 min), Baltimore (1 hr), Washington DC (1.5 hrs), and New York (2 hrs). SEPTA regional rail also connects Wilmington to Philadelphia, a popular option for those who work there but live here.

Delaware is culturally understated. Life revolves around local events, community festivals, and beach trips in summer. Rehoboth Beach has become a traditional LGBTQ+ destination on the East Coast with a good scene of restaurants, bars, and galleries.

The northern part of the state is heavily influenced by Philadelphia, with the accent, foods (cheesesteak), and sports culture of Philadelphia (Eagles, 76ers, Phillies, Flyers). Wilmington has a theater scene, small museums, and the Grand Opera House. The south is more rural, with agricultural traditions, churches, and county fairs.

Restaurants in Delaware have a strong seafood scene: Chesapeake blue crabs, local oysters, and sweet corn in summer. Classic American food dominates, with some Italian, Mexican, and Indian options in Newark and Wilmington.

Delaware has around 100,000 residents born outside the country, close to 10% of the population. The most visible group is Mexican, concentrated in the south of the state in Sussex County, where they work in poultry plants and food processing in towns like Georgetown, Seaford, and Milford. In the north, Newark and Wilmington host Indian and Chinese communities tied to the University of Delaware, the banking hub, and the chemical-pharmaceutical corridor. Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Haitians round out the picture, with a growing presence in Dover.

The state has no career consulates, so anyone needing a passport or documents turns to Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington D.C. The Latin American Community Center, in Wilmington, offers English classes, legal guidance, and children's programs. La Esperanza, in Georgetown, serves immigrants in the south with an immigration clinic and housing support. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington provides low-cost immigration legal help, and the Delaware Hispanic Commission coordinates public services in Spanish.