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City Housing Verdict

Millsboro, DE

High Pressure

The cost of living in Millsboro, DE is 8% above the national average (Cost Index: 108). Homes here are typically valued around $391,354, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $77,750 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Millsboro already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 19% rent burden, 5x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 129. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Millsboro.

Monthly Housing
$1,207/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
19%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$4,772/mo
After housing and debt · $1,591/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 26%
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Cost Index
108
Average
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$391,354
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $297,000
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,207/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$77,750
National: $78,538
Population
7,152
Purchasing Power
92
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
129 / 100
29% above average
Rent Index
90 / 100
10% below average
Goods & Groceries
97 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
103 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
108
Average

Millsboro Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $391,354 and Delaware's property tax rate of 0.57%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$77,750
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
19%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
5x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Millsboro looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Millsboro, DE

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,231
Monthly Impact
$186
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.57%
National avg: ~1.00%

Delaware Place Tax Context

Tax TypeDelawareNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.57%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate6.6%~5.0%
State Sales TaxNo Sales Tax~5.0%

Compare Millsboro to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Millsboro, DE
108
90
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Millsboro, DE: 129
Rent Prices
90

FAQ: Living in Millsboro

What is the cost of living like in Millsboro, DE?+

Living costs in Millsboro land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 108 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $391,354, and typical monthly rents run around $1,207. Groceries and utilities are in line with what you would find in most US cities.

How does Millsboro fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,207, while local median household income is $77,750. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 19% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Millsboro, DE?+

Delaware has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 6.6%. The effective property tax rate is 0.57%. On a home worth $391,354, that translates to roughly $2,231 per year in property taxes. There is no state sales tax.

How much does it cost to rent in Millsboro, DE?+

The typical monthly rent in Millsboro is around $1,207. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $391,354, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Millsboro, DE?+

The median home in Millsboro is valued at $391,354. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,979/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 68% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Millsboro?+

Grocery prices in Millsboro are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 97, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 103). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Millsboro, DE like to live in?+

Millsboro is a small town with a population of about 7,152. The median age of residents is 41.4, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 9.59%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Delaware

If Millsboro feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Delaware

Use these city pages when you want to compare Millsboro against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly