Delware, as a whole, is the ninth richest state in the country. With proximity to large cities for urban jobs and relatively low housing costs in the state’s many small towns, it’s easy to see why many people choose Delaware as a financially sound place to live. However, despite Delaware’s low tax rates and relatively low cost of living (higher than Virginia’s, but lower than neighboring Maryland and New Jersey), there are still some cities where expenses and salaries don’t quite even out. Below is a list of the ten poorest cities in Delaware, ranked by percentage of the population living below poverty level. You can find the data used to create this list here. Do any of these surprise you?
- Laurel
Flickr / Jimmy Emerson, DVM 14.5% of Laurel’s residents fall below the poverty line, though you wouldn’t know it if you walked through this charming river town.
- Ellendale
Wikimedia Commons / Superman7515 Just under 15% of Ellendale’s residents live below the poverty line, but that doesn’t stop them from enjoying the amenities and hometown restaurants and pubs that the town offers. If you want to see a sense of community in the First State, spend some time in this small town.
- Delaware City
Flickr / Bern Rostad 15% of Delaware City’s 1600+ year-round residents live below the poverty line, but the city itself has been focused on major development projects and is trying to improve life within its limits.
- Saint Georges
Facebook / Cafe At St. George’s County Store Delaware’s smallest towns seem to have it rough in the current economic climate - at least, 17% of Hartley’s population would agree.
- Harrington
Flickr / Jon Wilde Though Harrington is bustling and propserous as a town during the State Fair, year round, the picture is not so complete. 18% of Harrington’s residents live below the poverty line.
- Hartley
Town of Hartley Hartley is Delaware’s tiniest community, and it was recently at risk of dissolving. It has no government, but plenty of town spirit, particularly around the holidays. Though it is a prideful, historic community, almost 19% of its residents live below the poverty line.
- Kenton
Google Maps Kenton is another tiny Delaware town in the Dover metropolitan area, and it falls just below Seaford with 20% of its residents living below the poverty line.
- Seaford
Flickr / Lee Cannon Seaford is the largest town on our list, but of the 21,000+ residents, 21% live below the poverty line.
- Port Penn
Flickr / Doug Kerr Tiny Port Penn has fewer than 200 residents, but about 22% of those who do live there, live below the poverty line.
- Bridgeville
Flickr / Eric B. Walker Despite being a major manufacturing and agriculture hub, Bridgeville itself is the poorest city in Delaware, with just about 25% of its 6,000+ residents living below the poverty line.
Now, it’s true that money does not buy happiness, and some of the poorest cities in Delaware have made our lists of the happiest places in Delaware, safest places in Delaware, and even our list of small towns in Delaware with amazing restaurants.
Flickr / Jimmy Emerson, DVM
14.5% of Laurel’s residents fall below the poverty line, though you wouldn’t know it if you walked through this charming river town.
Wikimedia Commons / Superman7515
Just under 15% of Ellendale’s residents live below the poverty line, but that doesn’t stop them from enjoying the amenities and hometown restaurants and pubs that the town offers. If you want to see a sense of community in the First State, spend some time in this small town.
Flickr / Bern Rostad
15% of Delaware City’s 1600+ year-round residents live below the poverty line, but the city itself has been focused on major development projects and is trying to improve life within its limits.
Facebook / Cafe At St. George’s County Store
Delaware’s smallest towns seem to have it rough in the current economic climate - at least, 17% of Hartley’s population would agree.
Flickr / Jon Wilde
Though Harrington is bustling and propserous as a town during the State Fair, year round, the picture is not so complete. 18% of Harrington’s residents live below the poverty line.
Town of Hartley
Hartley is Delaware’s tiniest community, and it was recently at risk of dissolving. It has no government, but plenty of town spirit, particularly around the holidays. Though it is a prideful, historic community, almost 19% of its residents live below the poverty line.
Google Maps
Kenton is another tiny Delaware town in the Dover metropolitan area, and it falls just below Seaford with 20% of its residents living below the poverty line.
Flickr / Lee Cannon
Seaford is the largest town on our list, but of the 21,000+ residents, 21% live below the poverty line.
Flickr / Doug Kerr
Tiny Port Penn has fewer than 200 residents, but about 22% of those who do live there, live below the poverty line.
Flickr / Eric B. Walker
Despite being a major manufacturing and agriculture hub, Bridgeville itself is the poorest city in Delaware, with just about 25% of its 6,000+ residents living below the poverty line.
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