The cost of doing business in Delaware is 9.3 percent below the national average, according to Forbes Magazine.

1. Delaware Metro-Area Comparison
Why Delaware
The cost of doing business in Delaware is 9.3 percent below the national average, according to Forbes
Magazine. Delaware does not charge sales or inventory taxes, and offers many tax credit opportuni-
ties. Strategically located between New York and Washington, D.C., Delaware is at the center of the
country's largest consumer market, providing access to markets for a better price point.
Global.Delaware.gov | global@delaware.gov | +1 302 577 8464
820 N. French Street | Wilmington, Delaware
Delaware Department of State
Cost of Business
Wilmington,
DELAWARE
Boston,
MASSACHUSETS
Chicago,
ILLANOIS
Los Angeles,
CALIFORNIA
New York,
NEW YORK
Overall Business Cost Index
(Average = 100)
98.1 101.1 99.1 100.5 103.6
Total Tax Index 82.3 91.9 95 105.1 101.3
Residential (price per kilowatt‐hour) 12.84¢ 14.91 ¢ 9.39 ¢ 16.47 ¢ 18.24 ¢
Commercial (price per kilowatt‐hour) 10.09¢ 13.84 ¢ 7.53 ¢ 12.76 ¢ 14.31 ¢
Industrial (price per kilowatt‐hour) 8.56¢ 12.57 ¢ 5.51 ¢ 9.90 ¢ 5.94 ¢
State Sales Tax None 6.25% 6.25% 7.25% 4.00%
State Corporate Income Tax 8.7 8.00% 9.50% 8.84% 7.10%
Mature Firms (1= lowest) 24 44 45 34 42
New Firms (1= lowest) 16 43 24 45 37
State Individual Income Tax 2.2% to 6.60% 5.30% 5.00% 1% to 13.3% 4% to 8.82%
State Gasoline Tax per Gallon 23¢ 23.50 ¢ 39.10 ¢ 48.70 ¢ 50.60 ¢
Taxable Wage Base $18,500 $14,000 $12,900 $7,000 $8,500
New Employers Tax Rate 2.80% 2.83% 4.35% 3.40% 3.40%
Cost of Living
Wilmington,
DELAWARE
Boston,
MASSACHUSETS
Chicago,
ILLANOIS
Los Angeles,
CALIFORNIA
New York,
NEW YORK
Cost of Living Average $1,000 $1,643 $1,067 $1,672 $1,718
Overall $97.80 $160.70 $103.40 $163.50 $168.00
Food $117.10 $116.50 $103.70 $110.00 $120.50
Housing $69.50 $239.60 $97.40 $280.00 $274.50
Utilities $127.40 $129.00 $106.40 $110.60 $130.60
Transportation $103.50 $108.40 $111.70 $110.70 $111.60
Health $104.90 $126.60 $104.30 $110.90 $109.10
Miscellaneous $111.00 $136.00 $104.50 $105.30 $120.30

2. Delaware Metro-Area Comparison
Global.Delaware.gov | global@delaware.gov | +1 302 577 8464
820 N. French Street | Wilmington, Delaware
Delaware Department of State
Demographics DELAWARE
Boston,
MASSACHUSETS
Chicago,
ILLINOIS
Los Angeles,
CALIFORNIA
New York,
NEW YORK
Population 925,749 4,684,299 9,537,289 13,131,431 19,949,502
Median Age 40.7 38.8 36.2 35.5 37.8
Foreign Born Population 8.30% 16.7% 17.7% 33.9% 29.3%
Earned High School Degree or Higher 87.70% 90.7% 86.8% 78.8% 84.8%
Earned Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.50% 42.9% 34.8% 31.8% 37.0%
Earned Graduate or Professional Degree 19.40% 19.1% 13.4% 11.0% 15.2%
Total Awarded Bachelor's degree or higher 147,590 73,088 82,055 102,951 163,503
Economic Indicators
Wilmington,
DELAWARE
Boston,
MASSACHUSETS
Chicago,
ILLANOIS
Los Angeles,
CALIFORNIA
New York,
NEW YORK
Labor Force 356,696 2,569,687 4,876,210 6,573,369 9,516,070
Unemployment Rate 6.40% 5.9% 8.3% 7.9% 6.6%
Median Hourly Wage $17.94 $22.06 $17.63 $18.31 $20.80
Transportation
Wilmington,
DELAWARE
Boston,
MASSACHUSETS
Chicago,
ILLANOIS
Los Angeles,
CALIFORNIA
New York,
NEW YORK
Metro Area Air Service PHL | BWI BOS ORD LAX JFK | LGA
International non‐stop markets served 38 | 7 31 59 60 97 | 7
Domestic non‐stop markets served 92 | 61 71 152 91 63 | 64
Regional Container Port Service Wilmington, DE Boston, MA Portage, IN Los Angeles, CA New York, NY
Distance to port (miles) 3.2 0 50 0 0
Commercial Real Estate
(cost per square foot)
Wilmington,
DELAWARE
Boston,
MASSACHUSETS
Chicago,
ILLANOIS
Los Angeles,
CALIFORNIA
New York,
NEW YORK
Metro Area Office Class A Rent $18.90 $27.16 $27.18 $32.13 $57.40
Metro Area Office Class B Rent $14.84 $20.74 $21.03 $26.05 $48.62
Total Office Market Inventory 12,395,983 381,975,490 461,823,695 424,744,323 552,186,191
Total Office Market Vacancy Rate 10.7% 9.6% 14.2% 12.3% 8.3%
Industrial Warehouse & Distribution Rent 3.26 $5.28 $4.86 $7.08 $11.05
R&D / Flex Rent 7.45 $9.47 $10.35 $16.47 $19.61
Total Industrial Market Inventory 19,535,846 498,216,645 1,148,884,386 988,169,431 343,875,521
Total Industrial Market Vacancy Rate 5.7 8.9% 8.7% 4.8% 5.2%
Sources:
(1) U.S. Census Bureau 2013 Population Estimates; 2012 American Community Survey; Woods & Poole Economics MSA Profile, 2014. (2) U.S. Census Bureau, 2012
American Community Survey; Metro Atlanta Chamber/Human Capital Research Corp. “Higher Education in America's Metropolitan Areas: A Statistical Profile,
2013.” (3) FORTUNE magazine, May 2013. (4) Metro Atlanta Chamber Research Department; OAG March 2014. (5) Google Maps; Individual Port Websites, 2012. (6)
Competitive Alternatives: KPMG's Guide to International Business Location Costs, 2014; Competitive Alternatives: KPMG's Special Report on Tax, 2012. (7) Energy
Information Administration, 2013 annual averages. (8) The Tax Foundation, 2014. *Gross Receipts taxes are complex business taxes imposed at a low rate but on a
wide base of transactions, resulting in high effective tax rates that can vary by industry. (9) Tax Policy Center, 2013; U.S. Department of Labor Employment and
Training Administration, May 2013. (10) Sperlings best places, Cost of Living Calculator