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Housing Costs After Divorce in Delaware

Last reviewed: March 2026

Quick summary

The median home in Delaware is valued at $330,000. Keeping that home on a single income costs approximately $2,108/month (mortgage + taxes + insurance + maintenance). Renting a comparable home actually costs more in Delaware — about $420,968/month more.

Monthly carrying costs in Delaware

Here is what it costs to keep the median-priced home in Delaware ($330,000) on a single income. These figures assume a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.09%.

ExpenseMonthlyAnnual
Mortgage (80% LTV, 30yr fixed)$1,598$19,177
Property taxes (0.56%)$154$1,848
Homeowners insurance$81$976
Maintenance (1% rule)$275$3,300
Total carrying cost$2,108$25,301

Can you afford to keep it?

Financial advisors generally recommend keeping housing costs below 28–35% of gross income. Here is what you would need to earn to keep the median Delaware home:

ThresholdMonthly income neededAnnual income needed
Conservative (28%)$7,530$90,362
Moderate (35%)$6,024$72,290

Delaware insurance costs

Homeowners insurance in Delaware averages $976/year ($81/month). This is well below the national average of $3,548/year, making insurance one of the cheaper components of housing costs in Delaware.

Keep vs. sell: the numbers

Renting a comparable home in Delaware costs approximately $423,077/month (based on a price-to-rent ratio of 0.1). Owning is actually cheaper than renting by about $420,968/month in Delaware.

If you sell, closing costs in Delaware average 5.80% of the sale price ($19,140 on a $330,000 home). This includes transfer taxes, title insurance, recording fees, and agent commissions. Delaware has some of the highest closing costs in the country.

Property division in Delaware

Delaware is an equitable distribution state. This means the court divides marital property based on what it considers fair, which may not be 50/50. The house is typically the largest marital asset, so how it is handled significantly affects the overall settlement.

Can you actually afford to keep your Delaware home?

Enter your real numbers — mortgage balance, income, expenses — and see a year-by-year projection of whether keeping the house is sustainable on your single income.

Pro models your after-tax cash flow year-by-year with Delaware-specific property taxes, insurance, and housing costs.

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Related resources
Delaware Housing CalculatorDelaware Divorce Settlement GuideDelaware Settlement Calculator→ 5 Hidden Costs of Keeping the House After Divorce→ Keeping the House vs. Selling: Which Is Smarter?
Data sources: Median home values from U.S. Census Bureau / ACS. Property tax rates from Tax Foundation. Homeowners insurance from MoneyGeek (2026 HO-3 rates). Closing costs compiled from LodeStar 2025, Casaplorer, and Kredium. Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac PMMS (6.09% as of Feb 2026). Maintenance estimated at 1% of home value per year.
Disclaimer: These calculations use state-level medians and averages. Your actual costs depend on your specific home value, mortgage terms, location within the state, and insurance coverage. This is not financial advice. Consult a financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

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From uncertainty to clarity in 3 steps

No account required. No credit card. Just your numbers.

01

Enter your numbers

Settlement amount, income, expenses, alimony, house — takes about 2 minutes. Everything runs privately in your browser.

02

See the projection

Get a year-by-year chart showing your net worth from now through age 100. Green, yellow, or red — you'll know where you stand instantly.

03

Model & export

Test different settlement terms to find which saves you the most money, compare offers side-by-side, and export a report for your attorney.

Built on objective, deterministic financial models

Every projection is deterministic — same inputs always produce the same outputs. Results are estimates based on the assumptions you provide.

Deterministic Math EnginePublished Tax & Actuarial DataEducational Tool Only
Free to explore

See what a Pro analysis looks like

We built a complete Pro analysis for a fictional person named Sarah. Explore every section — charts, what-if scenarios, risk timeline, negotiation leverage — so you can see what’s included before running your own numbers.

View Sample AnalysisNo sign-up required

You don’t need a $5,000 CDFA retainer to understand your own numbers

Start with the free projection. If the numbers raise questions you can’t answer, upgrade to Pro for $19 — one-time, no subscription — and discover which settlement terms could save you thousands.

Free
$0
Year-by-year projection
MOST POPULAR
Pro · 30 Days
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$89
Cover your full negotiation timeline
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Not financial or legal advice. DivorceSmart is an educational planning tool. Always consult a qualified attorney and financial advisor before making settlement decisions.