Townsend, DE vs North Wales, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

North Wales, PA has a modeled overall cost index 5.0% lower than Townsend, DE.

Townsend, DE · modeled 2BR rent
$1,900 / month
North Wales, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$2,160 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Townsend, DE and North Wales, PA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $549/month in North Wales, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,410 in North Wales, PA

Regional cost estimates: Townsend, DE uses Baltimore, MD. North Wales, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 5.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$549
Savings
Annual Impact
$6.6K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Townsend, DE

Population:3K
Cost Index:
92.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$479K

North Wales, PA

Population:3K
Cost Index:
87.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$514K

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Townsend, DE

The First State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Delaware, this city has a population of 3K residents.

North Wales, PA

The Keystone State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Townsend, DE vs North Wales, PA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 26.2%
Townsend, DE
$2,523
North Wales, PA
$1,863
Difference
$660
less
Other
↑ 3.4%
Townsend, DE
$1,535
North Wales, PA
$1,588
Difference
$52.95
more
Transportation
↑ 2.5%
Townsend, DE
$1,240
North Wales, PA
$1,271
Difference
$31.03
more
Healthcare
↑ 2.9%
Townsend, DE
$567
North Wales, PA
$584
Difference
$16.58
more
Groceries
↑ 1.1%
Townsend, DE
$1,049
North Wales, PA
$1,062
Difference
$12.02
more
All Utilities
↓ 0.2%
Townsend, DE
$584
North Wales, PA
$583
Difference
$1.33
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,470
To$1,670
↑ $200
1 Bed
From$1,600
To$1,810
↑ $210
2 Bed
From$1,900
To$2,160
↑ $260
3 Bed
From$2,280
To$2,590
↑ $310
Townsend, DEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,600–$1,600/mo

North Wales, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,810–$1,810/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Townsend, DE
$6,951
Monthly in North Wales, PA
$549
Difference

Home Values

Townsend
North Wales
$479K
Median Value
$514K
↑ +4.6%
YoY Change
↑ +0.4%
↑ +37.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.3%

Homes in North Wales are 7% more expensive than Townsend

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $4.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$357
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.9%
Rate difference

Townsend, DE

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Delaware State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,675/month
$104.1K

North Wales, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

Townsend, DE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%
Property Tax:0.6%

North Wales, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Townsend
North Wales
45 Good
Air Quality
52 Moderate
65.6%
Good Air Days
47.3%
95 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
30 days
Heat Days >95°F
22 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
30 days
Heat Days >95°F
22 days

Before moving from Townsend, DE to North Wales, PA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in North Wales, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Townsend, DE. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Townsend to North Wales moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to North Wales, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Townsend, DE vs North Wales, PA

How do the cost estimates for Townsend, DE and North Wales, PA compare?

North Wales, PA has a modeled overall cost index 5.0% lower than Townsend, DE. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Townsend, DE, the model estimates $143,410 in North Wales, PA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Townsend, DE and North Wales, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,900/month in Townsend, DE and $2,160/month in North Wales, PA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Delaware and Pennsylvania on TaxTakeHome.com

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