C+
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
17%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Brookside Delaware National
Cost of living108108100
Goods & Services106104100
Groceries106102100
Health care107103100
Housing117121100
Transportation108102100
Utilities9298100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Brookside, DE

Knowing the cost of living in Brookside allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Brookside stands at 108, marking it 8% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Brookside is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

Is Brookside Affordable?

Is Brookside affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Brookside, for instance, where the median home price falls 11.3% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 31.3% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Brookside flaunting a median household income of $58,728, 6.2% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Brookside?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Brookside, the utilities index registers 8.2% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Brookside, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 0%, and income tax rates kick off at 0%.

Where is the Data From?

The Brookside cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Brookside is equal to the Delaware average
  • The cost of living in Brookside is 8% higher than the national average
  • Brookside housing is 17% higher than the national average
  • Delaware general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • Delaware state income tax is 15% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Brookside

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Compare Brookside, DE Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$69,770$5,814$1,628$2,093
      Renters$49,250$4,104$1,149$1,478
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Brookside, DE, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Brookside, homeowners have a median income of $69,770. Using that number, a maximum of $1,628 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $49,250, which means there is a maximum of $1,149 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Delaware Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Delaware 0% 0%

      Delaware Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Delaware 2.2% 6.6%

      Goods & Services

      Item Brookside National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.14$24.2624.2%
      Beauty Salon $47.42$45.564.1%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.4%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.2810.4%
      Movie $12.71$12.134.7%
      Bowling $19.50$18.008.3%

      Groceries

      Item Brookside National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.73$5.841.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.52$1.573.6%
      Milk $4.81$4.673.0%
      Potatoes $5.40$4.939.5%
      Pizza $11.33$12.096.2%
      Beer $11.96$10.4114.8%

      Health Care

      Item Brookside National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $113.67$125.689.6%
      Doctor $149.53$135.7810.1%
      Dentist $132.28$113.2916.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.94$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $438.67$468.606.4%

      Housing

      Item Brookside National avg. Difference
      Home Price $205,500.00$184,700.0011.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,192.51$2,346.696.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,246.00$949.0031.3%

      Transportation

      Item Brookside National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.50$3.461.0%
      Tire Balancing $74.86$59.9224.9%

      Utilities

      Item Brookside National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $173.73$193.9910.4%
      Phone $182.79$192.254.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lincoln University, PA1,8431044.4%
      Salem, NJ4,7618812.4%
      Penns Grove, NJ4,793982.4%
      Carneys Point, NJ7,302991.3%
      Pennsville, NJ11,9681000.3%
      Brookside, DE13,7411088.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lincoln, IL13,7428316.8%
      Maumee, OH13,742954.6%
      Chaparral, NM13,7448217.5%
      Grimes, IA13,7461000.4%
      Blytheville, AR13,7358020.0%
      Brookside, DE13,7411088.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.