Best Cities for Small Business in Delaware
Delaware ranks #21 of 50 for small business, with a small business score of 59.5. North Star is its best city for small business at 83.4.
- Delaware, all states
- #21 of 50
- Population
- 7,834
Delaware for Small Business: The Full Picture
Delaware ranks #21 out of 50 for small business owners and entrepreneurs, with a mixed set of conditions for entrepreneurs. The state's fiscal health score of 67/100 signals a well-managed state government with sustainable finances — the kind of stability that benefits long-term business planning.
Tax policy directly impacts the bottom line. Delaware's overall tax burden is 6.52% of income, with a 7.85% income tax rate that applies to both personal and pass-through business income. The absence of a sales tax simplifies retail operations. The economic environment (score: 41/100) with 4.8% unemployment shows healthy labor availability.
Population growth of 0.94% is a tailwind — a growing customer base and expanding labor pool benefit most small businesses. Workforce quality may require investment in training — the education score of 45/100 suggests gaps in preparation. A typical home value of $406,074 is expensive enough that employee compensation expectations may be higher.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Small Business
| # City | Grade | Small Business score | Overall | Household finances | Economy | Growth | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1North Star | A+ | 83.4 | 72.3 | 99 | 100 | — | 7,834 |
| 2Hockessin | A+ | 83.3 | 72.1 | 100 | 100 | — | 13,439 |
| 3Pike Creek | A+ | 79.1 | 68.8 | 96 | 91 | — | 7,129 |
| 4Middletown | A | 64.3 | 64.5 | 74 | 67 | 50 | 24,661 |
| 5Glasgow | B | 64.2 | 58.5 | 75 | 69 | — | 15,546 |
| 6Pike Creek Valley | B+ | 63.5 | 60.8 | 73 | 59 | — | 12,431 |
| 7Bear | C+ | 57.0 | 54.1 | 64 | 49 | — | 22,370 |
| 8Millsboro | C+ | 54.2 | 55.7 | 59 | 38 | 59 | 7,424 |
| 9Milford | C | 51.7 | 51.9 | 34 | 21 | 94 | 12,803 |
| 10Wilmington Manor | C+ | 51.2 | 52.9 | 53 | 38 | — | 8,214 |
| 11Claymont | C+ | 50.4 | 53.3 | 54 | 35 | — | 8,786 |
| 12Brookside | C | 47.5 | 49.9 | 47 | 38 | — | 15,115 |
| 13Dover | D | 44.4 | 44.9 | 39 | 32 | 40 | 39,837 |
| 14Newark | C+ | 44.3 | 55.6 | 23 | 42 | 33 | 30,330 |
| 15Smyrna | D | 42.9 | 47.6 | 46 | 28 | 29 | 13,165 |
| 16Wilmington | D | 42.9 | 46.9 | 26 | 32 | 38 | 71,727 |
| 17Seaford | D | 41.8 | 46.2 | 29 | 17 | 57 | 8,485 |
| 18Georgetown | D | 40.2 | 42.8 | 31 | 13 | 57 | 7,660 |
| 19Edgemoor | D | 38.8 | 46.9 | 34 | 21 | — | 6,349 |
| 20Elsmere | C | 37.9 | 50.6 | 27 | 29 | 23 | 6,203 |
City small business scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.
Compare: States with Similar Small Business Rankings
Also See: Delaware for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Delaware a good state for small business?
Delaware ranks #21 out of 50 for small business with a persona-weighted score of 59.5/100. Its strongest relevant category is Fiscal Health (67/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (24/100).
What is the best city for small business in Delaware?
North Star ranks #1 in Delaware for small business with a score of 83.4/100, followed by Hockessin and Pike Creek.
What factors are most important for small business in Delaware?
Rankings weighted toward business-friendly tax climate, strong economy, population growth, workforce quality, and transportation infrastructure — what matters when starting or running a small business.