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Overall Rating: 83/100 · 61,454 veterans (8.5% of population)
Reviewed 2026. Programs and exemptions verified against Delaware veterans-affairs and tax-authority sources.
Benefit details verified January 2025. Tax exemptions, caps, and eligibility change and can vary by county — always confirm current figures with your county assessor and your Delaware Department of Veterans Affairs before you rely on them.
Up to $12,500 exempt (age 60+), $2,000 exempt (under 60). Pending legislation for full exemption.
0.55% average effective rate
Full credit on school tax
100%/TDIU: credit covers 100% of school-district tax (the bulk of a DE bill); county/municipal portions remain. 3-yr DE residency. Nothing below 100%.
Source ↗Zero sales tax - Delaware is one of only five states with no state or local sales tax
$72,000
VA Medical Center
1601 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19805
(800) 461-8262
Full-service medical center with emergency department, primary care, mental health, surgery, specialty care
Tuition benefit
All veterans using GI Bill qualify for in-state tuition if living in Delaware
Median Home
$280,000
1BR Rent
$1,000/mo
COL Index
96
Unemployment
3.2%
Major employers: Dover AFB civilian (3,500 jobs), state government, Bayhealth Medical Center
Pros: Most affordable, Dover AFB employment, state capital jobs, VA clinic, military community
Cons: Summer heat/humidity, some high-crime areas
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Buying a home
$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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Delaware grants preference points on state government employment exams: 10 points for veterans with a service-connected disability and 5 points for other eligible veterans. Preference may also be claimed by unmarried widows/widowers or spouses of qualifying veterans.
Official source ↗Resident veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 60% or higher may obtain no-cost hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses from the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife (active-duty members stationed in Delaware also qualify). Applicants submit the Disabled Veterans Exempt Application to Recreational Licensing.
Official source ↗Veterans who honorably served, or who are currently serving, receive a 50% discount on the annual fee for a vehicle entrance pass to Delaware State Parks.
Official source ↗A motor vehicle owned by a veteran who qualifies for VA 'adaptive equipment' benefits is exempt from registration fees, limited to one automobile at a time (per 21 Del.C. Section 2164). VA documentation of eligibility is required.
Official source ↗Veterans with a certified service-connected disability are eligible for the Delaware DAV license plate; a special DAV handicap-parking plate is also available. Application is via DMV Form MV549DAV with VA certification.
Official source ↗Delaware veterans may add a veteran indicator to their driver license or state ID card to document military service status, applied for through DMV Driver Services with proof of service.
Official source ↗A state-operated skilled nursing and specialized dementia-care facility in Milford serving eligible U.S. Armed Forces veterans who meet federal and state skilled-nursing level-of-care requirements. Spouses of veteran residents may also be admitted subject to space availability.
Official source ↗Delaware pays tuition and required fees (up to four years) at a state-supported college for children ages 16-24 of service members who died, are POW, or are MIA. The child must be a Delaware resident for 3 years prior to application, and the parent must have been a Delaware resident at the time of death, capture, or disappearance. Administered by the Delaware Postsecondary Education Commission.
Official source ↗State-employment preference points may be claimed by the unmarried widow, widower, or spouse of an eligible veteran.
Official source ↗Sourced from official state agencies; programs and eligibility change — confirm with your Delaware Department of Veterans Affairs before applying.