City Comparison
Georgetown vs Smyrna
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Georgetown scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Georgetown
Smyrna
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Georgetown is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
9% lower than in Smyrna.
Housing costs are a major driver: Georgetown's average rent is
17% lower than Smyrna's.
| Metric | Georgetown | Smyrna | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,450 | $1,750 | -17% |
| Groceries | $410 | $420 | -2% |
| Utilities | $175 | $190 | -8% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $150 | +60% |
| Monthly Total | $2,390 | $2,630 | -9% |
| Cost Index | 96 | 99 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Georgetown offers 10% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Georgetown delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Georgetown is estimated at
$52,000 vs $57,912 in Smyrna.
| Metric | Georgetown | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $52,722 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $57,912 |
| Purchasing Power | 60,417 idx | 53,255 idx |
| Household Income | $54,200 | $67,048 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Georgetown runs warmer on average — a 56.6°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Georgetown comes out ahead with 248 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Georgetown sees 19.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Georgetown | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.60°F | °F |
| Summer High | 82.20°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 27.60°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 51.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 19.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 248 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Georgetown has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,500 minutes (75 hours) per year compared to Smyrna.
Georgetown scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Georgetown leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Georgetown | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 33 min |
| Transit Score | 38.0/100 | 25.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Smyrna is the larger city
— approximately 0.6x the population of Georgetown.
From a growth perspective, Smyrna is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Georgetown has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Georgetown | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,442 | 13,936 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.10% | 2.90% |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 34.3 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Georgetown
Advantages
Median home prices in Georgetown are notably lower than those in nearby coastal Delaware beach towns.
Delaware's favorable tax structure includes no state sales tax and relatively low property taxes.
The town's central location in Sussex County provides easy driving access to both inland farmlands and Atlantic beaches.
Georgetown retains a rich historic charm, centered around its unique federal-style circle and historic courthouse.
The community offers a peaceful, family-oriented atmosphere with lower crime rates than major urban centers.
Drawbacks
Public transportation options are severely limited, making car ownership an absolute necessity.
Summer traffic congestion along major routes like US-113 increases significantly due to beach-bound tourists.
Job opportunities within the immediate town limits can be somewhat limited outside of government and agriculture.
Local rental housing inventory can be tight, driven by steady regional population growth.
A lack of extensive nightlife and entertainment options within the town requires traveling to larger neighboring cities.
Smyrna
Advantages
Smyrna is one of the fastest-growing communities in Delaware, indicating strong development and opportunity.
The cost of living in Smyrna is generally lower than the national average, particularly for housing.
The town boasts a quality school district, making it attractive for families.
Smyrna's strategic location provides convenient access to larger job markets in Dover and Wilmington.
The town offers a strong community-focused lifestyle with a walkable downtown and local events.
Drawbacks
Smyrna has a higher crime rate compared to both national and statewide averages, with a worsening crime trajectory.
The town exhibits high car dependency due to a Walk Score of 0.
The average commute time of 33.4 minutes is higher than the national average.
Public transportation options, while available, may have limited frequency and coverage.
Despite growth, the town itself has limited economic opportunities, requiring commutes for many jobs.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Georgetown
#341Delaware, USA
60.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
96
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
248/yr
Avg Temp
56.60°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
73
Business
67
Smyrna
#533Delaware, USA
49.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$52,722
Cost Index
99
Commute
33 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.90%
Unemployment
4.60%
Livability
68
Business
72
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