Delaware County, OH vs Lawrence County, OH: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Lawrence County, OH is cheaper than Delaware County, OH.

Moving to Lawrence County, OH is estimated to save $12,324 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Lawrence County, OHSave about $12,324 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Delaware County, OH is about $38,955 in Lawrence County, OH.

Biggest drivers

Healthcare increases by $296 per year. Housing saves $5,844 per year.

Housing: $5,844 lower in Lawrence County, OH

Taxes: $2,901 lower in Lawrence County, OH

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $296 higher in Lawrence County, OH

Food: $751 lower in Lawrence County, OH

Transport: $1,077 lower in Lawrence County, OH

Delaware County, OHLawrence County, OH
Equivalent salary in Lawrence County, OH
$38,955
-22.09% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Delaware County, OH: $153,705
Median Income in Lawrence County, OH: $66,974
Living Index in Delaware County, OH 36.29%
Living Index in Lawrence County, OH 64.89%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Delaware County, OH to Lawrence County, OH.

* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.

Cost of Living Breakdown by Category

Summary

Moving from Delaware County, OH to Lawrence County, OH is estimated to save $12,324 per year. A $50,000 salary in Delaware County, OH would have similar purchasing power to about $38,955 in Lawrence County, OH. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -22.09% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $5,844 per year lower (-37.34%); Taxes is $2,901 per year lower (-28.14%).

Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.

Why this comparison matters

These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Delaware County, OH and Lawrence County, OH, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Delaware County, OH would need to be about $38,955 in Lawrence County, OH, or $11,045 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 36.3% of median family income in Delaware County, OH and 64.9% in Lawrence County, OH. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $5,844 per year lower in Lawrence County, OH than in Delaware County, OH. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Lawrence County, OH changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $751 per year lower in Lawrence County, OH than in Delaware County, OH. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Lawrence County, OH can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $1,077 per year lower in Lawrence County, OH than in Delaware County, OH. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Lawrence County, OH.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $296 per year higher in Lawrence County, OH than in Delaware County, OH. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Lawrence County, OH changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $2,047 per year lower in Lawrence County, OH than in Delaware County, OH. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Lawrence County, OH help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Delaware County, OH and Lawrence County, OH, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Lawrence County, OH, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $2,901 per year lower in Lawrence County, OH than in Delaware County, OH. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Lawrence County, OH matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.

What changed the most?

The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Lawrence County, OH.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Lawrence County, OH
Annual Increase:

$296 per year

HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Lawrence County, OH.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Lawrence County, OH
Annual Savings:

$5,844 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Lawrence County, OH.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-37% lower
Food-17% lower
Transport-8% lower
Healthcare5% higher
Other Costs-33% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-28% lower

In Lawrence County, OH, modeled annual costs are $43,457 compared with $55,781 in Delaware County, OH.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Lawrence County, OH. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Lawrence County, OH and Delaware County, OH are both metropolitan locations.

Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.

View county cost breakdowns

See county rankings

Compare nearby counties

Cost of living methodology and data sources
Delaware County, OH vs Lawrence County, OH Cost of Living (2026)