What it's like to live in Dover
Dover is a small city in Delaware with home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Dover deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and hospital ratings below the national average.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Dover compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Dover
Based on Dover's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,688
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $53,760 a year
- 57% of Dover renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$51,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,890
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,344/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,344 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $258,900. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $258,900 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 49% above US
6.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 6.4%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 157% above US
847 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 5801/100k · Dover Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 26% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
17 public schools inside the boundary
There are 17 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is First State National Historical Park (46 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Dover's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,344/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Dover
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