What are the schools like in Dover, DE?

Dover is served primarily by Capital School District. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.6:1.

What is the median household income in Dover?

The median household income in Dover, DE is $54,438 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.7%.

What is the weather like in Dover, DE?

Dover has an average high temperature of 44.4°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 13.2 inches.

Dover, DE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dover, DE affordable or expensive?

Dover's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dover is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $222,800 and the median rent is $1,165 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dover, DE?

Dover has a violent crime rate of 1012.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 6069.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dover, DE a Good Place to Live?

Dover is a small city of 38,879 in Delaware, with a median household income of $54,438 and a 8.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Dover stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Dover is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dover city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.7

Dover's overall cost of living index is 91.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dover costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dover, DE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$222,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,165	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,438	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Dover's violent crime rate is 1012.8 per 100,000 residents — 167% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1012.8 /100k

Property Crime

6069.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Dover is served primarily by Capital School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dover, DE	National Avg
School District	Capital School District	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dover sees average highs of 44.4°F in January and 86.9°F in July, with 47.6 inches of annual precipitation and 13.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dover, DE
Average High — January	44.4°F
Average High — July	86.9°F
Annual Precipitation	47.6"
Annual Snowfall	13.2"

Demographics

Metric	Dover, DE	National Avg
Population	38,879	—
Median Age	34.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	41.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	42.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.0%	18.9%
Asian	3.2%	6.3%
Under 18	19.6%	22.2%
65 and over	17.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kent Acres, DE 2 mi Rodney Village, DE 2 mi Highland Acres, DE 3 mi Dover Base Housing, DE 4 mi Little Creek, DE 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Dover

Dover, DE is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

19901 19904 19902

Dover vs Other Cities

Dover, DE vs Kent Acres, DE Dover, DE vs Rodney Village, DE Dover, DE vs Highland Acres, DE Dover, DE vs Dover Base Housing, DE Dover, DE vs Little Creek, DE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dover, DE affordable or expensive?

Dover's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dover roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $222,800 and median rent is $1,165/month.

What is the crime rate in Dover, DE?

Dover's violent crime rate is 1012.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 6069.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dover?

Public schools in Dover are operated by Capital School District. The district has 7 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.6:1. 26.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dover, DE a good place to live?

Dover, DE has a population of 38,879, a median household income of $54,438, and an unemployment rate of 8.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Dover?

Dover averages 44.4°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.6 inches with about 13.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dover?

Dover, DE is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 19901, 19904, 19902.

What is the population of Dover?

The population of Dover, Delaware is 38,879 with a median age of 34.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dover?

Key numbers for living in Dover: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $222,800, median household income $54,438, crime index 276 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dover side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.