Median Income
$67,987
household / year
Median Home Value
$316,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,698
gross / month
Cost of Living
112
national avg = 100

Is Dover, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Dover is a small city of 18,426 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $67,987 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Dover stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, 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: 112.5

Dover's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dover costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric Dover, NJ National Avg
Median Home Value $316,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,698 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 44.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $67,987 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Dover's violent crime rate is 222.9 per 100,000 residents — 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
222.9 /100k
Property Crime
870.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Dover is served primarily by Dover Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Dover, NJ National Avg
School District Dover Public School District —
Elementary Schools 3 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 12.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 74.0% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dover sees average highs of 37.6°F in January and 85.4°F in July, with 52.2 inches of annual precipitation and 28.1 inches of snow per year.

MetricDover, NJ
Average High — January37.6°F
Average High — July85.4°F
Annual Precipitation52.2"
Annual Snowfall28.1"

Demographics

MetricDover, NJNational Avg
Population18,426—
Median Age39.438.9
Unemployment Rate6.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time26.9 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)35.4%59.3%
Black or African American8.9%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino53.0%18.9%
Asian1.9%6.3%
Under 1822.0%22.2%
65 and over13.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Victory Gardens, NJ 1 mi Wharton, NJ 1 mi Rockaway, NJ 2 mi Mount Hope, NJ 2 mi Kenvil, NJ 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Dover

Dover, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

07801

Dover vs Other Cities

Dover, NJ vs Victory Gardens, NJ Dover, NJ vs Wharton, NJ Dover, NJ vs Rockaway, NJ Dover, NJ vs Mount Hope, NJ Dover, NJ vs Kenvil, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Dover's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Dover roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $316,900 and median rent is $1,698/month.
Dover's violent crime rate is 222.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 870.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dover are operated by Dover Public School District. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dover, NJ has a population of 18,426, a median household income of $67,987, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Dover averages 37.6°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.2 inches with about 28.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dover, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 07801.
The population of Dover, New Jersey is 18,426 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dover: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $316,900, median household income $67,987, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.