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Delaware city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Dover?

What it costs to live in Dover, and how it compares with other Delaware cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

32

4th best value in Delaware

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Delaware cities.

Overall livability

42

4th overall in Delaware

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Dover is home to about 38,940 people. A typical home runs $197,600 and a household earns around $51,100, a price-to-income ratio of 3.9. Among Delaware's cities, it ranks 4th for value and 4th overall.

Dover at a glance

Median home price

$197,600

5th in DE of 6

Median rent

$1,092/mo

Median household income

$51,100

Home price to income

3.9x

Unemployment

6.7%

1st in DE of 6

School rating

3/10

5th in DE of 6

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in DE of 6

Walk score

3/100

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‹ See all top Delaware cities ranked  ยท  Delaware state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Delaware only. Updated 2026.