Dover, Delaware

City in Kent County · population 39,403 (2020 Census)

Dover is a city of 39,403 people in Kent County, Delaware. The median home is worth $258,900, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks better for cycling than 79% of Delaware towns, more vibrant than 77% of Delaware towns, better transit than 77% of Delaware towns.

How Dover ranks

Percentile among Delaware towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Delaware towns.

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Dover is worth $258,900, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $60,199, which is more affordable than 35% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,344 a month. 46.9% of households own their home.

Who lives in Dover

Weather in Dover

July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 27.6°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.2 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dover since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 4, 2020 about 0.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 11, 1983.

Severe weather in Kent County since 1996

Kent County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.

Jobs and pay in Kent County

Kent County had 71,071 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,464 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Dover itself the ACS puts it at 8%.

Public schools in Dover

21 public schools with 9,283 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.

Towns near Dover

• Highland Acres, DE
  3.1 mi · 3,492 people · home $306,400
• Dover Base Housing, DE
  3.7 mi · 2,810 people · home —
• Rising Sun-Lebanon, DE
  4.3 mi · 4,104 people · home $389,900
• Camden, DE
  4.6 mi · 3,715 people · home $300,100
• Woodside East, DE
  6.5 mi · 2,570 people · home $330,700
• Clayton, DE
  9.8 mi · 3,961 people · home $361,300
• Smyrna, DE
  10.4 mi · 12,883 people · home $291,400
• Harrington, DE
  16.4 mi · 3,774 people · home $221,900

Dover questions