The Town FilesDover, Florida
Community in Hillsborough County · population 3,266 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $248,600
- Household income
- $49,693
- Jan low / Jul high
- 50° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 47
- Median age
- 38.0
Dover is a community of 3,266 people in Hillsborough County, Florida. The median home is worth $248,600, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Florida towns, more of a college town than 88% of Florida towns, better for families than 74% of Florida towns.
How Dover ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dover is worth $248,600, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $49,693, which is more affordable than 38% of Florida towns. Median rent is $862 a month. 54.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dover | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $248,600 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $862 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $49,693 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 54.6% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Dover
| People | Dover | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.5% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 25.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 34.5 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in Dover
July highs average 93.8°F and January lows 50.0°F. About 56.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 111 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 3 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dover since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1966 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 115 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 8, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 24, 2023.
Severe weather in Hillsborough County since 1996
Hillsborough County has been included in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County had 789,442 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,256 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Dover itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Dover
6 public schools with 5,486 students, about 18.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,531 | 23.9 |
| INDEPENDENCE ACADEMY (charter) | K-8 | 907 | 19.7 |
| BAILEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 760 | 16.9 |
| NELSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 683 | 15.9 |
| DOVER ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 550 | 15.3 |
| WILLIS PETERS EXCEPTIONAL CENTER | PK-12 | 55 | 3.9 |
Towns near Dover
- Seffner, FL2.8 mi · 8,362 people · home $344,100
- Mango, FL4.7 mi · 12,699 people · home $256,600
- Valrico, FL4.7 mi · 37,895 people · home $393,700
- Brandon, FL5.4 mi · 114,626 people · home $339,000
- Thonotosassa, FL5.7 mi · 15,238 people · home $312,300
- Plant City, FL7.2 mi · 39,764 people · home $291,800
- Bloomingdale, FL7.8 mi · 22,947 people · home $414,700
- East Lake-Orient Park, FL8.2 mi · 28,050 people · home $233,200
Dover questions
Is Dover, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dover scores better for retirees than 23% of Florida towns and quieter than 41%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Dover?
The median owner-occupied home in Dover is valued at $248,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,693, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $862 a month.
What is the weather like in Dover?
July highs average 93.8°F and January lows 50.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Dover get tornadoes?
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dover since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 4, 1966. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)