Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Dover, DE

    Is Dover a good place to live?

    Watch Dover

    Dover ranks #3 of 3 Delaware cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (38/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $248,500
    +11.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,252
    per month
    Household income
    $58,336
    median
    Unemployment
    7.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Dover

    The median home value in Dover is $248,500 and median rent is $1,252 a month, against a median household income of $58,336. Homes cost about 4.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Dover crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Delaware the 2025 rate was 352 violent and 1,582 property crimes per 100,000 people — #19 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Dover, DE

    Dover has about 39,491 residents, 7.9% unemployment and 16% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Dover with

    Dover vs WilmingtonDover vs Newark

    More: Where to move in Delaware · Best counties in Delaware

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report