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CITY

Dover

Delaware · 40,592 residents (2025 est.) · 23.817 sq mi
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The short version

Dover has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,199. Population has grown 24% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $258,900. At a median age of 34.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 29% less than the Delaware median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
39,837
+24%since 2000
from 32,135 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,673 / sq mi
+24%since 2000
from 1,349 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.7
+5%since 2000
from 32.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:40,592 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
26K30K34K37K41K1990201020202024Dover
202440K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,199
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,669 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,743
+63%since 2000
from $19,445 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.7%
+14.4 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.418
−2%since 2010
from 0.427 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade7.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$258,900
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $107,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,344
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $599 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
46.9%
−5.4 ptssince 2000
from 52.3% in 2000
53.1% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
28.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 30.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.2%
+12.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.3
+54%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
23
RELATED:See current rent listings in Dover on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic53.3%(17,123)
Black36.6%(11,776)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(1,327)
Asian3.1%(1,001)
Other0%
Diversity Score69.3%(22,265)
2024
White, non-Hispanic34.1%(13,574)
Black44.8%(17,831)
Hispanic / Latino10.7%(4,280)
Asian2.9%(1,168)
Other7.5%(2,984)
Diversity Score83.2%(33,141)
Diversity Score
83
+20%since 2000
from 69 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 28.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 83.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.9 min
+57%since 2000
from 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.8%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 78.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.0%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 61.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.6%
−35.3 ptssince 2009
from 69.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Female
54.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Foreign born
10.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.3%
−34.2 ptssince 2009
from 43.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.7%
+3.9 ptssince 2012
from 13.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−85.9 ptssince 2013
from 93.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.3%
+9.0 ptssince 2017
from 82.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2016
from 88.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Dover to nearby cities

DOVER VS
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Income$67,048+11%
Home value$291,400+13%
Population13,340−67%
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DOVER VS
Milford
Income$59,464−1%
Home value$296,900+15%
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DOVER VS
Middletown
Income$112,831+87%
Home value$409,600+58%
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DOVER VS
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Income$55,781−7%
Home value$145,500−44%
Population28,307−30%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Dover, Delaware?

Dover, Delaware has about 39,837 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Dover, Delaware?

The typical household in Dover, Delaware earns about $60,199 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Dover, Delaware expensive?

In Dover, Delaware, the median home is worth about $258,900, and the typical rent is about $1,344 a month.

How educated are people in Dover, Delaware?

About 26.7% of adults age 25 and over in Dover, Delaware hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Dover, Delaware?

About 15.0% of people in Dover, Delaware live below the federal poverty line.

Has Dover, Delaware grown since 1990?

Yes, Dover, Delaware has grown since 1990. The population has added about 12,308 residents, a change of about 45 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Dover, Delaware: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy