Dover, DE


9 Reviews



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Dover, DE

About Dover, DE

Dover, Delaware is located in Kent County providing its citizens access to top rated schools such as Dover High School while also having shopping options near Dover Mall as well as multiple food spots including Buffalo Wild Wings Small capital city - Central Delaware, 5 miles inland from the Delaware Bay.

State: Delaware
County: Kent County
Metro Area: Dover Metro Area
City: Dover
Zip Codes: 19901 19904 19902
Cost of Living:
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Elevation: 74 ft above sea level

Dover is one of those pleasant “small city” capitals, with a stable economic base and a rich history. The setting in a flat, mostly agricultural area is idyllic without being too far removed from larger northeastern cities. The nearby Delaware Bay and its beaches and wildlife areas provide ample recreational opportunities. The Dover International Speedway (NASCAR) and the Dover Downs harness racecourse add to entertainment options. Aside from the state government, Dover Air Force Base is a major employer, as is rubber and plastic apparel manufacturer Playtex.

The area is growing as people mainly from more crowded East Coast cities seek a slower and less expensive pace of life. Cost of living is attractive, and the Delaware tax climate is favorable especially for the East. However, there is a high violent crime rate, and educational attainment is not as strong as seen in other capital cities.

Dover lies in a flat plain separated from the Delaware Bay but has areas of level marshland. To the west and south are areas of level to gently rolling terrain used mostly for agriculture and dairy farming. The influence of the Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay create a climate that’s mild for the region. Summers are warm and humid but with maximum temperatures seldom exceeding 80 degrees. Clouds are common, and humidity and moist Delaware Bay winds can cause fog year-round.

Winters are usually mild, with temperatures seldom dropping to 0 degrees. Most winter precipitation occurs as rain or a mix of rain, sleet, and snow. Summer thunderstorms are common; occasional downpours from Atlantic hurricanes can cause lowland flooding. First freeze is late October, last is mid-April.

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Dover Cost of Living

Small-town atmosphere, capital-city amenities, and nearby recreation make Dover a great place to live.

$279,600
-20.9% lower than avg
$51,073
-35.1% lower than avg
8.0 / 5.9
Comfort Index
summer/winter
Dover Crime
69.9 / 100
Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low) to 100 (high). US average: 35.4
Minimum annual income
To live comfortably in Dover, Delaware
$53,640
for a family
$40,000
for a single person
Pros & Cons of Dover
   Small-town atmosphere
Violent crime
   Capital-city amenities
Educational attainment
   Nearby recreation
Healthcare
Reviews for Dover
    See all (9)

Key points are "an excellent quality of life and a low crime rate" as well as low taxes. Delaware attracts the highest percentage of retirees, plus people of all other  More
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Dover, DE is a great placed to live. I work at OCEAN, which is a non profit organization that sponsors high school exchange students. We had foreign students reside in  More
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Over 6 years ago
Dover, like any town other than Newark, is very unsophisticated, boring, unfriendly, and uneducated. I've resided in many states and Delaware will be the state that I  More
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